Pillows Grand Boutique Hotel Maurits at the Park, an SLH Hotel — Hotel in Amsterdam

Pillows Grand Boutique Hotel Maurits at the park My spouse and I went on a cruise this past August boarding the ship in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Prior to sailing we decided to stay overnight in a hotel in Amsterdam near the cruise port. Normally stay at a Hilton Hotel since I am a member of Hilton Honors. However, we did not find a Hilton near the area we wanted to stay at so we decided to search for other hotels.

During our search, we stumbled across Pillows Grand Boutique Hotel. My spouse is very particular when it comes to hotels. He reads all the write ups and looks at the ratings of each hotel. If he sees any rating less than 4 stars, he will read to see what caused that guest to rate the hotel less than 4 stars. Then we would make our decision from there.

We have never stayed at a boutique hotel and as I stated earlier, we are loyal Hilton guests. After he read the reviews for Pillows Grand Boutique, he then forwarded the link to me for final decision. Everything we do is a partnership; therefore, all decisions have to be agreed upon by the two of us. Moving on, so I browsed Pillows’ website. I like to not only look at the external view meaning how the hotel looks from the outside but also I do look at the inside prior to looking at rooms. I like browsing the inside of the hotel. This particular hotel literally had pictures of the hallways, etc.. I was very impressed with everything I saw. From I was told, this was a college that was converted into a hotel. Very impressive.

I booked our room for Pillows through Delta Airlines’ website after booking our flights. Not long after that, I received a text message from Pillows through WhatsApp. An AI was there to help after booking the the room. When I needed to communicate with a human, I would ask it a question then it forwards my question to a Pillows staff for them to respond to me directly via email. Otherwise, if I have general questions the AI was able to respond. I was able to book a car and driver through Pillows to pick us up at the airport upon arrival and then a car and driver to the port the next day.

The entire experience with Pillows Hotel was excellent. Our driver Marc that picked us up at the airport was wonderful and he gave us a little bit of a history lesson as we drove to the hotel. Upon arrival at the hotel we were greeted by one of the staff members and then brought in to introduce us to the person that was going to check us in. Unfortunately, her name escapes me. She’s blonde and that’s all I can remember. We were taken to a room called, “The Living Room,” which was a big open room with chairs, tables, bookshelves, etc.. She gave us water and then checked us in. Once she was done, she took us to our room where our suitcases were delivered. Our friends that travelled with us also stayed at the same hotel. We walked around the hotel and discovered there were two different buildings. We got lost. Not the fault of the hotel but we were just not paying attention to where we were going. We did end up at the bar on the roof and Giovanni the bar tender was there. He was very helpful. We asked him where we could eat. Unfortunately, the restaurant at the hotel was bully booked but he did tell us about a restaurant down the street within walking distance. When we returned to the hotel from the restaurant, we found another bar at the hotel, this time it was on the ground floor. Giovanni was working there too. We had a great conversation with Giovanni and he was helpful in providing us with information about the hotel the surrounding areas, etc…

The next morning we went down to the restaurant and had breakfast. The food was fantastic and the service was also great. After breakfast, the bell boy came up to pickup our suitcases and brought them down to awaiting car and driver that took us to the cruise port.

I highly recommend hotel. We booked two cruises in 2027 sailing in and out of Amsterdam. We will be staying at Pillows again. We look forward to another great service provided by...

We stayed here for six nights and it really felt like a little haven away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre and the busy tourist spots. After long days exploring Amsterdam, it was lovely to return somewhere calm and comfortable.

Our room, while a little compact, was thoughtfully appointed and came with beautiful views over the park. One of the highlights was being able to open the full-length window and hear the sounds of the local community enjoying the green space – it gave the hotel a welcoming, lived-in feel. The room was spotless throughout our stay, with fluffy towels, quality toiletries, and the nice touch of complimentary tea and coffee alongside a luxury mini-bar selection.

Breakfast each morning was varied and plentiful, with something for everyone. That said, we did notice that the attention to detail with service dipped slightly as the week went on, though it didn’t detract too much from the overall experience. We particularly liked the concierge desk set up in the lounge (called The Living), which was a great touch for helping plan outings and get quick advice. It was just a small shame that non-alcoholic drinks were no longer complimentary in that space.

The location turned out to be ideal. Tram 14 took us directly into the centre quickly and easily, while trams 1 and 2 were perfect for getting to the museum quarter and nearby bars and restaurants. On several evenings, we opted to stroll back from the centre, which was a real treat – the walk is pleasant and gave us the chance to stop off at little cafés and bars along the way.

The only slight drawback was the lack of storage in the room if you’re staying for more than a few days – not much in the way of drawers or shelving. However, the receptionist was incredibly proactive in finding us a solution that worked perfectly, which we really appreciated.

Overall, this is a lovely hotel in a great location. While perhaps not quite a full five-star experience, it certainly made our stay in Amsterdam memorable, comfortable, and relaxing. We’d happily return and recommend it to others looking for somewhere stylish yet...

I had high expectations for my stay at Pillow Grand Boutique Hotel, especially after reading numerous glowing reviews. With a price tag of $600 per night, I anticipated a top-notch experience. Upon arrival, we were warmly greeted by a friendly bellhop who eagerly took our luggage and escorted us to the library, setting a promising tone for our stay.

The hotel’s ambiance, a transformation from a former medical school to a boutique establishment, is unique. However, the check-in process, which took place in the library, was surprisingly lengthy—30 minutes to wait for a hostess to come to us. While we waited, coffee and snacks were available, which was a nice touch and helped pass the time, although it was nothing extraordinary.

One of my main disappointments was the inability to check into our room early, despite informing the hotel in advance. They also suggested we leave and that they would call when our room was ready—unfortunately, that call never came. Once we did get to our room, it was small yet quaint, clean, comfortable, and offered a pleasant view of the park. While it was a lovely space, I found it hard to justify the $600 price tag.

We also tried the breakfast at the “Spring Cafe,” which was decent. The menu offered a variety of options, from croissant sandwiches to açaí bowls, meeting our needs but lacking any standout dishes. The service, however, was a letdown. I found myself needing to be quite assertive to get the staff's attention, which detracted from the overall dining experience.

My primary critique lies with the front office team. The check-in staff seemed less hospitable and welcoming than I had hoped. While they may have been overwhelmed by the volume of guests, a friendlier demeanor would have greatly improved the experience.

Overall, my stay at Pillow Hotel was good, and I might consider returning in the future. However, the combination of the lengthy check-in process, inconsistent service, and high price tag makes me hesitate to fully...