TRAVEL: AMSTERDAM
Stroopwafels, the bike culture and the canals are just a few things I loved about Amsterdam. If you don’t know what Stroopwafel is…it’s a local Dutch pastry that is lathered with hot caramel sauce in between 2 thin waffles then placed on a waffle iron so that it comes out hot and crispy. Sold right?!
We spent 3 amazing days in Amsterdam thanks to Booking.com and stayed at one of the coolest hotels we’ve ever experienced! The QO Amsterdam Hôtel was such a stellar find.
The decor was modern and minimal but had a very cozy and warm vibe at the same time. The front desk informed us that all the concrete and carpets used in the hotels were salvaged from demo sites and reused throughout the hotel. The exterior of the building is all glass allowing them to conserve energy and the rooftop bar has its own greenhouse garden which makes for delicious organic fare at both the lobby restaurant and rooftop bar. I love when a hotel is environmentally conscious too. Apparently, the QO is one of the most sustainable hotels in all of Amsterdam.
During our stay, we hopped on the subway (literally next to the hotel) and explored mostly on foot. The city is so walkable and there’s so much too see that this was our preferred method. That said, we borrowed the hotel bikes to head to the market one day which was just as fun. You’ll notice that there’s no such thing as gridlock here or heavy traffic. You can always get to your destination easily.
I highly recommend heading to De 9 Straatjes or De Pijp and getting lost. There’s so many amazing cafes, restaurants, bars, and boutique shops along the way. We couldn’t resist tasting everything in sight and admiring the canals and the overall romantic vibe of the city. The best way to describe the city is with one word – “Gezellig”. It means everything from cozy, quaint, friendly to relaxing. If you haven’t already, I hope you guys have a chance to experience Amsterdam too!
This post was in partnership with Booking.com // Use this link to receive $40 cad off your next trip #bookingcom #partner
