Europe > Netherlands > Rotterdam > Hotels & hostels

Rotterdam Hotels and Hostels

H2otel

ABOVE: The H2otel is a midpriced floating hotel on the Wijnhaven, an historic harbor in the city center.

Hotels, B&Bs, and vacation rentals

Rotterdam has plenty of lodgings (especially modern hotels) in a variety of price ranges. Rates tend to be lower than in Amsterdam, making it easier justify a longer stay. Several hotels deserve special mention:

H2otel 'picnic boat' The H2otel is a floating hotel on the "Wine Harbor," within walking distance of the Maritime Museum, the Old Harbor, the Cube Houses, the Centraal and Blaak railroad stations, and the Rotterdam Cruise Terminal. Rates are moderate, and the staff at the reception desk are unusually friendly and helpful. (The inset photo shows one of H2otel's "picnic boats.")

Hotel New York is a 72-room boutique hotel in the former headquarters building of Holland America Line. It's across the Erasmus Bridge from the city center, within a two- or three-minute walk of the cruise terminal. You can reach the center by tram or Metro from Wilhelminaplein, by water taxi from a pier next to the hotel, or on foot if you don't mind a half-hour stroll via the sometimes windy Erasmus Bridge.

STROOM Rotterdam is a pricey, high-tech and high-style boutique hotel in a former electricity-generating station (hence its name, which means "Rotterdam Power"). Rooms are called "studios," and the two-level "vide" studios have bathtubs wih skylight views. It's a bit outside the center, but it's worth considering if you're planning a honeymoon or dirty weekend with sightseeing as a secondary consideration.

The 28-room Hotel Van Walsum has topnotch guest reviews, all rooms have refrigerators, and breakfast is included in the rates. The Van Walsum is located on a tree-lined boulevard north of Coolhaven-- a bit outside the city center, but worth considering if you're a motorist who'll be using the hotel's enclosed parking lot.

MyCityLofts offers an attractive, modern one-bedroom vacation apartment in central Rotterdam, and the Euromast has two high-altitude hotel suites, "Heaven" and "Stars," with the best views and the most dizzying balcony in the Netherlands.

For more listings at competitive prices, see Booking.com: Rotterdam. Booking.com is based in the Netherlands, and it's the leading secure reservations site in Europe.

Tip:

Avoid lodgings that require a tram or bus ride to the city center, unless you're arriving by car and want to avoid parking fees. Most of Rotterdam's sights are in or near downtown, so if you stay in the heart of the city, you'll be able to walk nearly everywhere. (We'd also suggest staying closer to the river than to the railroad station, unless you've got an early train departure or stacks of luggage.)

Hostels

Stayokay Hostel Rotterdam Stayokay Rotterdam, a.k.a. the Hostel Rotterdam, is a Hostelling International affiliate in the Kubuswoningen, or Cube Houses, next to the Blaak train and Metro station and the Old Harbor. The location couldn't be better, and the building is unique.

Hostel ROOM has 17 "themed" rooms for two to 10 guests, theme nights that feature things like pancakes or bingo, and a location in the Scheepvaartqwartier west of downtown.