We just returned from Amsterdam and stayed with Guus. First, I would like to say that I have no reservations recommending that you stay with him. His apartment is beautiful with a view over the Amstel that was a joy to wake up every morning and see. It is clean, well kept, and in an ideal location. Everything you need for an extended stay (we stayed 11-12 days) is nearby and within walking distance. There are tons of reasonably priced and delicious restaurants just downstairs. I recommend the Italian place on the corner but just ask Guus, he is very friendly and knows the city well and can easily point you in the right direction.

At this location, if you want to see nothing but the tourist trap part of Amsterdam you will need bicycles. Don't let anyone scare you away from renting them, they are the best way to get around and safe and not difficult at all. In fact, riding around on the bikes is one of my favorite parts.

However, if that is your goal I highly recommend you reconsider. The museums are great but I beg of you to spend some time with the Dutch. They are almost universally friendly, healthy, relatively happy people that are rightfully proud of their home and eager to help you enjoy it as well. Guus, in that respect, is a great example.

Ask him to suggest some food to try (kapsalon, ertwensoep, stroopwaffel, herring, stampot, poffertjes, pannokoenken) or see if he can point you in the direction of some Dutch and Beligian beers (you'll like them even if you aren't a big beer fan). Ask him to point you to a cafe you can sit in for 4-6 hours and just enjoy you and your travel companions company. He helped us a bunch and even suggested a club for us (gays) to go dance the night away (and we did). To me, that's what Amsterdam is about and why I would stay with Guus again.

So just go, stop thinking about it. Stop trying to figure out the "best" place to stay and what to do and just relax, book Guus' place, show up and let him point you in the right direction. You won't be sorry you did.