After three nights at Hotel Des Indes in Den Haag, I took the train to Amsterdam for five nights at Hotel Putlizer.
As I explained in the introduction post, rates were crazy expensive, as you’d expect in Amsterdam in summer. As much as I struggle with redeeming Starpoints (since I value them so highly so tend to be a hoarder), this was an absolute no brainer.
The paid rate was 334EUR per night, so five nights would have cost me 1,670EUR. Instead I could redeem 12,000 Starpoints per night with the fifth night free, so it was like paying 9,600 Starpoints per night. At well over four cents per Starpoint, that was a redemption value I was quite happy with. Unfortunately, as of 2015, this property is no longer affiliated with Marriott/SPG.
I was really looking forward to my stay, as I’ve heard quite mixed reviews about Hotel Pulitzer. People either seem to love or hate it, with very few feeling indifferently towards it. Last time I visited Amsterdam, I stayed at the Andaz Amsterdam, which I really liked all things considered, despite a few hiccups. It’s an absolutely gorgeous and quirky property, and literally less than a five minute walk from Hotel Pulitzer. So I don’t think hotels get more “directly” competitive than the Andaz and the Hotel Pulitzer.
Hotel Putlizer is about a 15-minute walk from the main train station in the city.
View from Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam
View from Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam
The exterior looks unique, as is the case with many hotels in Amsterdam — it’s part of what I find so charming about them. Hotel Pulitzer is made up of nine different houses that were bought several decades ago and converted into a hotel.
Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam exterior
Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam exterior
Just inside the entrance was the reception area to the right. There I was quickly helped by a friendly associate, who had me checked in within minutes. He explained that I had been upgraded to a family room, that I was entitled to late check-out, and also explained that I would receive 500 Starpoints as a welcome amenity plus complimentary breakfast. That’s very generous, as ordinarily you can opt for complimentary breakfast in lieu of the 500 Starpoint bonus, but this hotel gives you both.
Furthermore, the guest relations manager was called over to greet me since I was a Platinum member, and she told me to contact her if I needed anything. I thought that was a really nice touch.
Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam lobby
Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam reception desk
Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam lobby
Hotel Pulitzer is unique. Really, really unique. It’s so unique that no two rooms are the same, and that not even all rooms on the same floor of the hotel are connected, as there are multiple “sections.” In a way that was charming, but in another way it felt like a maze. I’ve never seen so many people lost in a hotel.
Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam walkway to room
Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam walkway to room
Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam walkway to room
I was assigned room 523, a family room on the fifth floor.
Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam Family Room entrance
Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam floorplan
Not surprisingly the hotel was completely sold out, so I wasn’t expecting much of an upgrade, and figured this would be a nice upgrade. The room was indeed unique and charming… in a way.
Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam Family Room entryway
It featured a king size bed, and then a chair close to the window, and desk on the opposite side of the room.
Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam Family Room
Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam Family Room
Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam Family Room desk
Then there were stairs that led up to the second floor, where there were two twin beds. Of course this would be an awesome setup if I were traveling with a family, and I’m sure kids would love the “feel” of the upstairs area, but since I was alone it was totally wasted space.
Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam Family Room extra beds
Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam Family Room view from upper level
The bathroom was on the small side, and featured a sink, toilet, and shower/tub combo.
Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam Family Room bathroom
Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam Family Room bathroom
Despite how small it was, I did appreciate the attention to detail and art, which impressed me.
Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam Family Room shower
My biggest complaint about the room was the view. It didn’t have a canal view, or even a courtyard view, but rather had what felt like a prison view.
Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam Family Room view
I just really disliked the view, and the room had an odd odor. Like I said, I appreciated the upgrade and if I were traveling with a family I’d be thrilled. But since I was traveling alone I really would have preferred a standard room with a view of the canal or even a courtyard.
So I went to the front desk and thanked them for the upgrade, though asked if by chance they had another type of room available, even if it was a standard room. They said they could move me to a standard room, and then when the hotel wasn’t quite as full in a couple of days, they could move me to a better room.
I appreciated how accommodating they were, so gladly took a classic room for a couple of nights.
This time I was assigned room 394, located on the third floor in a different corridor of the hotel. It was literally built into the roof.
Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam hallway
Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam Classic Room bathroom
Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam floorplan
The room was tiny but charming. I loved the vaulted ceiling, but it was so “low” that I could really only stand up straight in the center of the room.
Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam Classic Room
Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam Classic Room
Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam Classic Room ceiling
It featured a flat screen TV and desk.
Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam Classic Room desk & TV
And even though the courtyard view is considered the less premium view at this hotel, it’s amazing how much nicer it felt in comparison to my previous room.
Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam Classic Room view
The bathroom in this room was tiny — I felt like I was on a cruise ship.
Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam Classic Room bathroom
Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam Classic Room shower
Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam Classic Room toilet
For my last three nights I got moved to a canal view executive room, located on the third floor in yet another part of the hotel.
Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam hallway to Executive Room
Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam Executive Room entrance
Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam floorplan
The room wasn’t huge, but was spacious and had beautiful views.
Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam Executive Room
It featured a king size bed on one side of the room, and a desk with chair and TV on the other side of the room. There was also a chair with a side table by the window.
Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam Executive Room
Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam Executive Room
Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam Executive Room
Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam Executive Room desk
Since I spend quite a bit of my time working from hotel rooms, I loved working while overlooking the canal, touristy as it may sound.
Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam Executive Room view
The bathroom in this room was also slightly larger. It still wasn’t huge, but at least larger. It featured a sink, shower/tub combo, and toilet.
Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam Executive Room bathroom
Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam Executive Room toilet
Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam Executive Room shower
The toiletries were “The Green Deep” branded.
Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam Classic Room toiletries
For what it’s worth, in-room internet was legitimately high speed, which I appreciated.
There were also a couple of nice touches from housekeeping every day. When the room got serviced I received two bottles of water and a package of stroopwafels every day. OMFG they’re delicious.
Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam Classic Room water and stroopwafels
At turndown service they also had chocolates inside cute houses.
Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam Classic Room turndown service chocolates
In terms of the hotel’s other facilities, there’s an espresso bar off the lobby, which serves coffee, sandwiches, etc.
Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam Espresso Bar
They have indoor seating for the espresso bar, though also an outside patio, which I loved.
Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam Espresso Bar seating
You can’t beat working from a patio in gorgeous weather with a cappuccino.
Hotel Pulitzer courtyard
Hotel Pulitzer courtyard
Hotel Pulitzer courtyard
The hotel’s main restaurant is Keizersgracht 238, which is also where breakfast is served.
Hotel Pulitzer Restaurant Keizersgracht 238 entrance
It’s a beautiful restaurant, and actually kind of funny because they have a satirical mural on the wall (I didn’t actually look closely enough at it until someone pointed it out to me).
Hotel Pulitzer Restaurant Keizersgracht 238
Hotel Pulitzer Restaurant Keizersgracht 238
Hotel Pulitzer Restaurant Keizersgracht 238
As a Platinum member I had access to the full buffet, which was an impressive spread. For one, they had champagne every day, not that I’m going to drink that early in the morning.
Hotel Pulitzer Restaurant Keizersgracht 238 breakfast buffet
Then in the room by the entryway they had all kinds of pastries, muffins, bread, croissants, etc.
Hotel Pulitzer Restaurant Keizersgracht 238 breakfast buffet
Hotel Pulitzer Restaurant Keizersgracht 238 breakfast buffet
Hotel Pulitzer Restaurant Keizersgracht 238 breakfast buffet
Hotel Pulitzer Restaurant Keizersgracht 238 breakfast buffet
And then in the dining area they had cereal, meat, cheese, fruit, yogurt, smoothies, as well as a few hot dishes.
Hotel Pulitzer Restaurant Keizersgracht 238 breakfast buffet
Hotel Pulitzer Restaurant Keizersgracht 238 breakfast buffet
Hotel Pulitzer Restaurant Keizersgracht 238 breakfast buffet
Hotel Pulitzer Restaurant Keizersgracht 238 breakfast buffet
Hotel Pulitzer Restaurant Keizersgracht 238 breakfast buffet
They servers also offered cooked to order eggs, so one morning I had a veggie omelet.
Hotel Pulitzer Restaurant Keizersgracht 238 breakfast
The hotel also had a fairly nice gym, which is open 24 hours.
Hotel Pulitzer gym entrance
The decor for the gym is oddly “classy” compared to the rest of the hotel.
Hotel Pulitzer gym
Hotel Pulitzer gym
Hotel Putlizer Amsterdam Bottom Line
I both absolutely love and slightly dislike this property.
Let’s start with the positives. All the staff at the hotel were friendly and awesome, so I couldn’t have asked for more when it comes to service. Along similar lines, elite recognition was excellent. I didn’t get any huge upgrade, but that was simply because they were sold out. They clearly go above and beyond when it comes to elite recognition, as I was greeted by the guest relations manager and Platinum members receive both breakfast and a 500 Starpoint amenity (most hotels only offer one or the other).
I also love how unique the hotel is. Like, the fact that this hotel exists is amazing, given that it’s basically a bunch of houses that are mostly preserved and turned into a hotel. Similarly, you can’t beat the location of being right on Prinsengracht, which is about as picturesque as Amsterdam gets.
All that being said, the hotel was definitely at least somewhat “shabby chic” and rough around the edges. I guess that’s part of the charm given the history, though you definitely notice it.
What’s really annoying but what I also can’t blame the hotel for is how much of a pain it is to walk around the hotel. Don’t get me wrong, it’s totally unavoidable given that the hotel is a bunch of houses combined, but I’ve never walked up and down so many stairs and through so many hidden corridors in order to get to my room.
Like, I almost burned as many calories walking to and from the gym as I did at the actual gym.
So it’s an absolutely lovely hotel all things considered. It’s a great use of points, especially in summer (though in winter when rates are lower you might be better off booking through American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts® or Starwood Luxury Privileges).
I do, however, think I slightly prefer the Andaz Amsterdam, all things being equal. The decor of the hotel is a bit “fresher” (given that it’s brand new), the rooms are a bit bigger, and the lobby is stunning.
Still, this is an awesome Starwood option to have in Amsterdam.
Have you stayed at Hotel Putlizer, and if so, what was your experience?
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