Apollo Hotel Amsterdam Tribute Portfolio, a former Starwood hotel returns to the fold

Apollo Hotel Amsterdam is in the process of remodeling to debut as a Starwood Hotels Tribute Portfolio hotel this summer. This Amsterdam city hotel is one I only learned about today when I spotted the hotel name on SPG’s summer promotion list of participating hotels for their new promotion.

Loyalty Traveler – SPG Take Three May 27-Sep 4 double-triple points for 2 night stays

What’s in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet

William Shakespeare – Romeo and Juliet

When I clicked on the Starwood link for Apollo Amsterdam, I was surprised to see a hotel I recognize. 11 years ago, in July 2006, I stayed at Le Meridien Amsterdam soon after SPG Le Meridien stays started earning points and stay credit.

I stayed in the Van Gogh Suite, a complimentary SPG Platinum member upgrade. 

Starwood Hotels shed many of the Le Meridien hotels from their portfolio in 2006-2007, including Le Meridien Amsterdam. It rebranded as a Golden Tulip.

Apollo Hotel Amsterdam, Tribute Portfolio

SPG category 4 Hotel at 10,000 points per night.

Wed July 19, 2017 rates

Deluxe City View Queen Bed

• 126 EUR
• 10,000 points
• 5,000 points + $75

Executive Room 2 singles

• 146 EUR

Executive Room Harbour View Room Queen Bed

• 161 EUR

Harbour View Suite King Bed

• 224 EUR

Fri July 21, 2017 rates

Deluxe City View Queen Bed

• 170 EUR
• 10,000 points
• 5,000 points + $75

Executive Room Harbour View Room Queen Bed

• 203 EUR

Harbour View Suite King Bed

• 265 EUR

Unfortunately Amsterdam is a city with higher weekend rates than weekday rates in terms of earning SPG summer promotion triple points on 2 night stays with a Friday or Saturday.

I like the location of Apollo Hotel Amsterdam, however, a common complaint is the distance from the canal district and museums. That is a frequent complaint I see about any hotel not in the Amsterdam historic canal district.

In my opinion, it really is not too far to walk one mile from Apollo Hotel Amsterdam to the Museum Quarter. There are frequent direct city trams about 18 hours of the day for a 10 to 20 minute ride into the city center. 

The trade-off and reason I was at Le Meridien Amsterdam in 2006 is the price of hotels are significantly lower in Amsterdam if you stay outside the canal district and take a tram 10 to 20 minutes into the city center. For me, the rebrand to Apollo Hotel Amsterdam, Tribute Portfolio is in a walkable central Amsterdam location.

The only other Starwood option closer to city center is Category 6 high end W Hotel Amsterdam. A great hotel location in the heart of Amsterdam. Significantly more costly in terms of money or points.

Keep a tram pass handy for when you don’t want to walk across the city and Apollo Amsterdam is suitable hotel at a good reward price for SPG loyalists.

For less discerning travelers without Starpoints to redeem, there are probably better deals to be found at comparable hotels in the Apollolaan area of Amsterdam compared to the typical rate likely for this Starwood Apollo Hotel.

Apollo Hotel Amsterdam, Starwood Hotels Tribute Portfolio location pin on Google Maps. Ramada Apollo Amsterdam Centre in center-left of map is run by same Apollo Hotels chain.

Sir Adam Hotel  Amsterdam, a member of Design Hotels is another relatively new category 5 Starwood property. This hotel is on the other side of the Ij, the waterway behind Central Station. You need to ferry across the Ij to Amsterdam city center. Their website does not appear to mention that aspect of the hotel location.

Amsterdam is in a hotel branding boom. Hyatt Regency Amsterdam and Kimpton DeWitt also opened recently.

Loyalty Traveler – Hyatt Regency Amsterdam category 4 open for stays (April 19, 2017).

Loyalty Traveler – Kimpton DeWitt Amsterdam opens May 29 and IHG Rewards bookable (April 24, 2017).