Trip report: Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam
Sep 9, 2016, 4:38 pm
Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam
Herengracht 542-556 Amsterdam, NL 1017 CG
Trip report: Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam (54 Photos)
Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam
I wanted to do a daytrip to Amsterdam. While I always stayed at the Amstel before I wanted to try something new this time. First I liked to try the Conservatorium, but for a 1 night stay I wanted a hotel near to the center. The Waldorf is located at the Herengracht, the most exclusive Gracht in Amsterdam and only 1 kilometre from the Dam. Also I liked to eat in a Michelin-starred restaurant. While nothing is around Conservatorium, Waldorf has a 2 star restaurant. So in the end I went with the Waldorf.
Booking
Normally I book through a Virtuoso-agent or in rare cases FHR. Waldorf had a HHonors sale which had significant lower rates than every other option. A Grand Premier room was 451 € with breakfast, it was 685 € with FHR. No other rooms available with this sale.
I was HHonors Gold before via my Amex card. At the moment HHonors offers a status match, so I got instant Diamond-status for the stay. I also opted online for paid upgrades for a Canal View room (65 €) and a Junior Suite (75 €) before getting Diamond.
Pre-arrival
They claim you get a dedicated concierge to pre-arrange your needs for the stay. In the end you communicate with one member of staff. My requests were handeled promtly and to my satisfaction.
Check In
We arrived early at the hotel and the doorman took promptly over our car and lagguage. From outside you can see that the hotel is composed from several houses.
We were greated at reception and the procedure was efficient. They offered water and hot towells. Something new for me was a selection of 4 parfums which you could choose from for turn down service.
The entrance is not big but nicely done.
After this we were escorted to our room and got a short introduction to the hotels history and ameneties. Highlight is the Daniel Marot staircase which is impressive.
I
The rear part of the lobby offers some seating areas. You find a lot of flowers and over the day the offer macaroons and small cakes for free.
In the basement is the Vault Bar, the Goldfinch Brasserie
and the Librije´s Zusje. You also find some art in the floors and the SPA.
Room
Our Junior Suite was on the first floor which is the Bel Etage. The rooms have the highest ceilings from all floors.Our room had a small entrance room with a big closet. The room itself had a king bed (it seemed to be relative small), a coach, a fake fireplace and an armchair. There was also a small second room which housed a desk and the minibar.
Birthday cake:
In front of the bathroom were 2 more closets which offered a lot of space. The bathroom offered 2 sinks, a mirror with built-in TV (no reception), bathtub, shower and separated toilet. The ameneties were from Salvatore Ferragamo.
The suite had canal view.
Garden
The hotel offers a nice courtyard garden wich is the biggest in Amsterdam. It offers nice seating areas, art and a little pavillion.
Pool
The SPA-area is in the basement and offers a nice pool (warm water), steam room and a sauna.
Dining
We ate at the Librije´s Zusje, which has 2 Michelin stars. I decided to wear a dark suit and I was terrbible overdressed. The only guest with tie. The highlight was some kind of rastafari (After a long inner process I decided not to publish the picture).
They offered 2 menus (one vegetarian, one with meat) with 8 courses. We decided to take a pescetarian menu which was priced adequate with 148,00 €. Water was a flat at 7,50 € Service was attentive and well trained.
The food was of high quality. While I liked most of the "normal" dishes I didn´t really like the deserts. They combined sweets with hearty ingredients like tomatoes or balsmic.
Breakfast
Breakfast was served in the restaurant. As usual it contained of a small buffet and an a la carte menu. The selection was relative small, the quality OK. The offerings were more or less standard. Only 5 kinds of cheese, 1 fish (samon), some pastries etc. No poffertjes or other Dutch specialities. Not a bad breakfast, but also nothing great. On the other hand I never experienced a great breakfast in Amsterdam.....
Overall
It was a pleasant stay. The location is great and the hard product nice. Service was without any flaw.
Sep 9, 2016, 6:01 pm
Very enjoyable images which give a wonderful sense of this property, it's a gorgeous luxury hotel IMHO.
Thanks for sharing equally your 2* Michelin star dinner experience images with us. That's a wonderful delight.
Where was the breakfast served, at which restaurant? I guess it was their Brasserie?
Sad to hear that the breakfast hasn't matched your dinner experience it seems.
With the 4 parfums to choose from this sound interesting IMHO.
Again, thanks for sharing, well received and highly appreciated.
