hi + lo : Amsterdam Hotels

Well, if any of you live in the Netherlands please pipe in! A customer of ours is accommodating her friend to Amsterdam to attend a small, intimate wedding at the famed, highly gorgeous Intercontinental Amstel Amsterdam. She was beyond excited until she found out the cost of a hotel room there which is about $1000 a night (gulp!).

above: the Intercontinental is within a 19th century castle perched on the banks of the Amstel River and close by to the Anne Frank House (on her must-see list).

Where to stay for a gal on an extreme budget but is "hostile to hostels"? For about a tenth of the cost (you can snag last minute deals at around $100) you can stay at Qbic Hotel (Qbic Hotel Amsterdam WTC to be exact).
above: known for being "Cheap & Chic," guests stay in "Cubis" where the mod beds change color to your mood. Doorless bathrooms boast Phillipe Starck Amentities. Instead of a headboard, there's a bar counter with two stools where you can eat your breakfast. bottom left: and speaking of breakfast...my favorite part! Everything here is "self-serve": you can self-check yourself in through a computer and instead of breakfast in bed you hop on down to vending machines where you can purchase fresh foods from local bakeries and merchants.
Love that!