While size typically matters to me when it comes to hotel rooms, one of my favorite places to stay in the world is probably one of the smallest hotels I’ve ever frequented. What is lacks in size, it makes up for in comfort and its funky modern design.
The Citizen M is a small chain of affordable hotels, but I have only stayed at the one located at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport (AMS). I can’t even count the number of times I’ve stayed here now, but it’s a great place to spend the night before an early AM flight if you are coming from elsewhere in the Netherlands. Seeing as though I am most often staying in Eindhoven when I tag along on Brett’s work trips, a two hour drive in traffic there for an 8am flight is just not doable.
For under 100 euros a night, we get one of the most comfortable beds I’ve ever slept on (saying a lot considering how many five star hotels I frequent), free wi-fi, movies on demand, decent nibbles, and a great modern space in the lobby to stretch out and get some work done.
When you arrive at the Citizen M, you check yourself in on computer screens, grab a card and create your own room key (which after check out becomes a nice luggage tag).
The rooms are more like pods – long and skinny with wacky mood lighting on the shower and toilet enclosures. One caveat…not the place to book for someone you don’t want seeing you naked as the shower is clear glass!
Seeing that it’s a Netherlands based hotel, the use of Philips Electronics with fun tech features doesn’t surprise me in the least. The remote controls all the magic of the room — from the blinds and mood lighting to setting your alarm.
Check out the counting sheep option — my favorite!
The bed is without a doubt the biggest I’ve ever slept in. It’s like a California King on steroids. Down pillows and comforter — comfort wise, easily rivals some 200 and 300 euro rooms.
Recently, they introduced hot foods in the evening to their small food area in the lobby. Each night they offer a special dish — usually I am there when it’s some type of curry. They have beer, wine, sushi in the cold case, and a few other items like sandwiches, snacks, and even small containers of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream.
I typically grab a bite and head to one of the funky lounge areas to enjoy dinner and spread out to work for a few hours, or until the laptop battery dies. Unlike some modern furniture, all of the places I’ve camped out in the Citizen M have been quite comfy.
If you want more food than available, it’s a short walk into the airport itself which has several grocery outlets to grab food. We’ve been known to bring our own bottle of wine, cheeses, meats, etc and they will lend you a corkscrew and even a couple glasses no problem.
And don’t sell this hotel short as just a spot for layovers — last time we were in town for the Queen’s Day celebration, we stayed at the Citizen M because nearly every hotel in downtown Amsterdam was sold out and we didn’t want to stay in the middle of the chaos. Looks like we weren’t the only ones that had the same idea — the Citizen M at the airport was quite busy. With the train running direct from AMS to the city center, a lot of people saved a few bucks by staying out of Amsterdam itself and just took the train in to celebrate.
The only downside on the Citizen M versus the other airport hotels — it is a bit of a walk outside and although there is a “covered walkway” for most of it, it doesn’t help in windy, below zero temperatures and you will still get rained on when crossing the two roads.
The concept behind Citizen M is pretty simple — to create affordable luxury for the people. Just in the three years I’ve been staying with them, Citizen M has opened a new location in the heart of Amsterdam and a new one in Glasgow, Scotland. These have attracted quite a bit attention from sites like Tripadvisor already who have voted the brand among the top trendiest hotels in the world.
Citizen M is going global now with two new sites in London and New York confirmed. This will definitely sway my hotel searches in NYC when those open — one is scheduled to be close to 50th and Broadway/Times Square and the other at the hip Bowery on the fringe between Soho and the Lower East Side.
