Steeped in history, the Lloyd Hotel in Amsterdam originally opened in the 1920s. Over the years, the hotel has served as a refugee center, juvenile detention center, and artist studios. It reopened in 2004 as the Lloyd Hotel with 117 rooms, complete with a Cultural Embassy which, according to the hotel’s website, “represents Dutch culture in Amsterdam, and organizes the exchange with the cultures of the guests from all over the world.”

Another characteristic unique to the Lloyd Hotel is its “one to five-star” design. Yes, that’s right - guests can choose to stay in a one-star room, a five-star room, or anything in between. While all rooms are comfortable and chic, it's the five-star rooms that are most impressive; one has a swing dangling from the wooden beams, another includes a grand piano, and one offers a giant bed that comfortably sleeps up to eight!

Guests can dine on locally sourced fare in the hotel’s restaurant, which offers dishes like crispy free-range chicken and roasted pumpkin salad. There’s also a buffet option.

The Lloyd Hotel won Time Out magazine’s award for Best Hotel in 2010. Interested in learning more? Journalist Annette Lubbers wrote a book, Lloyd Hotel, which further details the overall history of this historic building.