InterContinental Amstel Amsterdam, and IHG Hotel

"What's the overview of this place?Find this 19th-century hotel on the outer edge of the canal ring overlooking the Amstel. A walk through the white-columned entrance reveals a lobby with shiny marble floors and a vaulted ceiling. The good stuff: Tell us about your room.The rooms evoke pre-revolutionary France, with white wallpaper with pastel floral prints and antique work desks. The vast marble bathrooms include rainfall showers and separate bath and toilet. A room with a view of the river is worth the splurge. Room service and food: Worth it?Chef de Cuisine Rogér Rassin and his team serve French cuisine with subtle Asian influences at Michelin-starred La Rive. Anything stand out about other services and features?Sip afternoon tea (or a glass of wine) in the jewel box-like Amstel Lounge, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the river. Bottom line: worth it, and why?This ritzy historic hotel offers a genuine glimpse into Amsterdam's past. Stay here for a dose of Old World grandeur and gentility." - Meredith Bethune