20 February 2015

DESIGN HOTEL IN AMSTERDAM // PART ONE WITH I-ESCAPE

Beautiful amsterdam canals
Design Hotel V Frederiksplein in amsterdam
I'm very excited to announce that this year Wild & Grizzly will be collaborating with the fab online travel company i-escape and last weekend we got to sample a brilliant design hotel in Amsterdam for a Valentines weekend break. I'm so excited to share our top things to do in Amsterdam and showcase our two beautiful city pads.With direct flights from Bristol to Amsterdam taking less than an hour, it's the perfect destination for a weekend city break. This is the first trip we've taken abroad without F – who stayed at my folks for a few days – and to be honest  I felt a bit guilty but the thought of being out after 6.30pm was enough to make me giddy, and as Amsterdam is so kid friendly I can't wait to return with F.


Relaxing in the loft suite in Design Hotel V FrederikspleinStreet art in the canals of amsterdam
We touched down as the light started to fade and took the €5 train ride to the heart of the city, and even though the trams are super easy to use we jumped in a taxi eager to find our first hotel. Proving the Dutch do design hotels well, we were welcomed by a stunning circular copper fireplace and curved leather sofa as we entered  Hotel V Fredericksplein and shown to our beautifully designed loft suite.

After a quick change of clothes we headed out onto Utrechtsestraat, a stones throw from the hotel, a street buzzing with cafes, bars and design boutiques and spent the evening at the newly opened Guts N Glory before exploring the city's canals at night.

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Design hotel in Amsterdam fireplace in Hotel V FrederikspleinBreakfast in hotel V FrederikspleinDesign hotel in Amsterdam, Hotel V Frederiksplein

After a restful sleep and with no kiddo to wake us, we pottered about our spacious loft suite before heading downstairs for breakfast in the open plan lobby area. I loved all the design details, the Bertoia chairs, feature fireplace and the design books piled high. I ordered a latte as filter coffee comes as standard with the breakfast and people watched through the window while enjoying mini pastries and granola. The hotel definitely has a *young trendy vibe – yes at *34 years old I am including me in that bracket – it certainly felt like I was part of a vibrant city staying in Hotel V Fredericksplein.

Travelling is always interesting with us, where I 'm happy to wander around, taking in the cafe culture, catching a film or checking out a design shop, Paul is much more of an itinerary man – he would laminate one if he could – and likes to see the sights so after reaching a compromise and with a vague idea of where we were heading, I prepared myself for a day of walking with my camera at hand.

Shopping in amsterdamdutch houses in AmsterdamPretty bikes in AmsterdamWe first headed up Utrechtsestraat, passing the infamous SLA cafe and veered off along the 17th century canal Prinsengracht taking in the morning sun and beautiful buildings and bridges. On realising the queue for Anne Franks house was crazy long we decided to head to the Library for lunch. Sounds weird right? but not if you've seen this library. The stunning architecture, modernist design, light coloured floors and skyline views from it's 7th floor cafe is so worth the visit, plus the food is fresh and delicious. So much so that we forgot to take a pic as we were too busy enjoying lunch!

artist studio in NDSM-werf graffitipop street art in NDSM-werf AmsterdamLori in NDSM-werf wearing Boden graffiti
After exploring more we made use of the free ferry service located at the back of the train station to visit Eye, a contemporary film arena with breathtaking panoramic views over the river and further down the more urban and creatively colourful area of NDSM-Werf. At first this looks like a post apocalyptic film scene so is not for everyone, but this urban playground is home to a huge creative artists studios, graffiti art and Hema flagship store. It's very gritty, with a half submerged submarine near the river banks, signs raised above the water and stacked shipping containers acting as temporary homes to students but look a little closer and you can see the creative heartbeat of the city at work.

Strolling along the canals in AmsterdamHotel V Fredericksplein Design Hotel Amsterdam
Some walking, coffee drinking, goodie buying later, we arrived back at Hotel V Fredericksplein and slumped into our beautiful Loft suite slightly exhausted and relaxed by the fire before popping downstairs for a glass of wine and back out into the night. So that in a nutshell was our first full day, we seemed to fit in so much. I'll be posting part two next week so you can see the rest of our adventure.


