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Sunday, May 28, 2017

citizenM Schiphol Airport, an amazing airport hotel!



It was our first time in Amsterdam. We decided to arrive rather late in the afternoon and wanted to spend the night close to the airport before heading to the city the next morning. What a great decision. I’ve never stayed at an airport hotel before and to be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect but then the citizenM hotel just looked so great that it won our hearts over the Internet, and then for real the minute we set out foot in their lobby.

We didn’t know the citizenM hotels around the world but quickly realised that we were about to stay in a luxury hotel with a contemporary edge and an eye on value. It was a great mix between futuristic and contemporary, sophisticated and witty.



When we arrived, we were offered to do a self check-in service, using touch screen terminals. We weren’t overly excited to do so because we were tired after the day but then the check-in was so easy and quick that we almost haven’t seen this one minute of our time going by when doing it.

We headed directly to the room before thinking about our dinner. The room had so called 'mood pads' to control TV, lights and temperature from an iPad. We could choose from a total of 6 pre-programmed moods (such as “romance”, “business” or “surprise me”) and 6 pre-programmed functional light-settings (“work”, “shower” or “read”). The mood pad also controls the blinds and the black-out curtain. Mr Handsome had some great fun playing with it as we arrived in the room. And OMG, that shower! I could call it space-age rain shower, especially when adding the violet or green light touch to the room.



The room was very comfortable and high-techy but not necessarily the most beautiful one I’ve ever stayed in. I’ve realised that the idea behind the hotel is to focus on what well travelled people look for in a hotel. Instead of making the room the best place in the hotel, the living room and the restaurant are rather the places you’d like to hang out in - and never leave again.



We very much liked our dinner in the evening. The bakery-style kitchen is open around the clock and serves sandwiches, salads, sushi, warm dishes and beverages. The tiramisu we had as a desert was really yummy and we even got to chat with the chef a bit. A cool guy indeed :)

The living room is another place you'd like to stay a while. It's made up from different bigger rooms that all blend together and are filled with interesting books and objects from all around the world.



An important touch to the citizenM is its focus on contemporary art. Inside the hotel, in front of it - it surprises you on every step. We're curious to check the other citizenM hotels out. Maybe soon in Paris?

INFO
More info: citizenM Schiphol Airport
Address: Jan Plezierweg 2, 1118 BB Schiphol, Netherlands
Webpage: http://citizenm.com/

Hotel Gustave, romantic hotel with the view of the Eiffel Tower



When you almost think that sparkling Eiffel Tower is overly touristic - and then stay scotched to the window, soaking in the beautiful view of Parisian rooftops and the Iron Lady in the back. AND waiting impatiently for the next full hour to be mesmerised by it’s sparkling again. The view the Hotel Gustave offers from some of their rooms is astonishing, to say the least. And so is the service they offer.

Hidden from the noise of the nearby attractions and monuments (the Seine, Champ de Mars, the Eiffel Tower and more), this hotel offers an oasis of peace in the heart of Paris.



We stayed in the Deluxe Room with a large and very comfortable bed. The room itself was not super big but it was very well optimised and beautifully decorated, letting you prepare your Nespresso coffee in your room at any time of the day. I always appreciate a spacious bathroom with a big shower - we fell in love with their fab monsoon shower. Modern, beautiful, spacious bathroom with toiletries from Fragonard! Great experience at any moment. Not to forget the bathrobe and sleepers. It's incredible how much little things like that enhances your stay at a hotel.



We enjoyed breakfast in the Scandinavian Pavilion, early in the morning before going to work. Hot drinks, breads and pastries, fruit juices, cheeses, scrambled eggs... What better way to start a day than with a view of the Eiffel Tower and great breakfast!



It goes without saying that the hotel is well served by public transport. Feel like some shopping? Do check out the brand new Beaugrenelle mall with a wide choice of shops and restaurants. If you still prefer Champs Elysées, just hop on the next metro Line 6 - you’ll be there in less than 15 minutes.

INFO
More info: Hotel Gustave
Address: 34 Rue Viala, 75015, Paris, France
Webpage: https://www.hotelgustave.com/