Owl Hotel

Location: Easily accessible via tram and situated near museums in a quiet, safe area.

Do owls like mice? Is that why our family room had a live one lurking around? Just as we had settled in to the room, the mouse decided to make our acquaintance and peeped from its hideout in the corner. We trundled off to the reception to let them know of the uninvited guest in the room. We were informed that this could be due to the hotel's close proximity to Vondel Park, but we have been thinking of this reason ever since, but can't seem to relate the cause and effect. There were a couple of pipes shimmying up (and down) in the room, so mickey mouse could have entered from there, from the Park, we were told. A cat could be sent up since all the owls in the hotel were busy making an impression in the reception area - figurines neatly arranged in a glass cupboard. We were shifted to another room, as a solution, and this was one floor below the one we had assigned to us (and the said mouse). As I was hastily shutting my bag to scurry (pun unintended) to the floor below, the though did plague my mind as to whether more of the mice friends and family from the Park would have easier access to a floor down, but since our stay was just for one night, I decided to shut all my bags tight, shut my eyes, and not think of it. The hotel is a tad old, with an elevator that snaps on your face if you stand too close to the door, the bathroom has creaky fittings, perhaps with the intention to invoke and old-wordly feeling in the inhabitants. On the plus side, the hotel is impressively close to the lovely Vondel Park. Just a 3 minute walk. And yes, even the mice think so too.

This is a friendly small hotel in a superb location. The rooms are small, but there is a lounge area and a small garden together with a breakfast area. There is a coffee machine which you can access for free throughout the day. The staff are very helpful and friendly and we made friends with Basil the resident cat. We did not have breakfast here as it was €17+, but availed of the coffee. The buffet looked good, but too expensive for us and there are cafes nearby at a cheaper price. Vondelpark is just up the road from the hotel and there were many people exercising there with plenty of walking paths. Location is great for the airport 397 bus and for the major museums and there are several nearby restaurants. I stayed here 15 years ago so it was a return visit and I would hope to return if ever in Amsterdam again.