http://www.trivago.co.uk/schiphol-88070/hotel/hilton-amsterdam-airport-schiphol-14113 http://www.trivago.co.uk/schiphol-88070/hotel/hilton-amsterdam-airport-schiphol-14113 http://ie2.trivago.com/images/layoutimages/logos/default.png http://www.trivago.co.uk/schiphol-88070/hotel/hilton-amsterdam-airport-schiphol-14113/picture-i9840304 Sat, 13 Oct 2012 17:44:00 +0200 ]]> http://www.trivago.co.uk/schiphol-88070/hotel/hilton-amsterdam-airport-schiphol-14113/picture-i9840300 Sat, 13 Oct 2012 17:44:00 +0200 ]]> http://www.trivago.co.uk/schiphol-88070/hotel/hilton-amsterdam-airport-schiphol-14113/picture-i9840296 Sat, 13 Oct 2012 17:44:00 +0200 ]]> http://www.trivago.co.uk/schiphol-88070/hotel/hilton-amsterdam-airport-schiphol-14113/picture-i9840294 Sat, 13 Oct 2012 17:44:00 +0200 ]]> http://www.trivago.co.uk/schiphol-88070/hotel/hilton-amsterdam-airport-schiphol-14113/picture-i9840290 Sat, 13 Oct 2012 17:44:00 +0200 ]]> http://www.trivago.co.uk/schiphol-88070/hotel/hilton-amsterdam-airport-schiphol-14113/picture-i9840288 Sat, 13 Oct 2012 17:44:00 +0200 ]]> http://www.trivago.co.uk/schiphol-88070/hotel/hilton-amsterdam-airport-schiphol-14113/picture-i8782644 Sun, 12 Feb 2012 14:37:00 +0100 ]]> http://www.trivago.co.uk/schiphol-88070/hotel/hilton-amsterdam-airport-schiphol-14113/picture-i8782638 Sun, 12 Feb 2012 14:36:00 +0100 ]]> http://www.trivago.co.uk/schiphol-88070/hotel/hilton-amsterdam-airport-schiphol-14113/review-o385034 Sun, 21 Jun 2009 19:21:00 +0200
When I say that it wasn't much further away, I'm telling the truth - but only half of the story. It's not far but it can be very confusing to find the Hilton. I arrived, walked through the concourse where all the train tickets are sold and up the moving ramp at the far side towards the car parks, the Sheraton and the Hilton. I knew because I'd checked beforehand that I just had to get to the Sheraton and keep going and I oughtn't to be able to miss it. It's a bit of a trek - as most things are at Schiphol airport. For a small country, the Dutch certainly have a knack for taking up a lot of space where all things aeronautical are concerned.

So I walked, and walked and walked a bit more. I passed the Sheraton and kept going until suddenly I ran out of corridor and still hadn't found the Hilton. With no other visible alternative I took an elevator down to street level and eventually saw the Hilton, hidden away behind some brightly decorated synthetic cows who were 'grazing' on a small roundabout. One was painted Orange - the national colour - and the other in a strange design reminiscent of a Mondrian canvas - he was Dutch, so maybe that's why. In short, you can indeed walk to the hotel but you might wish you hadn't and for anyone who's a bit unsteady on their feet, there is a shuttle bus back at the terminal.

The Hilton is not one of the chain's newer hotels which tend to be quite extraordinary in their simplistic style and grace. Not this one! It was a bit dark and dingy but I was only going to be there for a night - as I'm sure most of their guests are - so my needs were fairly simple. I'd prepaid so check-in was a doddle. Looking around me the lobby was small and a bit dated and filled with people who had just arrived on flights or were just about to leave on them. The receptionist told me about the restaurants, the gym and pool and what time breakfast was served but I'd arrived tired and brought my own sandwiches and really just wanted to get to my room, get a shower and a bit of TV and hit the bed.

The room was smaller than most I've stayed in especially for an international chain but somehow despite the small size they seemed to have squeezed a lot into the space. The bed was more comfortable than normal in a land of overly soft beds and was decorated with an utterly functionless dark blue throw edged in deep yellow trim. This almost but not quite went with the blue and yellow striped headboard and matched the blue curtains and upholstery on the desk chair. Actually despite being small, they managed to squeeze in two armchairs and the world's teeniest coffee table. The desk was cluttered up with the tea and coffee tray and the telephone and had to serve as a bedside table too. The other side of the bed had a small side table with a lamp and an alarm clock and then almost everything else - TV, iron, trouser press, minibar, were all squeezed into the wardrobe unit. The bathroom was memorable only for the lovely toiletries which successfully distracted my attention from the rather drab shower and vanity unit.

As an airport hotel you'd expect good soundproofing and the hotel didn't disappoint on that level. I slept soundly despite being able to watch flights taking off through my bedroom window. I hadn't booked breakfast as I knew I'd get fed at my meeting so I happily repacked my things and headed off to the Sheraton the next morning, pausing only to return my room key and pay for my wi-fi access.

I wouldn't choose to spend a long time in this hotel and if I'd been with colleagues I'm sure I'd have spent more time exploring what they had to offer, but for a very convenient location at a more reasonable price than the Sheraton and with a lot less fuss than the hotels that need a shuttle bus, I'd certainly consider it again. And if you want to stay longer and travel into the city, the railway station is on your doorstep and can get you into the city centre in just a few minutes.]]> http://www.trivago.co.uk/schiphol-88070/hotel/hilton-amsterdam-airport-schiphol-14113/picture-i232681 Sat, 01 Sep 2007 17:50:00 +0200 ]]> http://www.trivago.co.uk/schiphol-88070/hotel/hilton-amsterdam-airport-schiphol-14113/picture-i232656 Sat, 01 Sep 2007 17:47:00 +0200 ]]> http://www.trivago.co.uk/schiphol-88070/hotel/hilton-amsterdam-airport-schiphol-14113/picture-i232641 Sat, 01 Sep 2007 17:46:00 +0200 ]]> http://www.trivago.co.uk/schiphol-88070/hotel/hilton-amsterdam-airport-schiphol-14113/picture-i232551 Sat, 01 Sep 2007 17:23:00 +0200 ]]> http://www.trivago.co.uk/schiphol-88070/hotel/hilton-amsterdam-airport-schiphol-14113/picture-i232531 Sat, 01 Sep 2007 17:21:00 +0200 ]]> http://www.trivago.co.uk/schiphol-88070/hotel/hilton-amsterdam-airport-schiphol-14113/rating-e20896 Sat, 01 Oct 2005 15:33:00 +0200