The College Hotel in Amsterdam is a unique venture that seeks to bring new talent into hospitality while also providing a superior service to guests.
The hotel is located just outside the trendy Fashion and Museum district, a short walk from the Van Gogh museum and right by the canals. It is a 30 minute walk into the city centre, but that gave us the ideal opportunity to explore the city. There is also a tram stop right outside if you don’t feel energetic.
The hotel, as the name suggests, is also an educational establishment. It trains college students in the finer points of hospitality to ready them for the real world. We wondered whether standards would reflect “learner status” with many of the staff, but we saw no such thing.
“The College Hotel is a venue with high standards that makes you feel welcome right away.”
The inside of the hotel is a nice mix of old and new. The exterior is typical Amsterdam city building, almost imposing. The inside is much more welcoming. The rich, modern colour scheme is trendy and creates a nice atmosphere. The lobby area isn’t very large, but has enough room for everyone. The receptionist was friendly and efficient and quickly had us processed and on our way.
We had a Luxury Room, which was middle of the range. It had a nice light colour scheme, good-sized windows, a large bed, LCD TV, Wi-Fi, phone and a minibar. The bed was firm but comfortable, the sheets were crisp and clean and the curtains were very effective at keeping out the light. The bathroom was well appointed, with a walk-in shower, nice sink, thick towels and plenty of products.
The hotel also has a restaurant, the College Restaurant, which is also staffed by students. It is a light space that has won awards for service and the quality of the food.
The College Hotel is a venue with high standards that makes you feel welcome right away. The staff may be students, but they are good at what they do. We wanted for nothing while we were there and have no complaints whatsoever. We would happily stay here again.
The Bill: £230 per night
