On my last night in Amsterdam, a Saturday night in the busy tourist season, I didn't have a hotel room. I decided to stay next to the airport at citizenM, a new concept in hotels -- boutique budget -- I figured I'd either love or hate. It sounded too good to be true; while rates at the other hotels in Amsterdam I checked were $250+, a room at CitizenM was available for $69 Euros (about $90).

Don't forget to pack: travel-sized containers
Nice extras: free premium movies and Wi-Fi
What you'll love: the price and convenience
Wish they had: shower controls on the outside of the tube

Take a photo tour of citizenM Schiphol Airport
 

citizenM Schiphol Airport: Guest Room

 

I prepaid for a room online (they don't take phone reservations) and declined an offer for breakfast at an additional 10 Euros. The web site then asked me to customize my room - temperature, mood, music, and time zone. I was intrigued.

CitizenM stands for "Citizen Mobile," and the hotel is definitely geared toward a generation that lives by technology and doesn't need a lot of hand-holding. When I arrived, a row of computer terminals replaced the traditional reception desk. An ambassador was on hand to assist, but the touch-screen check in was very straightforward. I grabbed a blank key card from a small basket next to the computer and held it up to code it for my room. The whole process was quick and painless.

Up the elevator and into my room, where I received my first surprise. The first thing I saw in the tiny (150 sq. ft.) room was -- the bathroom. Or rather, lack of. A toilet and shower flanked the tiny entry hall, each enclosed in a translucent cylinder, lavender tinted lights above them.

Next to the toilet cylinder was a tiny sink. Separating the "bathroom" from the "bedroom" was a white curtain suspended from the ceiling. I felt like I was in the Jetsons' guest house - or maybe an Ikea model home.

The king-sized bed stretched from the left wall to the right, with no space in between. Everything was white, to the small curtain separating the bathroom space from the sleeping space, to the comforter folded in the middle of the bed. The floor and ceiling is a light, bamboo-like wood, and despite being tiny, the entire room was well designed for comfort.

 

citizenM Schiphol Airport: Room Challenges

 

None of the settings I'd pre-chosen on the web site had taken effect, but no matter -- it meant I could play with the wireless control panel. The symbol-heavy touch-screen interface controlled everything in the room, including temperature, lighting, window shades, and the TV. I could choose an activity (watch TV, work, sleep) and have the room adjust the lighting for me.

The bed was an interesting challenge. Besides being surrounded on three sides by walls, there were two lamps attached to tables, left and right. Pillows and comforter were bundled in the middle of the bed, which made us wonder -- which way are you supposed to sleep? We ended up negotiating three different spots: first, against one wall to watch the TV mounted on the opposite wall; second, laying against opposite walls with our legs overlapping so we could each have a table lamp to read by, and finally, heads at window to sleep.

The next challenge was the shower. This is a fun one. The water won't come out unless you have the doors fully closed in a circle around you. Then you turn on the hand shower to get the temperature right. Then, you're supposed to turn on the rainforest showerhead. Of course, the first person to do this in the morning is going to get that blast of cold water, and there is nowhere to hide in the tiny little cylinder. I was the lucky first one of the morning, and I froze. The shampoo/bath gel combo was of two types -- CitizenAM and CitizenPM, for morning people or night owls. The overhead light was customizable too, both brightness and hue.

 

citizenM Schiphol Airport: Convenience - and Sushi!

 

The only downside to the small room -- assuming you don't need much privacy from your traveling companion -- is the lack of space to put luggage. We had it piled on the floor right in front of the door, and stepped over it when coming or going. There is a large drawer under the bed (which held an extra pillow and towels) which perhaps might have done in a pinch.

CitizenM gives you free Wi-Fi (although the signal in my 5th floor room was too low to use; I had to go down to the lobby to connect), free on-demand movies, and a wide range of music channels. Rooms face either the runway at Schiphol Airport or the highway and the world trade center, although noise is minimal.

Downstairs, there were several gathering and meeting spaces in case you went stir-crazy. Small living rooms were set up with TV and sofas. In between were computers and a meeting table. An upscale convenience store offered sushi, sandwiches, drinks, candy, papers and coffee to go, and there were small tables for eating in.

A covered walkway led straight to the airport, about a five minute walk to the hotel. The verdict? I loved it, and wish there were more hotels like CitizenM. As long as you're comfortable with technology, don't need a lot of hand-holding or full service, and aren't spending a lot of time in your room, this is a very comfortable, affordable, even cool option.

 

More About citizenM Schiphol Airport

Pictures of citizenM Schiphol Airport
Rates: $ What This Means

citizenM Schiphol Airport is located: at the Schiphol International Airport
Jan Plezierweg 2, 1118BB Schiphol Centrum, Amsterdam, NL
Phone: 31 20 8117 080;
Email: reservations@citizenm.com
Web site: citizenM Schiphol Airport