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30 comments

  1. Beautiful photos - it looks like you had an amazing time!

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  2. Absolutely stunning getaway hunny. I love this and all your creative and art photos too. Such a trendy place to go and all the street art is beautiful too. Great review hunny. Glad you had a great time.

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  3. Love the bit about itinerary lamination. So wrong that it reminds me of Mr Elf from Ben and Holly and his attitude to travel - but that's what you get for being up at 5am. I love Amsterdam and this has given me loads of reasons to want to go back there, especially as you mention it's so kid friendly. Thanks!

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  4. Beautiful pictures. It looks stunning! Glad you had a great time! Angela x
    http://angelahamilton2014.blogspot.co.uk/

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  5. Your photos are stunning. It looks like such a vibrant and exciting city to visit.

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  6. Fab post - made me feel like I was actually there! Can't wait to get there myself x

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  7. Gorgeous photos. I'm so desperate to go to Amsterdam and being able to fly there is under an house is a huge positive, especially as I'm not a huge fan of flying. Sounds like you had a great time, it must have been so romantic! X

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  8. Wow it's such a gorgeous place, amazing photos! xxx Thou Shalt Not Covet

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  9. I loved my first trip to Amsterdam and am looking forward to returning there this year. It looks like you had a great time. The hotel looks amazing.

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  10. Amsterdam is such an amazing place, and your photos make me want to go back so much. I will certainly check out this hotel when we go back next year.

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  11. As you know I absolutely loved Amsterdam and it looks like you had an amazing time- I am so pleased you went to NDSM-Werf, my husband and I are massive fans of street art and we absolutely loved it there- it was my favourite part of our trip! Love all your photos. x

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  12. I hace just lived Amsterdam via your photos, gorgeous post

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  13. I love Amsterdam, we've been about 8 times pre kids and stay with an old school friend

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  14. Oh wow such stunning photos and the hotel looks amazing, I cannot wait to read more about your trip and I totally agree Amsterdam is such a family friendly city and I hope you return with F very soon

    Laura x

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  15. This looked amazing on Instagram and all these photos just make me want to go even more. It looks like you had a fab weekend. Amsterdam is definitely on my "must visit" list. x

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  16. what an amazing sounding hotel! I've only ever visited Amsterdam when I was younger but it's one of those cities I'd love to re-explore, especially with Theo in tow. Will be definitely referring back to this if we ever make it!

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  17. I went to Amsterdam once in Year 8 (A LONG TIME AGO LOL) I don't remember it looking like this. You've really captured the place amazingly. Makes me want to go back sooo bad! Reminds me now of the movie Fault In Our Stars :)
    Thanks for sharing hun
    Charlotte x

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  18. What a beautiful post. Some great tips here - we're heading to Amsterdam for my 40th in a couple of months' time, so I've made some notes!

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  19. Oh gosh how wonderful to enjoy this amazing city just the two of you. Your pictures are fab - giving me wanderlust!! x

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  20. Looks like you had a wonderful time, it looks so vibrant x

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  21. i love Amsterdam and have been meaning to take hubs as he has never been! .. i will certainly be checking some of these out when we finally get there

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  22. wow what a great ambassador role to get - well done you and so deserved. I want to go there now!

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  23. Wow, that hotel looks awesome! I really want to visit Amsterdam in the future :)

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  24. Great photos, I loved Amsterdam too, we went last year & I'd go back anytime, it has such a great vibe!

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  25. Stunning photos - looks like the perfect romantic getaway. Have added amsterdam to my list

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  26. I have been to Amsterdam a few times now and absolutely love it and really want to go back again!

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  27. Lori these places look amazing!! It's making me so excited to visit again! x

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  28. Amsterdam is somewhere I would love to visit!

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  29. Gorgeous - I haven't been to Amsterdam for ages, over 15 years but I'm determined to get back there this year. As it'll be with my toddler, there won't be quite as many design hotels sadly!

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  30. I have been wanting to go to Amsterdam for ages, and no, even more! Great photos! Love the hotel lobby.

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