Yelpsux G.
Yelp
The Citizen M brand of hotel might not, superficially, strike you as the idealized version of the Amsterdam experience. It isn't, after all, a charming, old-world, slightly decrepit, leaning-tower rooming house perched on the edge of a canal in the lively city center.
There is something lovely about that former description.
On the other hand, Citizen M, a dynamic mix of high-design and common sense elements, is a surprisingly delightful re-imagination of and solution to what has become a stagnant and often unpleasant mass-market hotel experience. That mix of opposites--common sense and designed delights--feels very connected to Amsterdam and the culture of the Netherlands. It is focused both on high comfort and sensual delights as well as meeting some very rational challenges and needs. Amsterdam, being a city that is below sea level and challenged by a finite amount of space, has always met its challenges with style and function. So while it looks like a cinderblock office building from the outside and while it is outside of the traditional city center (though not very far outside), Citizen M is imbued in every corner with the spirit of what makes visiting or living in Amsterdam such a great, lively joy.
Here's some of the innovative things that they have done to challenge a hotel industry that had become all too comfortable in its approach to mass market travelers.
The Check In: Self-guided kiosks. Instead of waiting in line for the automaton hotel employee meant, in most mid-tier priced hotels, as an illusory stand-in for luxurious hospitality and care, There are multiple touch screen kiosks in the lobby. Put your credit card in and retrieve your reservation. Insert a key card and--ZAP--you may now go to your room. There is a friendly, casual and well dressed attendant there to assist you if you encounter problems.
The Lobby Bar / Food area: Instead of a completely horrible and overpriced hotel restaurant that serves cafeteria food at three star prices, Citizen M has dropped the pretense but kept the style. Behind the inviting bar and coffee house counter, there is a bank of what could only be described as the coolest looking convenience store cases you've ever seen. Citizen M might want to think about expanding their brand to re-invent the convenience store category while they're at it. Another business that badly needs an innovative approach.
The Lobby itself: For the first time in my life, I looked forward to spending time in the open areas of the lobby. It actually felt pleasantly social with large areas for work with long tables and bar like seating at the windows, a living room-like area with couches and a large television, the bar and convenience store from the future area and a couple of other ante-rooms. The entire lobby experience feels more like you've rented a very luxurious and well-designed house with a big group of family and friends rather than the normal hotel lobby experience of pedestrian design meant to convey an antiquated ideal of opulence and status.
The Price: Very affordable. Especially for what you get. By getting rid of that opulence and status stuff that no one really loves in hotels any more--especially since mostly, with the exception of the true luxury hotels, that opulence and status is patently counterfeit, Citizen M has retained the comfort, excitement and sensuality of what's great in hotels at a very affordable price.
The Room: The rooms take everything you like about hotels and squeeze out all the rest of the junk into a economical space that is easily half the size of the normal hotel room. And yet, you don't feel cramped. It's just what you wanted. At the same time, Citizen M approached the demands of reduced space with great flair, comfort, and sensual experience in mind. The shower is a large enclosed glass circle in the center of the room. Inconvenient, perhaps, if you were sharing the room with a platonic colleague, but these rooms are about intimacy not distance between people. With the single bed and the size of the room you're not likely to be staying in there with anyone who would cringe at watching you shower. The toilet, similarly is right in the room and can be enclosed in a glass circle. All very futuristic.
Then there's the bed. An oversized mattress that takes up almost half the room at the window. It has drawers underneath for clothing and a large flatscreen television on the wall at its foot. Because the bed is flush to the wall on three sides, it feels like you're James Bond in some luxury submarine capsule. It's awesome. The TV, instead of charging for pay-per-view movies, has all free movies--including, gasp, euro-porn. Lastly, the room has a remote that controls everything--including a series of colorful mood light options. Remember--it is Amsterdam after all--and there are many instances where having shifting hues of blue, green and red all around you can be very satisfying.
Oh yeah. And free high speed wireless throughout.
