Pulitzer, Amsterdam, Netherlands

The Pulitzer Hotel, Amsterdam’s addition to the Luxury Collection from the Sheraton group, is a maze of 25 linked canal houses dating from the 17th and 18th centuries, comprising almost an entire block between two canals. It is a 5-star hotel aimed at both the tourist and business markets, and it competes admirably with purpose-built business hotels – with considerably more charm.

Following a $33 million revamp in 2000, the Pulitzer offers 230 rooms, (each with a different layout and contemporary art in every room, although furniture is standard throughout) with new bathrooms, several striking restaurants and bars, an art gallery, extensive business facilities, a large garden courtyard and a 1909 motor launch for touring the canals. Concerts are held regularly in the hotel, overlooking the garden. There are several lifts in the Pulitzer, yet locating the rooms can be tricky, and may involve winding corridors and staircases, with the occasional view to admire on the way. Each room has been decorated individually, and despite the somewhat corporate feel there is an intimate and personal atmosphere.