SMALL-TOWN GIRLS, MIDNIGHT TRAINS

— travel inspiration for small budgets and big dreams —

travel inspiration for small budgets and big dreams



Stayokay Amsterdam Vondelpark is hands down one of the best hostels I’ve ever stayed in. Our room was spacious; the atmosphere was cheerful without being chaotic or noisy; gorgeous Vondelpark had an entrance just outside the front door; so many other attractions were close by; and the breakfast was great. It was my family’s absolute favorite among the hostels we stayed in on this trip (though Hostal Benidorm in Barcelona was a good second).

The funny thing is it wasn’t even our first choice of accommodations in Amsterdam. I think the first one I booked (and subsequently cancelled) was Stayokay Amsterdam Zeeburg, then Via Amsterdam, and for a pretty long time we’d pretty much decided on ClinkNOORD Hostel, which is actually really nice too and just a short ferry ride across the IJ from Amsterdam Centraal. We were going to be in Amsterdam around King’s Day, rooms around the city were filling up real fast — getting really expensive too — and I think I was just looking at the accommodations map in Booking.com and trying to see if I could find a better deal. By then I’d put together my list of free things to do in Amsterdam and then I spotted the Stayokay near Vondelpark. It was near a lot of the places I was interested in — the museums, Royal Concertgebouw, Hollandsche Manege, Vondelpark itself — and compared to ClinkNOORD it was a shorter walking distance from the Pathé Tuschinski. We had the chance to get a 6-bed room and though it was a bit more expensive, one of the things I’ve learned from travelling is that comfort and convenience is actually worth paying a bit more for. (Or am I just getting old? 😀 ) Long story short: we booked Stayokay Amsterdam Vondelpark and never regretted it for a moment.

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Stayokay Amsterdam Vondelpark: A Quick Tour


As mentioned, it’s just across Vondelpark.

SGMT | Amsterdam Stayokay Vondelpark
Vondelpark on the left, Stayokay on the right in this pic

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After check-in:

SGMT | Amsterdam Stayokay Vondelpark

SGMT | Amsterdam Stayokay Vondelpark
Don’t worry, there’s a lift. And lots of bikes outside for rent.

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The 6-bed room, which consisted of 3 wide bunk beds, an ensuite bathroom, and lots of space to move around:

SGMT | Amsterdam Stayokay Vondelpark

SGMT | Amsterdam Stayokay Vondelpark

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Breakfast situation: you get food, find a table, and return your plates and cutlery (but not have to wash them):

SGMT | Amsterdam Stayokay Vondelpark

SGMT | Amsterdam Stayokay Vondelpark

SGMT | Amsterdam Stayokay Vondelpark

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Also, the Leidseplein tram stop is just walking distance from Stayokay — doable even by seniors with heavy luggage — and the airport bus 397 also stops just across the road.

There are also activities like movie night and music sessions.

Those are the pros; I can’t seem to think of any cons right now. And this isn’t sponsored by the hostel, by the way, unless you consider the ice lolly the chef gave H a bribe. 😉

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Highly Recommended

Overall, we really loved Stayokay Amsterdam Vondelpark, we would stay there again without hesitation, and we would definitely recommend it to anyone — backpacker, flashpacker, arte-ish traveller, senior, kid, or all of the above — visiting Amsterdam.

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