Radisson Blu Hotel, Amsterdam Airport — Hotel in Haarlemmermeer

Radisson Blu

First things first - Radisson Blu have a dedicated transfer bus from Schiphol Airport that goes every 30 minutes in both directions. It is easy to locate these buses at the airport - just follow the signs for Hotel transfer busses which, unlike most airports, point you in the right direction!

Check in was quick and efficient (thanks Mickey) but no room upgrade as promised by the terms of my membership status. That is because we booked a junior suite and the upgrade from that to a “suite” is a step too far for Rad Blu Schiphol. In Rad Schiphol, a junior suite is just a large (and quite pleasant) room but if you want a suite with a sitting area and divider, this is defined by them as a “suite”. In Belfast, Leipzig and Zurich, for example, the junior suite comes with a divider and sitting area. Worth noting and a bit annoying when we were meant to get a status upgrade anyway, and didn’t.

Nevertheless, the room was generally fine - the Rad Blu definition of a “junior suite” is a bit of a misnomer though as I mention above- it’s really only a large room rather than a suite of rooms and that’s what you get here - a nice large room - it was ok - see photographs. Clean and equipped / amenitised as expected - dressing gowns, slippers etc etc so no complaints on that front. Large TV but not equipped to play your own programming despite them saying that screen casting is possible - sorry, it isn't.

The room’s biggest fault is rather poor soundproofing - our room was quiet for the first two nights as there seemed to be nobody above us but on the third night a family with 3 young kids moved in directly above us and then it was pandemonium beneath, like a mixture of booted gymnastics, screaming football supporters and fraught parents. How they managed to create such noise in a carpeted room, I cannot imagine. Anyway, children will be children, I suppose.

A nice touch was when receptionist Mickey brought me a Birthday treat of goodies to our room. Thank you sir - a lovely gesture. Likewise Dy’s little gift at breakfast was super kind - again another lovely gesture.

Housekeeping was great - any small housekeeping problems were promptly dealt with by Luvina and Ave - thanks ladies. They were much appreciated especially when we had to change our pillows from “Radisson specials” - light and airy foamy things - which are really uncomfortable to sleep on, to proper feather/down pillows. No problem for them.

The Wireless internet signal is sadly the weakest we have experienced in a Radisson hotel. It annoyingly kept dropping and demanding a fresh log in every time I put my phone down so be careful with your data usage!

They have two restaurants - one on the ground floor (The Otium) which only serves meals in the afternoon and evening - a special mention here again to the super friendly Dy - she made our night but the choice of items on the menu was somewhat limited, as were the wine options. The food was pretty good though.

The other restaurant (The Haven) on the lower ground floor only serves breakfast and was the usual set up of buffet plus “order main course”. This is usually run by the excellent, helpful and super friendly Paula. No problems here except my usual one - why no hot plates? “Warm food, warm plates - cold food, cold plates” should be the rule.

In conclusion, food wise, if you are staying for more than a flying visit, it’s probably better to get a taxi to one of the many excellent restaurants in the area, sadly none within walking distance.

The stay was generally highly acceptable as it always in Rad Blu’s but the inter floor soundproofing was...

There are way better hotels around the airport. We were a family of 3 traveling, and so we booked a room for 3. When we arrived in the room, the sofa bed was out, but there were no sheets in it. We called reception to get sheets. A lady came and made the bed. But only when she had left we realized she hadn't put a cover in the bed. We called again and somehow came with a cover.When it was time to have a shower, there were only 2 towels (and by the way, no small towels at all). For a third time, we had to call, and this time, ask them for a towel. The bathroom was pretty old and rundown. There was a big carack on the floor, painting coming off in the shower and mold stains.Apart from that, the room and bathroom were spacious. The next day, we left in the morning and came back at 5 pm. The room had still not been cleaned, so we called reception to get it done. Straight after that, we left. When we came back later, someone had been there to clean. There were clean towels, but they had also left the dirty ones. What's more, they hadn't cleaned the bathroom floor. Dogs are welcome, so that's a big plus. And there's a beautiful grassy area with a pond, just beside the hotel. Perfect for walking them.Parking is available but it's rather expensive. We wanted to do a late check-out in the afternoon, as we had two dogs and a boy with us. It would have been much easier for them to stay in the hotel while we were doing our business in Amsterdam until 4 pm. So we called around midnight and asked reception if it would be possible to check out at that time, at an extra cost. She said it depends if the hotel is fully booked, in which case we can't and that we have to call back at 7.30am.So at 7.30, we called and were told that they are fully booked so impossible to get a late check-out. Which means that between midnight and 7.30 in the morning, they got fully booked... I suppose it's possible, but it felt more like they were not willing to help.The boy and the dogs spent their day waiting for us in a café. I wouldn't go back to this hotel as we had a bad experience. We expected better...

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

Radisson Blu Amsterdam Airport – Suite 223

Booked via the Radisson Rewards app, originally just a standard eco room — but thanks to my VIP status (and what looked like a busy night with several flight cancellations), I got a full upgrade to a suite. Nice move, Radisson – that’s how loyalty programs should work.

The suite (Room 223) itself is spacious and comfortable, clearly designed for business travelers who live half their lives out of a suitcase. The bed is great (firm, just as it should be), the desk setup perfect for a few late-night emails, and the lounge area gives you space to breathe. The lighting design even makes you look alive on a Teams call after a 14-hour day.

Bathroom: large and functional with bathtub and separate shower, but showing some age. The shower seals need a replacement, some silicone joints have given up, and the cleaning could go deeper around the lower aluminum profiles. A small chip above the minibar also adds to the “used but still good” vibe.

Then there are the downsides: 💸 20 € for overnight parking — that’s a rip-off. For a VIP member, parking should be complimentary. That kind of charge makes a loyal guest think twice before booking again. 🚬 No smokers’ rooms anymore. Yes, legislation and all that — but come on. No one’s going to snitch. One ventilated smokers’ room per floor would make a lot of guests very happy, especially the non-woke, real-world travelers who still enjoy a cigarette without having to stand half outside in the Dutch rain.

What saves the day (and the rating) are the receptionists – genuinely friendly, quick, and professional. They turn a worn-down corner into a warm welcome every single time.

Verdict: Solid business hotel with great staff, still holding up well — but Room 223 shows that it’s time for some maintenance love and a rethink on guest perks. PS: The pillow was just right for me. Slept...