Hotel de l'Europe, Amsterdam, Netherlands

The Heinekin family's canalside stalwart is big on position and busy on décor. Popular with Scandinavians and russians, there is something very 'square' about the Hotel de l'Europe, with its fighting striped walls and drapes, its thick carpets and its patterned wallpaper. Corridors sport ugly firedoors, and canned classical music enlivens the lobby. It feels like an english hotel before hotels became fahionable.

Décor-wise the 100 rooms are very varied. Most, but not all deluxes have separate showers, and those on 1st and 2nd floors have high ceilings and tall windows. The best and brightest have canal views - but make sure they are Amstel views, as the mint tower canal views suffer traffic and tram noise. The restaurant has a good reputation and attracts a business and political clientele, and has great views.