New West Inn Amsterdam

Guests at the New West Inn Amsterdam are a mix of international business travelers and leisure tourists who want a practical and affordable option within commuting distance of Amsterdam's city center. Its red brick-and-glass facade, overlooking a parking lot, is a bit worn. Interiors are a bit dated as well, with bold black-and-white checkerboard tile flooring in the lobby and tired brown armchairs providing seating. The white walls are punctuated with photographs of Amsterdam scenes. Though decor is not fancy, it's a functional space, with vending machines and a computer that's available for guests' use. 

The hotel bar is full of dark wood, some of it chipped, with various beer taps and a pool table as well as niches with sofas and coffee tables. The lounge opens to the garden courtyard, where wooden tables and benches offer seating by a patchy grass lawn and low hedges. The restaurant is bright and airy thanks to walls of windows letting in plenty of natural light and overlooking the green courtyard. The red tile floor is a bit dated, but the space is pleasant, full of wooden tables topped with small planters sprouting greenery. Overall, the property is built for durability to appeal to basic needs -- but a dose of perks like an on-site fitness center and solarium are a nice surprise.

New West Inn is located in Osdorp, a suburb that's about a 30-minute drive to Amsterdam's city center. There's a tram stop a nine-minute walk from the hotel that gives access to the center in 45 minutes. The shopping center in Osdorp is a five-minute drive or 18-minute walk, while Sloterpark, a big green space in the area, is a seven-minute drive or 20-minute walk -- but renting a bike from the hotel may be a better way to explore it. Amsterdam's central green space, Vondelpark, is a 15-minute car ride without traffic or 35 minutes on public transportation. Top tourist attractions like Dam Square, the Anne Frank House, the Museum Quarter, and the Red Light District are about a 20- to 35-minute drive or 40 to 45 minutes by public transit. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is a 15-minute drive or 35 minutes on public transportation.

Rooms at the New West Inn are fairly spacious, with some designed to accommodate as many as four people. Renovations, completed in the winter of 2016, resulted in better sound-proofing and white walls adorned with framed posters of important city sites. The interiors of the closets are painted in bright pops of color, like turquoise, and often do not include doors. Platform beds have white linens accented by primary-colored pillows and throws. Windows, with views of the parking lot or a grassy courtyard, have beige drapes. All rooms are nonsmoking and have flat-screen TVs, safes, free Wi-Fi, and electric kettles. Guests have complained that the heating and cooling system malfunctions on occasion. The bathrooms are tiled in white and have showers or tub/shower combinations with power showerheads and square sinks with modern fittings. There are wall-mounted hair dryers, magnifying mirrors, and Aqualine toiletries. 

New West Inn Amsterdam has several features expected of a mid-range hotel, plus a few extra surprises. The hotel has a casual restaurant that serves breakfast (for a fee), including eggs, yogurt, bread, croissants, and espresso. The restaurant reopens in the afternoon and continues serving food until the evening. There are also vending machines on the property. The bar serves coffee and cocktails and has a pool table. It opens out to a terrace in a grassy courtyard, a portion of which is available for smoking. There is a 24-hour fitness center with rowing and CrossFit machines, stationary bikes, free weights, and exercise mats. A solarium with a tanning bed is available for a fee. There is a dated meeting room with skirted tables and upholstered ballroom chairs. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel, as is parking. Guests can rent bikes or obtain discounted tickets for area attractions at the front desk.