The Happier the Hotelier, The Happier the Guest
One of my aims with this Blog is to enable foreigners to gather more information about my small but glorious country. A good start is Steven Pemberton’s The Internet Guide to Amsterdam.
Steven is an Internet guru who started this guide as a write up for visiting students.
Enjoy!
After downloadable Ipod format Audio City Tours, see my post Ipod Guided City Tours, some hotels in Amsterdam now have the hand held City Navigator Guide available for rent. It is preferable to a bulky paper guide or card or guidelines of the concierge you’ll not easily remember.
I hope more cities follow fast and that those guides become downloadable for free so that you can prepare your trips more efficiently…
They just opened the splendid Chateau De Raay, but the Sandton Group is already busy developing two new 4 star hotels:
In the meantime Sandton also took over Hotel de Filisoof in Amsterdam.
In October 2004, I reported already about Stadeshuys Stavoren. Pim and Jane were still busy with their renovation process.
In the middle of 2005 the wedding location, the (wedding) party area and one suite only partly had been finished. We had a chance to test the half finished honeymoon suite.
Pim and Jane have both a full job. The renovation till then took so much of their time that they put the suite renovation process on the back burner. I had to keep the fantastic experience to myself for a long time.
Beginning this year they have taken up the renovation again and recently I got a report that they hoped to open in July 2006.
According to their site they now count 3 suites. I am curious about the final result.
From my own experience I can tell you that what I have seen already has grandeur (large class). The really fantastic view over the IJsselmeer, from Hoorn to the Dyke up north enclosing the IJsselmeer, is worth a special trip. A must see! Also the live webcam on their site gives you a panoramic view equal to the one from your bed.
Update 3 July 2006:
They did not manage to open on 1 July, but 1 August will be managed for sure.
Update November 2006:
Unfortunately their site is still only in the Dutch language.
According to the Hague City edition of the Dutch Paper AD (stands for Algemeen Dagblad or Daily General) a nine room hotel is in the process of being developed by a temporary association of artists Optrek, which accompanies the total redesign of the The Hague Transvaal Quarter. The hotel will have rooms with star rating varying from 1 to 5 stars. The concept is from Ral2005.
The key can be picked up at the local cigar shop. It is the question how long it will last, because the cigar shop must disappear because of the demolition of the shop which is anticipated shortly. In addition the couple who manages the shop, wants to stop with the shop. In the weekend of 25 and 26 June there will be a trial run.
Postscript 28 June 2006:
According to an article in the AD of last Monday it was only intended to open the Hotel just for one night..to attract public attention for the rebuilding of the Transvaal Quarter and sponsors to further the development of the hotel….