Hotel Crystal - Amsterdam, Netherlands     

This must be at least my 8th stay at the Crystal over a 4-5 year period. My first time there I thought it was a fine but extremely basic hotel with a very good staff. Over the years they have gotten better. New ownership on a mission. And each and every trip since the new owners took over I have seen steady improvements. New upscale coffee machine for expresso, etc. New safes in the room. New paint. A very cheap (3 euro for 2 hours) but modern new computer in the breakfast room. All the while they have kept their great staff and their great location. This may be as quiet a hotel as I have ever stayed in. At least right at the top for a budget hotel. Its still a fairly basic hotel. So if you want a lift and new and modern rooms you might want to look elsewhere. If you are after quiet, location, quality, a traditional dutch breakfast, value, and a moderate price------the Crystal should at least get some consideration. The absolute best thing about the hotel? Jasna and the rest of the staff.

It certainly isnt as bad as some of the reviews here suggest. Its like a B&B. If you want somewhere cheap and dry then this is fine. Like the reviews said, breakfast isnt great but its free... We had no dead mice, no left-over fags on the floor and the staff werent bad. Dont stay here if with girlfriend/wife. A trip with the boys is what its meant for... Nice quiet location and quite central.