Rotterdam Hotels and Hostels

From: Rotterdam Travel Guide

ABOVE: The H2otel is a midpriced floating hotel on the Wijnhaven, an historic harbor in the city center.

Hotels, B&Bs, and holiday rentals

Rotterdam has plenty of lodgings (especially modern hotels) in a variety of price ranges. Rates tend to be lower than in Amsterdam, making it easier justify a longer stay. Several hotels deserve special mention:

The H2otel is a floating hotel on the "Wine Harbor," within walking distance of the Maritime Museum, the Old Harbor, the Cube Houses, the Centraal and Blaak railroad stations, and the Rotterdam Cruise Terminal. Rates are moderate, and the staff at the reception desk are unusually friendly and helpful. (The inset photo shows one of H2otel's "picnic boats.")

The Grand Hotel Philadelphia is in the old Shipping Quarter or Scheepvaaartqwartier, just west of the Erasmus Bridge and the city center. It has 20 reasonably-priced rooms and a restaurant that's open from 7 a.m. until midnight. The four-star hotel is operated by a nonprofit foundation that provides on-the-job training for young adults with mild developmental disabilities.

Hotel New York is a 72-room boutique hotel in the former headquarters building of Holland America Line. It's across the Erasmus Bridge from the city center, within a two- or three-minute walk of the cruise terminal. You can reach the center by tram or Metro from Wilhelminaplein, by water taxi from a pier next to the hotel, or on foot if you don't mind a half-hour stroll via the sometimes windy Erasmus Bridge.

STROOM Rotterdam is a pricey, high-tech and high-style boutique hotel in a former electricity-generating station (hence its name, which means "Rotterdam Power"). Rooms are called "studios," and the two-level "vide" studios have bathtubs wih skylight views. It's a bit outside the center, but it's worth considering if you're planning a honeymoon or dirty weekend with sightseeing as a secondary consideration.

A Small Hotel is just what the name implies: It has only six rooms on six floors of a renovated historic building on the Witte de Withstraat, a trendy street west of downtown Rotterdam that has many cafés, restaurants, bars, and boutiques. Every room has a minibar with free drinks, and Wi-Fi Internet access is also free.

The 28-room Hotel Van Walsum has topnotch guest reviews, all rooms have refrigerators, and breakfast is included in the rates. The Van Walsum is located on a tree-lined boulevard north of Coolhaven-- a bit outside the city center, but worth considering if you're a motorist who'll be using the hotel's enclosed parking lot.

MyCityLofts offers two short-stay apartments in central Rotterdam, and the Euromast has two high-altitude Euromast suites with the best views and the most dizzying balcony in the Netherlands.

For more listings, see Venere: Rotterdam (Venere, one of Europe's leading hotel consolidators, is our discount booking partner) or Rotterdam Marketing's Web site, which has a link on our Rotterdam tourist information page.

Another good resource is Bed and Breakfast Rotterdam, which lists a number of B&Bs and vacation apartments (including a houseboat the last time we checked).

Tip:

• Avoid lodgings that require a tram or bus ride to the city center, unless you're arriving by car and want to avoid parking fees. Most of Rotterdam's sights are in or near downtown, so if you stay in the heart of the city, you'll be able to walk nearly everywhere. (We'd also suggest staying closer to the river than to the railroad station, unless you've got an early train departure or stacks of luggage.)

Hostels

Stayokay Rotterdam is a Hostelling International affiliate in the Kubuswoningen, or Cube Houses, next to the Blaak train and Metro station and the Old Harbor. The location  couldn't be better, and the building is unique. (Note: This hostel replaces the old Stayokay hostel on Rochussenstraat.)

Hostel ROOM has 16 "themed" rooms for two to 10 guests, theme nights that feature things like pancakes or bingo, and a location in the Scheepvaartqwartier west of downtown.

Camping

City Camping isn't too far from the center, as campgrounds go, and the staff at Use-it will help you book a spot for your tent. (The linked Use-it page also has information on other cheap accommodations, including seasonal hostels that occupy temporary quarters in July and August.)

Next page: Restaurants, cafés

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2nd inset photo: Jochen Tack/NBTC.
 

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