We booked Het Amsterdamse Bos because it is cheap. We stayed in the backpackers cabin, which sleeps six. Our first impression upon arriving to the Het Amsterdamse Bos was that the area was very serene and quiet. In general the grounds were beautiful. It took us quite long to get there, as we had to take about an hour's bus ride from the train station in the city. Getting there was not too difficult, as it is just ten to fifteen minutes' walk from the bus stop. Or alternatively, there is a tram stop about twenty-five minutes' walk away. When booking, they usually give you instructions on how to get there, and it is relatively easy.
At check-in, the staff provides you with map of the place and also a bus timetable so that you can plan your day, which is very useful. We were in for a surprise, however, when told that we had to pay for showers! This was was not written in the description of the hostel when we first looked through it. The shower operates on a coin basis for less than ten minutes of water per coin. The shower stream is too hot for our liking and too small to have adequate water to wash your hair! But the place is very clean. The washroom is not attached, and can be rather scary to walk to since the whole place is rather dark in the night.
The common kitchen was all right, but not clean. Stains could be seen everywhere, and we did not prepare any meals in there -- think twice about using the kitchen! We did, however, see other people making a drink and eating their breakfast there. It is fully equipped, with cooking utensils and a long table and benches.
We knew that heating and linens are not available, but that didn't prepare us for the cold in the cabin during the night. It was freezing, as it was late October, and the walls are only made of wood. The cabin is quite clean, as every occupant has to clean it before he gets his deposit back at check-out. Checking out is a hassle, as you have to wait until the office is open. Checking in was all right, as they receive check-ins almost anytime, but check-outs have to be done during proper office hours. We had to wait an hour until 8:30 before they came and allowed us to hand in our keys and get back our deposit.
Besides the stress of checking out and having to wait, Het Amsterdamse Bos is a nice place, if you want a quiet weekend or a family outing. Its vast grounds allow you to have games and activities. But if you're looking for comfort and the hustle and bustle of city life, it is very far from the city.
— Exklusive Hostelz.com Übersicht
January 2007
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