Cheers & Safe Travels. ^
Last edited by uggboy; Sep 9, 2016 at 6:40 pm
Sep 9, 2016, 6:35 pm
Didn't really check the minibar, as I don't pay for it. Sorry
Breakfast was served at the Zusje. Unusual, but the brasserie is more a passage and I didn't see any guests during our stay. Zusje was fully booked.
Not the biggest parfum-fan, but my girlfriend loved the idea. She was disappointed that they used it very reluctant so we first didn't smell it.
Sep 9, 2016, 6:46 pm
Didn't really check the minibar, as I don't pay for it. Sorry
Breakfast was served at the Zusje. Unusual, but the brasserie is more a passage and I didn't see any guests during our stay. Zusje was fully booked.
Not the biggest parfum-fan, but my girlfriend loved the idea. She was disappointed that they used it very reluctant so we first didn't smell it.
It's quiet a contrast between your dinner vs breakfast then, especially when served in the same 2* Michelin starred restaurant.
Also of note their parfum usage, interesting. Maybe they wanted not to overpower your junior suite. Could be IMHO.
Thanks for the clarifications and answers. As always, it's good to know.
Cheers & Safe Travels. ^
Sep 9, 2016, 10:31 pm
It's quiet a contrast between your dinner vs breakfast then, especially when served in the same 2* Michelin starred restaurant.
Also of note their parfum usage, interesting. Maybe they wanted not to overpower your junior suite. Could be IMHO.
Thanks for the clarifications and answers. As always, it's good to know.
Cheers & Safe Travels. ^
Sep 10, 2016, 4:40 am
Sep 10, 2016, 5:28 am
Really shouldn't keep dreaming of these Dutch specialties ..
But these different offerings from each region / country makes travel even more enjoyable , for me anyway
Thanks for the helpful TR with photos .
Sep 10, 2016, 5:46 am
Sep 10, 2016, 5:47 am
Really shouldn't keep dreaming of these Dutch specialties ..
But these different offerings from each region / country makes travel even more enjoyable , for me anyway
Thanks for the helpful TR with photos .
Sep 13, 2016, 12:51 pm
m2 size really varies >
€480 44 loft
€383 29-45 deluxe
€480 32-50 premier
€528 36-50 grand premier
€601 47-57 grand premier canal twin
€528 51-57 grand premier twin
€601 44-69 grand premier canal
€868 70 grand loft
€625 41-93 jr suite
€1741 56 backer suite "authentic ceiling painting"
€1159 57-74 suite
€2226 77 roell suite
€3196 101 van loon suite "historic and authentic architectural features"
€3972 123 2BR brentano suite "dining room with a large dining table"
van loon suite : "unwind in the large bathroom downstairs, which can be accessed via an original 17th century spiral staircase. The bathroom offers direct, exclusive access to our Guerlain Spa, indoor swimming pool, sauna and steam room." i wonder about after hours (9am - 8/9pm) edit - ah, spa hours not pool hours. so direct but not private access after hours.
seems superior and superior plus not loaded online
93m2 jr suite (and 70m2 grand loft) are great value
seems jr suite 054 example of larger then adjacent suite
odd its shower (and perhaps its bathtub) were not larger
Last edited by Kagehitokiri; Sep 13, 2016 at 1:45 pm
Sep 13, 2016, 1:08 pm
It has a beautiful sitting room with gorgeous views of the Canal. Also very private in a beautiful part of the hotel. The pool can be accessed anytime with the keycard. Great feature. The only thing I thought could have been improved is the layout of the bathroom. The bathrooms in these specialty suites resemble the rooms and junior suites too much for my taste (nothing special), also you have to go down a flight of stairs to access the bathroom, which I don't like personally. That's just the nature of these historic buildings. Not even a toilet on the same floor. In the corner of the bedroom you have to go down a spiral staircase to access bathroom and pool. Note the pool is chlorinated, which is noticeable in the bathroom - some may find this bothersome but I hear this issue has been addressed.
Other than that, the first WA I was impressed with. Almost forgot I was in a Hilton! Stunning hotel.
Sep 13, 2016, 1:26 pm
Sep 13, 2016, 1:32 pm
Indeed sizes are very different. I asked for a big room in advance
. Regarding Junior Suites not all have canal view if I understand correctly. So perhaps the 93 sqm JS is one of them. Also the ceiling may be a factor.Prices you found look good, at my stay without member sale they were much higher.
By the way: Our Junior Suite is the sample pictured at the website
Sep 13, 2016, 1:37 pm