When you visit Amsterdam, their are numerous choices for hostels. The major decision in Amsterdam is do you want to stay at a party hostel, like the Flying Pig, or at a relaxed hostel? If you choose sleeping over partying, Stayokay Vondel Park is a great choice.
Stayokay Vondelpark is located a short tram ride from the city center. Vondelpark is nearby. Take almost any tram from the Centraal Train Station and get off at such-and-such a stop. Then just a short walk to the hostel.
The hostel is quite large and can accomodate big groups. In fact, there were numerous groups of school kids from Spain, the U.K. and Italy. There is an old historic building plus a newer wing.
There is a wonderful all-you-can-eat free breakfast every morning in the hostel’s huge cafeteria dining room. Many choices of cold meat, cheese, yougurt, Musli, orange juice, bread, rolls, toast, tea, coffee. Excellent breakfast
There is a lot of common space to hang out in. It is important for a good hostel to have copious amount of common area. Otherwise you can only hang out on your room and will go stir crazy. Plus the common area is the best place to meet your fellow travelers.
Nowadays every hostel needs ot provide free internet access for the guests. Especially Wi-Fi for guests that bring their own laptop computers Unfortunately, StayOK charges too much for the services so I can not recommend logging in from the hostel. This is a major shortcoming of Stayokay.
Your best bet for internet access is to take your laptop and head to the central library in Amsterdam where you can find Wi-Fi for free. They also have computers, both Macs and Windows, if you don’t have your own notebook computer with you.
Stayokay Vondelpark has a small lounge where you can order ice cold Heinekin on tap. The barmen and girls working there were all very friendly and did a good job.
One night, there were a lot of guests in the lounge and they were running low on beer mugs. A plastic cup was offered. Horrors! If a plastic cup is offered, refuse it! Never drink beer from a plastic cup. It is not civilized and disrespects the beer. Always drink beer from a glass vessel. Ideally it should be logo glass, but even a glass fruit jar will do in an emergency.
All Photos Courtesy Amazing Travel Photos
After you get your Heineken, you can play pool on the table next to the lounge. Or you can just watch one of the big, flat-screen TVs.
Stayokay Vondelpark is one of the best hostel I have stayed at in The Netherlands, and I would recommend spending a few days there when visiting Amsterdam. The only negative is that the internet is too expensive to use.
Rating: Four Stars
Cleanliness: 10/10
Fun: 10/10
Staff: 10/10
Address: Zandpad 5
1054 GA Amsterdam, Netherlands
Telephone: +31 (0)20 589 89 96
Email: vondelpark@stayokay.com
website: http://www.stayokay.com/
Book this hostel through Hostelworld.com
