Review: the Element Amsterdam hotel – a new Starwood brand hits Europe (Part 2)

Here is part two of my review of the Element Amsterdam hotel, the second European outpost – after Frankfurt – of Starwood’s new eco-friendly ‘extended stay’ hotel brand.  You can read Part 1 of my Element Amsterdam hotel review here.

Next to the reception is a small 24/7 shop where guests can pick up pasta, wine and other last minute items.  As all of the rooms have kitchens this means that you can get what you need to rustle up a quick meal.

Above the reception is a bright and open lounge area that leads to the restaurant My Place.

As wifi is fast and reliable throughout the whole hotel, the lounge area is actually a nice place to do some work if you want to rather sit in a communal space than your room.

Restaurants at Element Amsterdam

The Element Amsterdam hotel has two restaurants and one rooftop terrace.

My Place

My Place serves a breakfast buffet in the morning and a la carte throughout the day and evening. Breakfast is included in all room rates.

There was a good selection of bread (good bread), pastries, cold cuts, cheese and boiled eggs as well as cereals and yoghurts.

The highlight were the two smoothie makers with freshly prepared fruit smoothies.

The dining area of My Place is designed like a living room with sofas and round tables.  If sofas and round tables aren’t your thing, there were also square tables and chairs as well.

577 Rooftop Terrace

Outside My Place is a roof top terrace that unfortunately isn’t in use during Autumn and Winter. Looking at the press picture below it’s a great place to have a drink when it’s warm and sunny.

I got the impression that the Element Amsterdam is keen to remind guests of its eco-friendly concept throughout the hotel. The staircase that takes you from My Place to Carrots & Co (see below) for example has been decorated with empty wine bottles.

Carrots & Co

Carrots & Co is a brasserie on the ground floor with access from the street as well as from the hotel’s reception area. It serves great coffee and small bites.

Carrots & Co has got a bright sitting area at the back that is ideal for coffee meetings.

The gym

The gym was spacious with modern equipment.

(I also found out how to take the perfect gym selfie by observing a guy who came into the gym, lifted weights for two minutes, took a selfie, did another two minutes of weights, took another selfie and then left.  That’s definitely less time consuming than working out for an hour and taking a super sweaty selfie. Not that I would do that….)

As Element Amsterdam is an extended stay hotel aimed at business people who will spend more than just a few days in the hotel (although there is no minimum stay and you are free to book in for just one night if you wish), there is also a laundry room with washing machines and dryers.

Meeting rooms

Finally, Element Amsterdam has two meeting rooms that can be used individually or combined to seat up to 70 people.

Conclusion

When choosing a hotel you should think about what you need and expect before booking.  If you are planning a trip to Amsterdam for leisure with a focus on nightlife and culture, the Element is probably not in the right location for you and a kitchen is certainly not essential.

However if work brings you to Amsterdam and you want a ‘home away from home’ close to the business district, Element By Westin Amsterdam is a good option.

It is also a good ‘value’ choice.  Prices are far lower than the city centre and you get substantially more space.  As the hotel is only six months old, you also benefit from everything being ‘new and shiny’.  Remember that breakfast is also free.

It is also a good value Starwood Preferred Guest redemption at just 7,000 points per night.  If you are transferring Marriott Rewards across, it would require 21,000 Marriott points.

Everything you need, including two supermarkets, fashion stores and cafes, is less than 30 seconds away in the shopping centre. The main business district with its broad range of restaurants is a 10 minute walk or a short ride way in the free shuttle and it takes just 30 minutes to get to the airport.

The Element Amsterdam website is here if you want to book or learn more.

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How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points and status from UK credit cards (April 2024)

There are various ways of earning Marriott Bonvoy points from UK credit cards.  Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses.

The official Marriott Bonvoy American Express card comes with 20,000 points for signing up, 2 points for every £1 you spend and 15 elite night credits per year.

You can apply here.

You can also earn Marriott Bonvoy points by converting American Express Membership Rewards points at the rate of 2:3.

Do you know that holders of The Platinum Card from American Express receive FREE Marriott Bonvoy Gold status for as long as they hold the card?  It also comes with Hilton Honors Gold, Radisson Rewards Premium and MeliaRewards Gold status.  We reviewed American Express Platinum in detail here and you can apply here.

You can also earn Marriott Bonvoy points indirectly:

• American Express Gold (20,000 bonus Amex points)
• American Express Rewards Credit Card (10,000 bonus Amex points)

and for small business owners:

• American Express Business Gold (20,000 bonus Amex points)
• American Express Business Platinum (40,000 bonus Amex points)

The conversion rate from American Express to Marriott Bonvoy points is 2:3.

Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which can be used to earn Marriott Bonvoy points. 

(Want to earn more hotel points?  Click here to see our complete list of promotions from the major hotel chains or use the ‘Hotel Offers’ link in the menu bar at the top of the page.)