I say it often and continue to say it: there is little to nothing better than a good, really good hotel where you don't have to leave the house. And then I'm one too suckers for the classics. So when the rental house had to be vacated and the owner-occupied house was not yet in a dormant state, a staycation seemed to be the only solution. What else. By the way, that staycation started at Pillows Hotel Anna van den Vondel, after treatment Sanne Swinkels Skincare, both without beloved supporters of husband and dog, and ended at the Kimpton de Witt, brand new in the heart of Amsterdam, with husband and dog. More about that soon.

Anyway. So staycation. Rule 1 for everyone with a dog: the more chic/expensive/better the hotel, the greater the chance that dogs will be welcome. That + the above love for De Klassiekers = the Amstel Hotel. Or actually, recovery, the InterContinental Amstel Amsterdam. But we can say Het Amstel. And so it happened.

Have we ever been to the hotel? Does Lee Towers have glasses? Yes, we have certainly been there before. We come a few times every summer to hang out on the terrace, one of the nicest places in the city (read here everything about that terrace), a (fashion) party would (rightly) like to be held in the Amstel (and we would like to be there) and we even had the rooms in living room, thanks to a (fashion) shoot seen in person. But slept? No. Not yet.

The hotel is standing as we speak partly covered in scaffolding due to a thorough renovation. Not surprising when you consider that the hotel has existed for 150 years this year. 150 years! A number of rooms (the executive rooms are the most 'simple' rooms, still ballrooms, and they have the most fantastic historic wallpaper that matches the blankets and the pillows and the slippers - please, dear people of the Amstel Hotel, never change that) is logically behind those scaffolding, but that has been solved well with a translucent material - you hardly notice anything. With this in mind, you can of course ask for a different room when booking... And then you can easily find one of the rooms with a view over the Amstel. Beautiful morning sun on the water. Or a big raindrop pattering on the roof of the saloon boat in front of the door. Both actually equally magnificent. Oh, and when it rains, that's a great time to grab the VR glasses that are in most rooms of the hotel and that show you places in the hotel that you normally can't get to. On the roof, for example.

Speaking of magnificent: THAT BREAKFAST! But really. I honestly cannot remember that we have had such an extensive and good breakfast in a hotel, at home or abroad, all including a fixed price of 36 euros (special items such as caviar can be ordered for an additional charge). This means that you can choose from the menu (eggs benedict! pancakes!) and from the buffet with 10 types of fresh fruit, eleven types of breakfast cereals and a variety of breads, cakes, pies and other sweet and savory foods. Not to mention the toppings (salmon! avocado! all kinds of ham and cheese and vegetables! capers! onions - really, everything is there). Can't be missed.

If you want too staycationing at the Amstel (fixed), and you live in Amsterdam, then there is good news: because of the 150th anniversary of the Amsterdam Icon, the Amstel Hotel invites Amsterdammers to stay overnight for 150 euros per person. Includes breakfast and use of the health club. I hear you sigh: I'm just going to exercise in the Amstel, right? I understand. Me neither. But this club has a sun terrace. With sun loungers. On the Amstel. Ha! Perfect place for after the above breakfast. Or better: for it. Send an email does the trick. Which can here. Simple. InterContinental Amstel Amsterdam