Hotel Kap City Centre

Located on a quiet street away from the tourist draws (but near the Heineken Brewery), the two-star Kap Hotel is a calm, civilized place to stay. The hotel's 17 rooms are attractively furnished and simply equipped with a television and safe. Some have a minibar and balconies, and rooms can be turned into family-friendly triples or quads for an extra €50 per person.

Rooms are simple and clean. That having been said, the rooms that we checked out showed a bit of wear. We're talking about some scratches in the wood paneling, a crack or two in some fixtures, and a few scuffs along the way. The hotel, however, is renovating the rooms. (We hope that they don't upgrade their prices, too!) Half of the rooms face the back garden and half look out onto the quiet street.

All rooms are outfitted with a private shower, but singles and some doubles share a toilet in the hallway. Shared showers are clean, but cracks and buildup were noticeable in some.

The reception area doubles as a lounge, with cozy lighting and tasteful décor. A lovely outdoor patio in the back is both covered and open, with flower bushes, trees and a small bike rental station in the corner.

Note that the Kap, like many Amsterdam hotels, has steep stairs and no elevator. The hotel also charges a 5% surcharge for payment with credit card (which is another peculiar, although not uncommon, Amsterdam practice).