Vossiusstraat 46, 1071 AJ Amsterdam Tram 1, 2, 5 (stop: Leidseplein) Tel (020) 4004187 Websitewww.flyingpig.nl
BUG Review
Located between Leidseplein and the Rijksmuseum, this Flying Pig hostel is a bit more low-key than the other. It still offers an atmospheric bar and common area, and it is in a beautiful old building. Rooms are standard and spacious, with Dutch-influenced themes (even one with a cannabis theme), some have queen sized beds for couples, and some have cute wrought iron balconies overlooking Vondelpark. One of the best features of this hostel is the large, well-stocked kitchen with tons of cooking supplies. Most hostels here only offer a microwave, so this is a welcome luxury. The bar/pool table/internet area is quite convivial, though in this area, the best place to be is outside in the park. It’s in a safe, quiet area, and they have great security.
Price Dorm bed €13.30-29.90
Price includes breakfast Prices are in euro and are inclusive of all taxes.
Howdy fellow travellers here's a great place for you all. I was really lucky to get the last bed at the Palace. It was still during the busy season and was ever so grateful.... The location is just south of central... was great as you have this huge, most divine park to walk, rollerblade or bike through. You can hire them there. Also because you stay out of the centre you get to see so much more along your travels to places... things I would not have seen if I stayed right in town. I could go on and on here about my experience there but I suppose if you go you'll find out too... it just felt like a cosy home away from home and really made me feel as though I was living in Amsterdam and not just passing through.
7 of
13 people found this review helpful
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(Review ID: 4518)
Claustrophobics beware, November 9, 2004
Reviewer:
Zach82
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The Flying Pig is really small, and really crowded. There is not a single place in the hostel where one isn't jostling for space. The hostel is clean, but ever so crowded. Did I mention crowded? There is no ventilation in the bar, so not only are you crowded down there, but you also suffocate on thick clouds of smoke from shitty, cheapass pot.To the palace's merit, the crowds and lack of air drives you out into Amsterdam, with Leidseplein and the Vondelpark both nearby. But the relaxing moments in Vondelpark are tainted by the thought that when you return to the hostel to get some sleep, you will be able to hear the stupid techno music in the bar through the floor until 8am. I had to get drunk or take dramamine to knock me out every night just to get some sleep.
10 of
16 people found this review helpful
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(Review ID: 4519)
good place to stay, April 24, 2004
Reviewer:
coreena
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I arrived a day early in Amsterdam and did not have a reservation till the next night. They were completely booked that night, but the staff was great and they gave me a mattress to sleep on. I slept in a room with about 15 other people. The only thing I didn't like was the tiny room with the toilet in it. It was so small that when the door closed my knees touched the door and I am a short person! Otherwise everything else was cool. The next day I had a NICE room with about 8 other people and I slept in a queen sized bunk with my boyfriend. I really like the queen sized bed. The room had it's own brand new bathroom with a toilet and shower. It was GREAT!! It was clean! Breakfast was good also. They had eggs, cereal, bread, jam, coffee, and hot chocolate. It was a nice variety. Good enough to get you started. Overall I recommend staying here.
11 of
16 people found this review helpful
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(Review ID: 4520)
Potheads read this, April 5, 2004
Reviewer:
14 Inches, Mothafucka
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To start off it's nothing to be too excited about. It's overhyped and rather expensive for what you're getting, but deal with it.. Amsterdam is fairly expensive in general. The hostel seems to be somewhat maintained in an orderly fashion by the perma-fried staff. Watch out for the showers, they drains don't work fast enough and the shower fills up with water. This is SWEET if you enjoy standing in the previous person's shower water. :( However, a cool bar/chillout room is located downstairs where the aroma of sweet canabis fills the air. Don't bother bringing your own stash, within 5 minutes you're stoned off second-hand smoke. If you try to talk to some of the kids there, or nudge one of the semi-conscious kids on the pillows they'll groan and blankly stare at you. They're not a very entertaining bunch and don't know how to have fun. Crowds are different all the time and it's not the hostel's fault. If you're gonna try something fun, do shrooms and go to the Van Gogh museum located 2 mins away. IT WAS A BLAST!!! Enjoy all of Amsterdam and don't stay passed out in the bar/chillroom. It's not worth it. Beds are alright, could be better. Security is tight, with camera surveillance and locks. In conclusion, check out another place I won't be staying at this one when I return to Amsterdam.
12 of
22 people found this review helpful
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(Review ID: 4521)
the best place in amsterdam, March 31, 2004
Reviewer:
bryan
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I think the Flying Pig is the best hostel i've stayed at in my six-week trip through europe. The atmosphere is totally amazing; very chill and laid back. The bar has cheap beer and good conversation, free internet, and really friendly staff. The rooms are about what you would expect from a hostel, not amazing but not gross either. The showers aren't the best, but other than that the bathrooms are fine. Pretty standard breakfast, the people who complained that there were restrictions on the pieces of bread probably haven't been traveling very long; it's like that almost everywhere. I've never heard anything but good things from the people who have ACTUALLY stayed at either of the Flying Pigs, though i think this one is better. This is the kind of hostel a backpacker dreams of finding.
