HOTEL TAMARA

Amsterdam’s buzzing hub, with its sprawling network of tram rails and a seemingly constant flow of tourists and commuters, yields convenient access to some of the best sightseeing, shopping, and street life in Europe. Closest at hand are the Royal Palace, the quaint shops of Haalremmerdijk, the pedestrianized zones Kalverstraat and Dam Square with popular neighborhoods such as the Red Light District, and the Canal Ring hardly more than a moment’s stroll away. With the well-connected Centraal Station as Centrum’s base, it's easy to travel farther afield via one of the city’s iconic trams.

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154Reviews4Q+A18Room tips

Apparently Hasn’t Changed

Since Amsterdam has been on my mind recently, I thought back to the time I visited the city during my college days. (Sorry about the date I entered for when I was there. If this review is not approved, I apologize.) Ah, what was the name of that hotel? Bridget and I got into town on a train from Paris around mid day. Being practical, the first thing we did was make sure we had a place to sleep. Being on a college student budget, we weren’t in the market for upscale. The Hotel Tamara. Yeah. That was the one! So we went inside and reserved a room, insisting on two beds; Bridget and I were merely traveling together. And off we went to explore Amsterdam, knowing we had a roof over our head. Night came, and we did some nighttime wandering through the most interesting surroundings. Okay. Time to head to The Hotel Tamara. We got to the door and managed to get the key into the handle which was very loose. When we opened the door, we were just as surprised as the two female French students who were in one of the beds. The room was double-booked. I could make up the rest of how the night played out. But for better or worse, smart or stupid, we all just laughed it off, figured it was late. We were tired and chalked it up to a goofy life experience. We checked out in the morning and spent the remaining nights of our visit in a youth hostel - marginally better. This was 36 years ago. I guess I got my money’s worth, if only for the memory.…

Date of stay: October 2018

Authentic and unpretentious

Every time I visit Hotel Tamara I'm greeted with a smile. We're lucky to have such affordable accommodation in central Amsterdam where you can be yourself. This family run establishment of 30+ years encourages you to "take it or leave it". Leave your expectations, ego and personal values at the door... #treatyourself.…

Date of stay: June 2019Trip type: Travelled with friends

Eaten alive by bed bugs

Didn't expect anything for the price we paid at short notice and it was King's day too! The whole place felt very dirty including the towels they supplied. I covered the grubby pillow with my own towel because couldn't bring myself to sleep on it without any protection from whatever was lurking beneath! In the morning I had one bite on my shoulder never thought about it being a bed bug then. On my return, I used a nightshirt which I had taken to the Tamara but not used the next morning I was literally covered down mainly my right side in bites - the first thing I thought of was bed bugs! Looking on trip advisor I was shocked to read that nearly all the reviews mentioned bed bugs - so the towel I used to protect my self from the filthy pillow must have had them in it when I put it into my suitcase - they then must have made a home in the nightshirt! See the photo - I still after nearly 2 weeks have got the remainder of the bites which look terrible still!! Book somewhere else not here.…

Date of stay: April 2019Trip type: Travelled as a couple

Awful Experience

The only good thing is that hotel location is close to city centre and famous places like Red Light District. However the the service and our stay at the hotel was very bad. Room was very tiny and toilets were generally dirty. If you have another options, don't recommend you to consider that hotel among the alternatives.…

Date of stay: April 2018

Value

Cleanliness

Service

Trip type: Travelled with friends

Not a hotel at all - just a downmarket backpackers hostel, and unsafe at that!

Among the things we disliked about this establishment: - if a hotel in Torquay was the inspiration for Fawlty Towers, this so-called hotel must surely have been the inspiration for Hitchcock's horror movies. - Our room was "furnished" with junk items with no regard for the guest's comfort. - The bolts sticking out from the inside of the front door ripped one of our backpacks as we attempted to squeeze through the opening ahead of it shutting on us. - The grumpy old recetionis man took a perverse delight in telling me we were on the top floor as all the other rooms were booked (we booked 8 months in advance) and that there was no lift. His amusement seemed intentionally insensitive to my exhaustion at reaching the first floor reception area. But it's worse than that! This place is unfit for human habitation. Here's why: - the narrow, steep stairs need to be be navigated backwards when descending with your suitcase unless you are an experienced rock-climber, circus acrobat or submariner. - Being in my 70s, the staircase would make my regular trips to the toilet located on the floor below so hazardous, we eventually sought other accommodation for the remainder of our stay. - On our floor, there was no evidence of a smoke alarm, fire extinguisher or fire escape. Nor was there an evacuation plan. - The tiny window was too small to get through if a fire occurred. - Our room measured 2.2 x. 2.5 meters, far smaller than the minimum requirement for a bedroom in any western country. - We assume the bad tempered old man that runs this place smokes in his room, making the risk of fire higher than otherwise. If a fire broke out everyone in the building would be toast. This all begs the question of whether the Netherlands has any health and safety requirements at all for guest accommodation whatsoever. If it does, and we assume so as most western countries do, then this place must surely be operating without a permit. Don't put yourself at risk... stay anywhere else you can!…

Date of stay: August 2018Trip type: Travelled as a couple