Review: Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam

So glad to see this - hoping to stay here next summer, probably in a "deluxe" room on points. (I missed jumping on the Delta flight I asked you about on twitter, so rates are now $600 more expensive, but I digress.) It was very helpful to me how you were able to review so many kinds of rooms!

Don't have they have a hotel private garden? How was that?

I've stayed at the Pulitzer, and as an SPG Platinum, I received the same benefits, same excellent welcome, and same service that you did. I actually paid for my room when I visited last October, but the rate was about EUR210 on a last minute special, so it didn't pay to redeem starpoints.

Like you, I did find the property to be a bit of a maze, and I did experience that slightly musty and damp odor. But I have found that same musty odor throughout the city in other properties as well. I suspect that some it comes from all of the rain that they get and the fact that most of the city is technically below sea level.

The breakfast buffet is quite good. Not only will they make eggs to order, but they will also make griddle items like pancakes, waffles, french toast as well upon request.

The rooms (and especially the bathrooms) are a bit small for my taste, but I think that adds to the charm of these 17th century houses which have been joined into a hotel. My biggest criticism is that most of the rooms lack sufficient drawer space to allow you to fully unpack.

Thanks so much for mentioning the wieldy walk. When we stayed, I had a mobility problem that caused difficulty walking. Shlepping a small rollaboard, I almost burst into tears when I saw all those stairs. I have no issues in other hotels, but this aspect of the Pulitzer is notable for anyone who may have issues. Other than that aspect, we loved the place.

@ Joe -- Yep, that's where the patio was where I had coffee most days. 🙂

Y did you not try the Waldorf? Soooooo much better than what this seems to be.. I really hate this sort of makeshift hotel... kind of like a better version of the Krasnapolsky...

I thought this place was great when I stayed on points a couple years ago. My recollection of the room was much nicer than what I see in your pics. Perhaps I was upgraded and didn't realize it, but i recall my room being substantially larger than any of your pics suggest, and room quality felt St Regis like.

And btw, who says you're not a "destination blogger"?

I was in Amsterdam almost exactly a month ago, and we split between 2 nights at the new Waldorf Astoria and 3 nights at the Andaz. The nights at the Waldorf were free using the 2 free weekend night certificates I got from getting the Citi Hilton Reserve card. We got upgraded at check-in from a standard king room to a canal view with a queen bed. Room was small but comfortable. The Waldorf is 6 old houses/buildings (one was a bank, which is reflected in the hotel bar (the bartender Martin was awesome!)), so it's got a maze-feel similar to what Lucky describes in the Hotel Pulitzer. To get to our room we had to go up in the elevator, cross through 2 or 3 buildings using hallways that didn't line up between the different buildings, and then go down a set of stairs. Breakfast spread was disappointing and overpriced. There was free bottled water in the gym, but not in the rooms.

The Andaz really hit it out of the park for us! Got the points + cash rate, plus used a Diamond suite upgrade. At check-in, we learned that we had been pre-upgraded further to the Andaz Large Suite, which was an absolutely gorgeous suite. Free non-alcoholic beverages and snacks in the minibar is a great Andaz feature, since we were always carrying around water as we wandered the city. Service all around was wonderful and super friendly. Breakfast was far superior to the Waldorf, with one particular waitress that couldn't have been more excited and joyful each morning. As Lucky commented, the lobby was amazing. The decor and everything else about the hotel just has an energy that is infectious. By comparison, the Waldorf felt stodgy -- very nice, new, and high-end, but in a dull kind of way. Next time in Amsterdam, it's back to the Andaz for us.

"and a package of stroopwafels every day. OMFG they’re delicious."

...that's why it says (translated) "the tastiest stroopwafels" on the wrapper 🙂

side note: this is where my parents got married 30 years ago.

Glad you enjoyed Holland!

Whilst marginally out of the way, but still on the water, the IC Amstel is far superior. A 'proper' (but still century old) luxury hotel and only 40k IHG points per night. It also has a bar directly on the water.

I hate the Pulitzer, the standard rooms, if you are not Platinum, are appallingly small.

The charm of this property, as well as the outstanding breakfast, far outweigh the minor inconvenience of the hallways. (Mobility issues stipulated.) It's one of my favorite spg properties anywhere.

I stay in quite enough clone Westins already. Can't tell if I'm in Dallas or DC in those. This one is a breath of (slightly damp) fresh air.

@ Jay -- I would have liked to, but paid rates were very high and high end redemptions through HHonors are outrageously expensive.

My wife and I have always really enjoyed the Pulitzer. That said, I had always stayed here as a Platinum and nowadays I'm a lowly (lifetime) Gold so I suspect we may not be crazy with our room going forward.

"Like, I almost burned as many calories walking to and from the gym as I did at the actual gym."