9 of
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(Review ID: 4522)
great location and atmosphere, March 30, 2004
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Anonymous
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i stayed in three different hostels during my time in amsterdam, and this one was by far my favorite. first of all, the location was great, right next to vondelpark in a quiet residential area that i wasn't scared to walk through at night. this is more than i can say about the other hostels i stayed in. it's also within walking distance of amsterdam's best museums as well as many coffeeshops and bars, and only about 15 minutes away from the red light district. trust me, it's better to be close to the red light district than right in the middle of it. as far as the hostel itself goes it was clean with a great, laid back atmosphere and really good music playing in the bar, which is really refreshing after what you hear at most bars and hostels. the flying pig palace was a great place to head back to after a night in amsterdam and i wish i had been able to stay there the entire time.
5 of
12 people found this review helpful
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(Review ID: 4523)
You'd dig it the most!, March 26, 2004
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Anonymous
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Dear Palace,My name is John Cleland and about this time last year I was a guest at your hostel. I am writing to thank you for the very welcoming and accomodating stay. I found the Palace to be a place unlike any I had ever seen or heard of! I was travelling with a large college group who was backpacking around Europe as part of our art history course. Infact some of my fellow group members appear in a photo on your Flying Pig Palace page! We all felt that the Palace was just that, a palace, for the vibrant youth culture. Your bar downstairs was most inviting! The Dommelsch beer, the music, and the freindly conversation amongst the smokers and thinkers was all I ever hoped to find on our trip. Your location is prime! With Vondell park directly across the street and two of the best art museums in all the world right around the corner. Yor staff was also wonderful. They were glad to answer any questions we had or help us find anything we needed. CHEERS to you all!My month long journey through Europe has definitely been the high-light of my 24 years. I have all of you at the Palace to thank for making my trip that much more enjoyable. I hope that I will be able to visit the great city of Amsterdam again in the near future, and when I do I will be sure to say hello! Thank you again,John D. Cleland
6 of
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(Review ID: 4524)
Enjoyed it, November 11, 2003
Reviewer:
Robin
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Don't let the name fool you. It really is a nice place to stay. The room we were in had 6 beds with the best pillows in the world! We had our own shower that had warm water. The only thing was there was a step down and you could slip and fall because the water goes everywhere in the bathroom. Breakfast was good. Good toast. Close to everything in Amsterdam. Good place to stay, clean and fun to say you stayed at the Flying Pig Palace.
11 of
16 people found this review helpful
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(Review ID: 4525)
Don't bother, dirty and awful, November 3, 2003
Reviewer:
Michele
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I spent 2 nights here and they were dreadful. It was filthy, signs were up warning of mice infestations so consuming food in rooms was a no-no. Actually the rooms were filhy and the pillows and blsmelt really bad. The lockers were a joke. The reception only opens after 8.30 am as they did not take bookings, I had to wait outside in the cold too. The shower facility in every room was abysmal. No pressure and a broken hose meant the little water that did dribble out was directed at an angle that only cleaned my left elbow! The free internet was good but as it is in the corridor, it does tend to get chilly and long waits are expected. The breakfast is OK but there is NO milk for your 'unlimited' coffee or tea only this awful powder and there are restrictions of how many pieces of bread you can have. Save your money and time and go somewhere else. The social aspect is ok - if you like stoned out of their heads kids, but anyone who wants a decent conversation with someone who's not a freak, well look elsewhere.
14 of
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Hostel Manager's Right of Reply
Dear Michele,
This is the office manager of The Flying Pig Hostels. I am very sorry to hear your stay was not what you expected it to be. We do take your complaints seriously and if possible we act on it. Just a few remarks on what you said:
In Amsterdam you will find mice in every building, but there is little chance seeing or noticing them if there is no food for them. We put signs up with the advise not to store food in the room as a precaution to prevent mice. We have a kitchen with fridges to store your food. We are aware that some showers need renovation and these renovations have started. We always
provide clean bedlinen and the rooms do get cleaned properly every day. Mattresses and pillows are renewed regularly. Again, I am sorry about your disappointment and I hope you do still have good memories of your visit to Amsterdam.
(Review ID: 4526)
Great atmosphere, I tell everyone to go there, October 29, 2003
Reviewer:
barbaralynmellen@lycos.com
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I stayed at this hostel during my stay in Amsterdam, we went there for my friend's birthday. The place was great. I met people from everywhere, people to hang out with both in the hostel and outside and just had fun in general. My sister is now studying in Europe and planning on going to Amsterdam in a month or so. I told her she had to stay at the flying pig and book her reservation early because it is the best place in Amsterdam for someone looking for a great place on a low budget.
