I had communicated 6 months in advance, requesting Canal side room with access to elevator as my travelling partner was my 76 year old mother. Confirmed in email by the hotel for this advance request. Yet, arrived on date planned. Arrived at 11:00 am and requested early check in but no early check in available unless willing to pay for an additional night. Declined early check in. Assured by front desk room would be availlable by 3 pm which is the check in time. Sat and waited 4 hrs, came to desk to get checked in at 3 pm, no canal room available and no other room available at check in time. Promised room would be available as soon as possible. At 4:00 pm again addressed the desk, they then decided to "upgrade our room to an executive room" and we were escorted. For a 5 star hotel, this behavior is intolerable. I will never stay at this chain again.

We loved the Pulitzer and will stay there whenever our travels take us to Amsterdam. If you are not able to climb a few stairs--don't stay here. That's the summary--here are the details:

Check in was flawless and, contrary to some previous postings here, the staff was warm and friendly to us (Americans, traveling with a child). We had booked an "executive" room, with a rollaway bed for our son. When they saw that my wife walks with a cane, they quickly changed us to a room that had fewer steps so that she would be less challenged by the hotel's layout. They were gracious throughout.

On arrival to the room, we were in the attic room of the canal house next to the building in which the lobby is located. We took an elevator to the third floor, and then walked down a hallway which ended in a stairway that went up six steps or down six steps--almost like you had to ascend to the 3.5 floor, or descend to the 2.5 floor. It had a Harry Potter-at-the-train-station feel. The reason for this is that the hotel consists of many townhouses which have been combined into a hotel--no two rooms in the entire hotel are alike, and the reason for the many stairs is that the floor levels in houses that did not originally connect were not at the same level--hence the need to go up or down a few steps while passing from one building to the next. It is rather maze-like, and you do need to be able to go up or down a few steps, possibly several times, in your path between the lobby and your room. It is for this reason that I do not recommend this hotel if you have mobility problems, use a walker or cane or any sort of other assistive device, have difficulty climbing stairs. They probably do have a few rooms exactly on elevator levels, but I personally wouldn't count on it in this hotel--avoid disappointment and book elsewhere.

The room itself was great. No closet, but a big freestanding wardrobe in an alcove. Safe was in the wardrobe. Refrigerator with minibar stuff in it. Cable TV. Bed was great. Rollaway was comfortable, but it was tight moving about the room when the rollaway bed was unfolded. Given that we were in the executive room, I venture to guess that it would be VERY tight in a standard room if a rollaway bed were in use--but there are so many rooms in the hotel, I may be wrong in this assumption.

Air conditioning was effective and cooled the room nicely. Room was spotless. Bathroom was nice, decorated with Dutch tiles, very pretty. The highest water pressure I've ever had in a hotel shower, and plenty of hot water too.

The breakfast buffet, as mentioned by a previous poster, was outstanding and delicious. It is VERY expensive, but was included in our room rate--I believe the price would have been something like 81 Euros total for 2 adults and 1 10-year-child. That's some serious cash! If you have a way to get it included in your room rate, I recommend that you do so.

The Prinsengracht (that's the canal that the hotel is located on) neighborhood is very safe to walk around at any hour, there is a tram stop about 2 minute's walk down the Prinsengracht, there is a big grocery store (Albert Hein) 3 minute's walk, the Anne Frank House is less than 5 minute's walk away (on the Prinsengracht as well), and the Hop-On Hop-Off Boat tour stop is on Prinsengracht too, about 3 minutes walk away. There are a ton of good restaurants in the neighborhood including the famous Pancake Bakery (about 5 minutes walk further down Prinsengracht beyond the Anne Frank House), and a nice little restaurant serving great Dutch food about 30 seconds walk from the front door of the Pulitzer--it's called "Bij Ons" (pronounced Bee-YAWNS). Highly recommended.

Amsterdam public transportation is outstanding--I highly recommend that you do NOT rent a car--parking is impossible, gas is a fortune, and between the trams and buses, you can get anywhere. You can buy a "strippenkarte" (a multi-ride transport pass) at the Albert Hein grocery store, as well as pre-made sandwiches, pre-cut-up apples, oranges, carrots, and all the supplies you might want for a picnic or to take on a train ride if you take a day trip.

Speaking of day trips, the tram on the corner can take you directly to the central station in about 10 minutes, where you can then board a train to practically anywhere in the country, or to the airport. If you have only a little luggage, you could take the train from the airport to the central station, and then take the tram to within half a block of the hotel. We took the Connexxion bus from the airport directly to the Pulitzer--you buy the ticket at the airport and it's a LOT cheaper than a taxi; it's an 8-passenger van with possibly a stop or two before your hotel. Americans may recognize the concept if I say "Blue Van/ Super Shuttle"

All-in-all, except for the stairs which might make moving around the hotel to be physically challenging, I can't think of anything about this hotel that I can criticize, or that might cause me not to recommend this hotel.

We checked into the Pulitzer early in the day and I do agree with a previous post that the front line staff come off a little brisk and irritated ( with Americans...I don't know but I did not feel welcomed). We didn't get our room despite informing them we were coming in an hour or two earlier.

That being said, I have to say that the Prinsengracht location, the unique canal house feel to the place and the other staff made this such a wonderful stay.

The a/c was a little warm-ish but that was because we had a large canal room with a really high ceiling and it we had a few hot days. Coming from Frankfurt though, this was still a big improvement. The weather cooled a little towards the end of our week and it was perfect.

A friend had dropped off season tkts to the museums and the front desk lost them. Lisa, the supervisor came through with shining colors. She was efficient and found them. In the meantime, she provided us with museum tkts and did everything to make us very happy.

The breakfast buffet was fabulous and the staff was so friendly and helpful. We spent almost a week but by day 3 they recognised us already.

The housecleaning staff is excellent. They were kind, helpful, prompt and efficient. We got our fill of the complimentary delicious stroop wafels and water they put in the room everyday.

The safe and great location could not be beat. It was nice to stay somewhere where we could walk to lovely shops, wonderful restuarants (Long Pura and Moeder's can't be beat!), nice sights, the canal boats, etc..There is even a dry cleaners round the corner from the hotel too. We never tired of walking. There was always something worth seeing over the bridge or around the corner. The location is very central and is only 10 mins by cab to the train station, 20 mins to Arlanda Airport.

Despite a few hiccups, I'd definitely stay here again, would recommend it to friends and the Trip Advisor community.

The Hotel Pulitzer is extremely well located in central Amsterdam. All the sights may be reached on foot or an easy trolley ride away. Robert, the Concierge, was extremely helpful. He made great recommendations for dinner and for sightseeing. Definitely ask for Robert! The room was quite charming (although small and cozy). The breakfast buffet was ample and delicious.

Robert recommended what turned out to be our favorite restaurant -- Blomgracht (opposite the Anne Frank house). It was one of the best meals we had in Europe. Very fresh ingredients, right size portions, good use of herbs, great wine selection, fair prices, smart casual atmosphere. Robert also recommended an excursion to Zansee Shans – a little windmill village a train ride out of town. It was a great outing. We did not go to the Keukenhof because it was at the end of the season and we were very happy not to have done so. Others who went were very, very disappointed. We were turned off by the politizing commentary at the Anne Frank house -- comparing the U.S. Patriot Act to Nazi Germany. So if that sort of thing turns you off, save the Euros and don't waste time waiting in line.

We would return to the Pulitzer. It is a lovely hotel made more lovely by the accommodating staff. Happy trails!