Our holiday began in the most delightful way, with a stay at Suite 259 in Amsterdam. Shawn usually leaves accommodation to me, but he booked this one. I confess, I wasn’t too thrilled at the thought of a bed and breakfast, as I’m more of a hotel person. All that changed when we arrived though. Well, maybe four or five minutes after.

We were greeted at the door by Aziz, the owner of Suite 259. He’s an elderly gentleman, but that didn’t stop him from helping hubby lug our heavy bags up the stairs to our room.

Oh those stairs (you’ll find many of them in Amsterdam accommodation). When we walked in, and I saw that steen, narrow staircase in front of me, I was horrified.

The thing is, I’m a faller. Faller {noun}: A person who even when walking on perfectly flat ground, is totally capable of tripping and falling, bruising one’s knees or bum, and ego.

Nervously I made my way up the stairs to the Safari Suite. It was spacious and clean, and there were vases with roses outside our door, inside the room, and next to the bathtub. I felt better immediately. Aziz showed us around, and pointed out a gift for Zee – a cute little teddy bear, waiting on her bed (by the time we left, she received three more).

Apart from the many drinks in the fridge, there were also chocolates, fresh fruit, a bottle of red wine, a box of Dutch bread, and even a special welcome cake for us. I love cake. 🙂

There was a king bed, and a single for Zee. The beds were comfortable, and the pillows were just right. Slippers were provided, and instead of the usual bathrobes, there were cool kimonos. I liked that there were tubs of cotton pads and earbuds in the bathroom, as people often forget these little things.

Everyday at breakfast, we had freshly squeezed orange juice, fruit salad, and the yummiest little pancakes dusted with castor sugar and drizzled with syrup. Zee wasn’t crazy about the orange juice, as it was too sour for her, but she loved the fruits, cheese, and pancakes.

Our two favourite breakfasts were the Dutch pea soup, and dhallcha with paratha. The pea soup has spicy sausage in it, and is one of the best soups I’ve tasted (it’s a tie with the goulash we tried in Germany and there in Amsterdam).

The dhallcha was perfection. The flavours reminded me of home and my parents’ cooking. Aziz bought the paratha – I’m no culinary goddess, so I’m not complaining. I was just happy to be treated to such scrumptiousness so far from home.

Oh, did I mention that breakfast is prepared by Aziz? Originally from Singapore, he gives you a choice between the usual breakfast (eggs etc) and tropical breakfasts from Singapore and Malaysia, such as the dhallcha.

Aziz was truly the most incredible host! He’s so friendly and helpful, and it was actually sad to say goodbye.

Suite 259 is situated on Overtoom, the longest road in Amsterdam. It’s a ten minute walk into the city centre. There’s also a tram stop across the road. This perfect location, combined with the brilliant service you receive during your stay make it a must visit if ever you’re in Amsterdam. I know that if we’re there again, there’s nowhere else we’d rather stay.