Having been to Amsterdam a couple times before this visit, we were very familiar with the area. That said, we he never stayed on a houseboat before and it proved to enhance our experience ten-fold. The houseboat itself is located close to all the tourist action in Amsterdam, so if you need a spot that is central for walking or riding bikes, this is it! It's a lovely home with all of the essentials and if you are staying longer than a week, like we did, there is even a washer / dryer in the boat so you can avoid bringing a bag you must check. Our favorite feature of the houseboat was the extremely large picture windows and the outside deck. It was so fun to see all the boats full of tourists drive by! In the evenings after a long day of walking around town seeing things, we would come to the deck and sit outside on the water and drink wine. Many people aren't fortunate enough to ever experience something as magical as this, but Caroline offers the chance and staying in her houseboat is very cost effective when compared to 3, 4, and 5 star hotels. Caroline can also offer new visitors plenty of suggestions on places to go and things to see - including offering a 10% discount off a bike rental at a local shop. She was a wonderful host and I know we will come back to Amsterdam next year, we very well may request another visit to her lovely houseboat. It is beyond worth it and no hotel with a balcony can compare to this experience.