Chic, arty, contemporary modern no frills hotels (Qbic Hotel Amsterdam)

Member Name: cdonkin

Product:	Qbic Hotel Amsterdam
Date:	16/04/09 (29 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cheap, great location for business , contemporary

Disadvantages: Breakfast, no frills

I spent a night in a Qbic Hotel in Amsterdam's World Trade Centre earlier this year on business travel. Personally I have never seen anything like the Qbic hotels. They are modern, stylish, chic no frills hotels for the business or budget traveller.

This hotel I stayed at is hidden away in the huge WTC though there are other Qbics located in Antwerp and Maastricht. It is located fairly close to the city centre so could be used as a base for the explorer, though it's prime location within the WTC gears it up for the business traveller. The world trade center is in the financial district and economic heart of Amsterdam.
It is also situated very close to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and the RAI Convention Centre.

We arrived quite late to the hotel and there was one member of staff there. He pointed us towards the self check - in computer which prints out your room card for you in true no thrills fashion. The lobby is decorated in an arty contemporary fashion. All the furniture is modern and bold colours, there are statues of people and pigs that guests use as a notebook, coffee tables, a large eating table in the breakfast bar, a few tvs and an Apple iMac. I was quite impressed with how the lobby was set up.

The rooms are all located down corridors with access doors only opened by your card. As you enter the rooms you are met by a neon glow. The lights in the room are blue and red neon giving it an increased arty feel. (You can turn these off and have normal lights.) The rooms aren't the largest i've ever seen but the layout gives lots of space.

The rooms are all open plan and are decribed as a "Cubi" a "cube-shaped state-of-the-art living space." Each Cubi features an extra long Hästens bed, Philippe Starck design bathroom elements, LCD TV, high-speed Internet, safe and an ingenious work-and-dine set. You get the impression you are in your own little pod!

The hotel has little in the way of it's own amenities, it doesn't have a restaurant, a gym, a dry cleaners etc etc. It is quite simply a lobby and a hotel. Very basic, very budget. Fortunately the World Trade Centre is it's own mini city with conference services, restaurants, cafes, banks, a post office, a supermarket, hairdressers, florist, gym and more.

Breakfast wasn't included for us but for 10 Euros we could have some. In retrospect i'd have gone to one of the cafes and had breakfast there as breakfast at the Qbic is no frills and basic ; a selection of cereals, pastries and fruit.

The price for the actual room isn't bad prices start from Euro69.00, inclusive of all taxes and fees. If I was to return to the WTC or surrounding area again i would definatly stay here. However for longer trips of more than a few days I think I would have to up my budget and go for a more "classic" hotel.

Summary: If I was to return to the WTC or surrounding area again i would definatly stay here.