In England, we have a saying - 'Location, location location' - and this is so appropriate for Neil’s apartment: it just can’t be bettered. The apartment is at the junction of two of Amsterdam’s main canals with amazing views in every direction. Anne Frank's house is diagonally opposite one way and the magnificent Westerkerk is the other way. You hear the bells in the background and they're just fabulous, charming but not intrusive. There is a ticket and tour office adjacent to Anne Frank's house for anything you want to book, while Amsterdam’s top attractions are all easily accessible. There is a fantastic range of bars and cafes on the doorstep. I was only there for 2 nights, but there is also a supermarket close by if you wanted to prepare food in the apartment.
The apartment itself is in a beautiful, old building - full of character and the kind of place that makes you really feel you're staying in 'true Amsterdam'. You have to climb a flight of stairs to the apartment but they're not too steep at all compared to what we experienced elsewhere. And inside, it felt warm, welcoming and luxuriously appointed with top of the range facilities and appliances - we loved the radio that was an integral part of the mirror in one of the bathrooms! I'm someone who really values a comfy bed on my travels and I wasn't disappointed - it was super comfortable with top quality bedding, with towels provided too. All in all the attention to detail and comfort was apparent throughout the apartment and this made it feel like a 'home from home' where I could truly relax. There is so much to see in Amsterdam but it was also lovely to collapse on the sofa in front of the huge television and watch a DVD. In the apartment there is a very detailed information folder, guide books and literature to help you make the most of your stay.
I met Neil and Jonathan who were friendly and welcoming, and they also had lots of tips and suggestions based on their local knowledge.
Overall I can’t recommend Neil’s place highly enough. This is a fantastic place to stay in the heart of Amsterdam, and one I'm almost reluctant to write such a positive review about incase it's booked up next time I want to go!