Page 391 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - The Netherlands

WHERE T O ST A Y  389

from spring until autumn or
further afield from late spring
until early autumn. On the coast
and on the islands, any month
other than July or August is
considered off-season.
Bookings can be made directly
with the hotel by telephone or
email, or in person at the recep-
tion, although this often means
you pay the standard room price,
which is usually higher than the
more competitive rates found
online. Unless a hotel or chain
offers a “best rate guarantee”
when booking through their
Colourful decor at Harbour Crane (see p399), Harlingen website, the lowest rates are
often found through dedicated
telephones. A five-star hotel will be specifically stated. If not, do hotel-booking websites like
belong to the deluxe category, check, as breakfast in a luxury Expedia.nl, Hotels.nl and
with 24-hour service, large hotel can be expensive. Booking.com. The best way of
rooms with en-suite facilities, Obviously, a five-star hotel is searching for individual hotels
a restaurant and so on. pricier than a three-star. Hotels or a particular chain is by name.
Although this classification in larger cities, in Amsterdam in The price differences found on
system does provide an insight particular, are relatively more different websites for the same
into the hotel’s level of amenities, expensive than those further room in the same hotel at the
it looks exclusively only at the afield, although in the city it is same dates can be astounding;
facilities and amenities provided easier to find hotels in wider- it pays to compare prices
by the hotel. ranging price categories and good through a meta search engine
deals can be found off-season. such as Travelsupermarket.com,
As many hotels have abolished Lookingforbooking.com or
Apartments
dedicated single rooms, solo Hotelscombined.com – the latter
Staying in a self-catering travellers often end up paying also has a clever iPhone app.
apartment or holiday home only slightly less than the same No-frills hotels, such as
is an increasingly popular accommodation would cost two CitizenM, Yotel, Qbic and
alternative to hotels or hostels people sharing. Kids under the easyHotel, that offer tiny yet
and can be an economical choice, age of 12 can usually stay free of smart rooms at the lowest
particularly if you are travelling charge or at a much reduced rate, possible price, can usually be
in a group. Accommodation if they share their parents’ room. booked only through their
ranges from a private room in own respective websites.
the countryside with basic and Stayokay hostels can be
sometimes shared facilities to Booking Accommodation booked through their own
a sleek city loft with five-star High season runs pretty much website, Stayokay.nl, while a
amenities. Some apartments year-round in Amsterdam. In wider choice of International
might require a minimum stay, winter, with the exception of Youth Hostel Federation (IYHF)
especially in high season, and it Christmas and New Year’s, visitors and non-IYHF hostels around
is always a good idea to inquire will manage to find a room, but the country can be booked
if there are any additional or at all other times it is wise to through Hostels.com,
hidden fees, such as key money book well in advance. In other Hostelbookers.com or
or cleaning cost. On the coast major cities, high season runs Hostelworld.com.
and on the islands there are Many B&Bs can
“apartment-hotels”, which are be booked through
apartment buildings with hotel Bedand breakast.nl.
facilities, such as a reception, Airbnb.nl offers an
restaurant and swimming pool. equally wide range
of B&Bs, plus private
rooms, apartments
Prices and holiday homes.
Room prices always include The “VVV” tourist
VAT (‘BTW’). Tourist tax information offices
(toeristenbelasting) varies by around the country
municipality and is often but can also assist visitors
not always included. Breakfast is in booking suitable
often included, but this should Façade of Stempels (see p397) in Haarlem accommodation.

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