Tulip Inn Dam Square Hotel, Amsterdam

If this is your first trip to Amsterdam it helps to try to forget your previous concept of value for money.In the centre hotels are extremely expensive with anything remotely nice costing well over €150. Many cheaper hotels have descended from extensive building work in which one room has been divided into two a bit like the subdividing of land in mediaeval farms. Therefore I didn't expect much from B&B at the Tulip Inn chain (not to be confused with the more upmarket Golden Tulip variety). I was pleasantly surprised. The double room was a good size, you get no choice of double or twin beds (despite what you might think from the booking)but it was clean and well equipped for the budget business. The bed was comfortable, there was a hair dryer, swanky movement-activated bathroom lights and a room safe. The catch, and there is always a catch in this City, was the bathroom. Standing just over 6 foot I was unable to fit between toilet and wash basin, and was forced into sitting side-saddle like the Queen. The elaborate shower room door seemed to have the hinges on the wrong side so the vast array of space provided for the shower was inaccessible and you have to shower with the door open. Breakfast was a standard cholesterol-enriched Dutch cold platter. You can get much, much worse in the budget category in this part of town so try this place by all means-just don't expect too much except a truly excellent location.