XO Hotels Couture

XO Hotels Couture has a real sense of high-end style and service. Situated in a purpose-built high-rise with clean lines and a window-wall facade, the Hotel Couture is chic and modern from the outside in. Decor is dark and cozy, with minimalist furniture, cool lighting fixtures, and bright accents adding fun pops of color to the mostly somber hues. The lobby features black walls and ceilings that pair well with lime green chairs, beige floors, and white and wood furniture. The hotel's bar, restaurant, and guest rooms follow suit with dark decor contrasted by stylish pops of color. While the hotel isn't in the heart of Amsterdam, it offers easy access to public transportation, making this a hotspot for tourists who want a high-end hotel without the exorbitant price tag.

XO Hotels Couture is situated on the corner of a busy four-way intersection in Amsterdam South, which is outside of the city center. The area itself is mainly residential, with lots of modern apartment buildings on either side of the wide canal that sits across the road from the property. While there are a few shops and restaurants within walking distance, there's not much else. Luckily, the hotel is well-connected to the city via public transportation, with a tram stop (Tram Line 2) in view of the hotel doors and a metro station within a seven-minute walk. Guests can get to Museum Quarter, where the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum are, in less than 15 minutes via public transport, while Dam Square can be reached in about 25 minutes. Schiphol Amsterdam Airport is a ten-minute drive from here, or about 25 minutes via public transportation. Reception sells tram passes and rents out bikes. 

Guest rooms are spacious and clean, with stylish, modern decor and a plethora of amenities. Dark walls and furniture are brightened by pops of vibrant colors courtesy of white bedding accented in velvety turquoise pillows, blue and orange armchairs and desk chairs, and coordinating wall-to-wall carpets. Rooms are pristine and well soundproofed, with no noise from outside traffic. Each room includes a welcome note and two free bottles of water, a flat-screen TV, a Nespresso machine, free Wi-Fi, and a small vending machine with direct billing instead of a minibar (which automates the process of payment, but prevents guests from using the device as a mini-fridge for their own items). Guests are given a plug bank and two USB charging sockets when they check in at the front desk. All rooms also have work desks, armchairs or sitting areas, and wardrobes with irons/ironing boards, slippers, and safes. Bathrooms are chic, with beige tile floors and faux-wood wall tiles as well as modern vessel sinks, large mirrors, hairdryers, free toiletries, and heated floors. Glass shower stalls are extremely spacious and include fantastic monsoon showerheads, plus some rooms have both tubs and separate showers.

XO Hotels Couture has all of the features you'd expect from a four-pearl property, including a chic bar and casual-but-stylish Restaurant Dolce, which serves up a la carte dinners as well as a breakfast buffet that includes tasty standard fare and fresh-squeezed orange juice (not included in the room rate). Room service is available during limited hours.

The lobby offers plenty of common space to sit and hangout, and the hotel also has a small outdoor patio that's available in good weather. The fitness area and game room are located in simple, windowless rooms, but they are pleasant with wood floors and inset ceiling lighting. The fitness area includes a selection of modern cardio equipment, weight-lifting equipment, dumbbells, and exercise balls. The game room features a sitting area with a selection of magazines along with a pool table, foosball, and an air hockey table.

The front desk is open 24-hours; the staff are multilingual; and the lobby offers lots of tourist information, including a concierge, a ticket/theater desk, brochures, tram tickets, and bike rentals (along with a demonstrator set of locks so guests know how to properly secure the bikes in Amsterdam). Same-day laundry service is available on weekdays, and other services include dry cleaning and shoe shines. Computers and a printer is available for guests' use, as well as fax, shipping, and photocopying services. A parking garage is located on-site, but costs an extra fee.