St. Christopher’s Hostel in Amsterdam
Everyone looks for something different when choosing a hostel. They can be party destinations in themselves, a great place to hang out and meet people, or just a cheap bed to crash in. I almost always opt for private rooms and stay away from places reputed to be wild or loud (I’m getting too old for that stuff…) so I was surprised to find that St. Christopher’s hostel in Amsterdam, a city known for crazy nightlife, was the perfect balance of social and chill.
St. Christopher’s has dorms of 4-8 beds (€30-45 per person) and private rooms (€65-82 per person), all with ensuite bathrooms, and during my stay there I had a chance to stay in both. My private room was brightly colored and decorated with custom wall murals. Windows overlooked the busy street below but the room was high enough to stay quiet at night. The highlight of the room for me was the heavenly bed… dare I say, the most comfortable bed I’ve slept on in years! My only qualm was the slightly ridiculous shower with no curtain or door that promptly soaked the entirety of the tiny bathroom when I tried to use it.
The next night, I was a little apprehensive about my stay in the dorm but I found my six-person room, equiped with three sets of sturdy bunk beds, to be peaceful and roomy, while the bathroom was also clean and spacious. Though undecorated and short on character, the dorm was probably the best I’ve ever stayed in.
When you enter St. Christopher’s, you’ll have to go through Belushi’s, the bar downstairs (don’t worry, you’re in the right place!). A decent free continental breakfast is served here each morning featuring fruit, cereal, yogurt, juice, coffee and more. As a guest, you also get special discounts at the bar on food and drink and can enjoy them out back in the pleasant beer garden. For a night out without having too far to stumble home, Winston Kingdom is just next door, and features live music and DJs.
Though they do have wifi, its only available downstairs and sitting in the bar with your laptop is a little inconvenient. Safety is thankfully a priority here so you’ll have to drop your key at the front desk when you leave and pick it up when you return (if you’re in a private room) or show your card each time you enter (if you stay in a dorm), a system which seems satisfactorily secure. If you have luggage to store, they feature a really cool and modern keyless electronic locker system for only €4 for 24 hours.
St. Christopher’s clearly knows how to do hostels right and I’d definitely recommend it if you value a comfortable night’s sleep, whether you came to Amsterdam to party or not.