Bitch much?

Can you please explain to me why you take pictures of toilets? Arrrrrrrrgggggg. I just don't get it. I need someone, anyone, to please explain that to me, please.................

@AI - please understand that there some of us who find this type of information useful. As when bloggers tell me that the trip to Border control is darn near a day trip in some airports, etc. There are travelers/readers with actual mobility issues who appreciate the info. I know from bloggers which airports I can maneuver and which I need to request assistance. (Not to mention when many consider us as "wheelchair miracles" who abuse the system.)

I am delighted for you that you are unaffected by these issues, so I only ask that you view it as valid critique as some of us do, rather than just as "bitching."

A little empathy, please. Believe me, I would trade places with you in a second.,

@ Spark Lemonstra -- For Mark.

Seeing your photos brings back good and bad (service) memories of my Amsterdam weekend. I stayed at the Pulitzer on points, Gold with a lovely upgraded room (I didn't like the multiple emails to pay to upgrade to canal view). The stroopwafels were outstanding as were the toiletries and chocolates. The location was good especially for my first visit. Their private boat "The Tourist" was a fantastic way to tour the canals (for a fee but you don't need to be a guest). On the down side, I had some service issues in the restaurant and room service so much so that the manager requested a sit down to apologize/credit my bill during my stay. I then almost missed my flight to London for work due to a concierge error in booking my airport transit. The manager put me in a cab (he paid for) and I just barely made it to the gate security before cutoff. The concierge team during my stay was not as good as their Facebook page (which has great info and suggestions).

I stayed here 2 winters ago. I used points and was Gold, which wasn't recognized and had to ask them to credit me for the wifi. I paid for the breakfast which I loved since I was majorly jetlagged from India and slept early/skipped dinner often. Since Indonesia used to be their colony, they had a full congee (hot porridge) spread which was a pleasant surprise. I ended up forgetting a blazer in the closet. They wanted 50 euros to mail it back to the US without tracking... or 200 euros to mail it back with tracking. YIKES!

"For Mark" LMAO!

@MrLincoln - I 100% agree. If you're comparing a unique hotel like the Pulitzer to "proper hotels" like the IC or Waldorf, of course the Pulitzer will pale in comparison. They serve different interests. My wife and I absolutely loved the Pulitzer *because* it's built from formerly middle-class homes and retains much of that feel and charm. I feel like I'm staying in someone's home in Amsterdam, with the amenities of a hotel down the hall. I much prefer that to feeling like I'm staying at a New York hotel, which happened to be transplanted to Amsterdam. There's a significant difference by design, and that should be taken into account while drawing comparisons.

My wife and I stayed there for our 1st anniversary, and even as a lowly SPG Preferred Plus (SPG AmEx) at the time, we were recognized quite well. I merely mentioned in passing to the front desk associate that we were having our anniversary, and she sent up a great bottle of champagne, some chocolates, a small gift, and a handwritten note thanking us for choosing the Pulitzer. We certainly did not expect this, and very much appreciated their attention.

I've read a lot of hit-or-miss stories about the Pulitzer, and I personally believe that a lot of it comes from false expectations of what the Pulitzer is. They are not a "luxury" hotel in the sense of a St Regis or Waldorf. Frankly, it's more like a top-notch bed-and-breakfast than it is a "proper" hotel, and I personally think that's a great thing.

Hope you tried the poffertjes at breakfast. They were sooooo good.

@lucky yeah I think I know what you mean I paid $311 Euros but got an upgrade to a one bedroom suite so it was ok, $311 was a discounted rate for a junior suite sigh but I think it is the best hotel, you should try if sometime if you manage to get a decent rate. They probably do not have such extensive breakfast like Pulitzer though, I know you love your in house food, haha plus no freebies at Waldorf no lounge no breakfast 🙁

For anyone with legit mobility issues looking to stay here, ask the hotel about one of the wheelchair accessible rooms. I stayed at this property a couple of years ago and was given a room on the ground floor, practically in the lobby, and it was an accessible room. I didn't need it, nor did I request it, they were just fully booked and it's what they gave me. The room was probably the most spacious non-suite rooms I've ever had in Europe (bathroom and the rest of the room).

Of course the room is intended for the guests who truly need the accessibility, but after being assigned it I certainly appreciate the space and not having to schlep through the maze.

@Lucky I stayed at the Hotel Pulitzer last month. There was a bit of a snafu at check-in and ended up with an Executive Room with Courtyard View as opposed to promised suite (Platinum). I opted for Cash + Points as it wasn't a 5 night stay (4 cents per point value). Bathrooms were small even for Western Europe but the rooms were quite nice and felt very authentic. The Stroopwafels were outstanding and the breakfast was solid although by the time I arrived the fruit selection was greatly diminished. Kudos to you for making it to the gym. I definitely want to try the Andaz next time I'm in AMS. Thanks for the thorough review, you did the Pulitzer justice.

