I'm writing this while wearing the room's provided bathrobe and slippers, sipping complimentary coffee, as the Courtyard and surrounding area awaken, so this review is as fresh as it gets.
Yes, it is a nice, modern hotel at a very good price. I booked and paid in advance through Marriott (you don't accumulate Marriott points if you book the same deal through Booking.com, et. al.). As hotels in A-dam go, the Courtyard is the best value I found.
At check-in, we were upgraded to the top floor without asking ... dank u wel. Daniel at the front desk, from Switzerland, provided courteous and friendly service. He solved a workaround to a minor technical problem we had and gave us an appetizer/dessert coupon for the hotel's Norwegian-themed restaurant.
The hotel is a direct and convenient ride from Schiphol on the national rail and a relatively quick metro ride into town from a transportation hub across the street from the hotel ... a multi-day rail pass purchased at the airport will pay for itself on the first train ride to the hotel versus a licensed bandit in a taxi. The area is an upscale business district, with an Imax, the Ajax Arena, corporate HQ offices, nice walking paths, etc, surrounding the Courtyard. It is a long distance from the Amsterdam tourists want to see, so have transportation.
Although one can find gems in this town, most of the hotels we've stayed at were for location, not price, and had unpleasant side affects like drunk tourists, dodgy beds, dinky rooms, questionable plumbing, etc. This time, I used the chain I usually stay at for business for holiday, and it was a good choice. It certainly made my wife happy. read more