In almost 20 years of traveling, this is only the second time we have felt compelled to write a review.
We have been coming to Amsterdam 2 to 3 times a year for the past 15 years. By now, we have stayed in almost every 4- and 5-star hotel in the city. The Pulitzer was one of the last ones we stayed at. The service, amenities, and general hotel operation was *maybe* equal to a 3-star hotel. Upon arrival, we had to look for a porter to help us with our bags, and after check-in we had to take our own bags to our room. Our stay was for three days, and twice, we had to have our keys reactivated. Both times, we had to wait 5 to 10 minutes to get it done, and when we mentioned the second time that this just happened yesterday, we got a blank stare, and were asked “how much longer are you staying?” Often, when leaving or entering the hotel, we were not greeted by the doorman who was either busy chatting with his collegues, or absent completely. The staff behind the front desk were either chatting (sometimes loudly) amongst themselves, or were absent, and/or slow to help. The towels in our bathroom were hard, old, and did not even maintain their shape; they were like the towels you stop using at home and start using for the dog (see photos attached). There was also a full mini-bar price list, but the mini-bar itself was empty. The only saving grace was the comfortable bed, and Joan (a desk manager) who expressed understanding. When we asked to talk to the manager of the hotel, it was obvious that the default position of the staff was “he is unavailable.” In fact, due to Joan, the management was informed regarding our feedback, and we received an email from CAROLINE VAN KESSEL, personal assistant to the general manager, apologizing at great length, and requesting a phone number to contact us. We replied with all our contact information, and almost a week later, have not been contacted. The staff at the hotel excused the conditions by explaining that they were undergoing renovations. Hotel renovation would not normally cause absent doormen, loud and unhelpful desk staff, and old towels.

In almost 20 years of traveling, this is only the second time we have felt compelled to write a review.
We have been coming to Amsterdam 2 to 3 times a year for the past 15 years. By now, we have stayed in almost every 4- and 5-star hotel in the city. The Pulitzer was one of the last ones we stayed at. The service, amenities, and general hotel operation was *maybe* equal to a 3-star hotel. Upon arrival, we had to look for a porter to help us with our bags, and after check-in we had to take our own bags to our room. Our stay was for three days, and twice, we had to have our keys reactivated. Both times, we had to wait 5 to 10 minutes to get it done, and when we mentioned the second time that this just happened yesterday, we got a blank stare, and were asked “how much longer are you staying?” Often, when leaving or entering the hotel, we were not greeted by the doorman who was either busy chatting with his collegues, or absent completely. The staff behind the front desk were either chatting (sometimes loudly) amongst themselves, or were absent, and/or slow to help. The towels in our bathroom were hard, old, and did not even maintain their shape; they were like the towels you stop using at home and start using for the dog (see photos attached). There was also a full mini-bar price list, but the mini-bar itself was empty. The only saving grace was the comfortable bed, and Joan (a desk manager) who expressed understanding. When we asked to talk to the manager of the hotel, it was obvious that the default position of the staff was “he is unavailable.” In fact, due to Joan, the management was informed regarding our feedback, and we received an email from Carolinne van Kessel, personal assistant to the general manager, apologizing at great length, and requesting a phone number to contact us. We replied with all our contact information, and almost a week later, have not been contacted. The staff at the hotel excused the conditions by explaining that they were undergoing renovations. Hotel renovation would not normally cause absent doormen, loud and unhelpful desk staff, and old towels.

Don't know whether anyone is checking this post any longer, but I'm heading to Amsterdam in April (yeah, for the bulbs!), and will probably be at the Andaz. Can I have breakfast at the Pulitzer? viz, do they offer it to the public for a price? It looks wonderful. Not my sort of hotel, but the food looks worth the short walk over.

The Pulitzer restaurant occupies the back corner of the hotel and has its own entrance - looks like every other restaurant. So, yes def open to public. I personally really enjoyed their breakfast.

Ben, i just finished a stay there last weekend and was upgraded from their "generous room" to their best suite - the book collector's suite with private entrance, canal view etc . It was an excellent stay, we had our own "library" and the bathroom was a lot bigger than your pics. They have also changed their toiletry brand to my favorite "Le Labo" and the sizes of their bottles were far bigger than the ones given at Fairmont hotels. Their restaurant has been rebranded to "Jansz", a new upmarket restaurant in Amsterdam. The breakfast was very good, albeit with not a lot of varieties; I didn't see any champagne though. There wasn't any musty odor from what I recalled. Instead now the hotel is subtly perfumed with Le Labo Santal scent, very elegant....