If you have ever visited Rotterdam or the city is on your list of places to visit, am sure you have come across the Cubic Houses (or kubuswoningen in Dutch). As of Monday you will have a chance to actually sleep in one of the cubes as the hostel chain Stayokay is opening with rates starting at €23.50. Each of the 49 unique rooms differ in layout and design.

The unusual architecture by Piet Blom has attracted visitors from all over the world. The cubes are located in the city center and overlook the historic old harbor of Rotterdam. For bookings and more information visit the Stayokay website.

A good friend of mine was just on a romantic getaway which took him to different small cities in the Netherlands, and one stop along the way was Delft. Where did he stay in Delft? The very interesting Havenstraat 5 Guesthouse.

Unlike hotels and hostels Havenstraat 5 is not for the masses. More to the point, Havenstraat 5 is a stylish apartment for 2 people. (yes, 2!) The apartment, which can be rented per night, per week or per month, features a fully stocked kitchen, a combined living room-bedroom, and a modern bathroom. Guests can also enjoy the tranquil garden.

Location wise the guesthouse is very near the Delft train station, and walking distance from the historic city center. So not only do you get to relax in an extra comfortable apartment, you're also right in the middle of the legendary city of Delft.

Looking for a beautiful getaway inside the borders of the Netherlands? Bed of Flowers is an incredible Bed and Breakfast located about an hour southeast of Amsterdam, close to the village of Beuningen. The photos on the website say it all.

From the B&B it is possible to enjoy biking trails and some walking as well: you can see a castle from the 14th century (Doddendaal) after a 15-minute hike.

Two different rooms are available and are prices at €95 per night for two persons including a breakfast made with local cuisine.

Ever heard of TripAdvisor? If you’re looking for a hotel in Amsterdam (or anywhere else, really) it’s a great place to start. Not only to they list 570 hotels and accommodations, but they employ a system of peer review to the order in which the hotels are listed.

For example, the top-rated hotel today is called Fusion Suites, and its high rating is based on 80 traveler reviews. Many of the raters take their time to explain exactly what they loved (or hated!) about the hotel, including its location, price, and tidbits about public transportation or nearby shops.

Happy New Year all! Why not start off 2009 with a description of a great place to stay – at Schiphol airport.

Yotel is a relatively new concept that allows passengers to get a good night’s sleep at the airport. Hours between transfers can now be spent in comfort – and if you’re too lazy to get up at 4am for that early-morning flight, you can even stay over the night before.

Yotel’s décor is contemporary and the sleeping arrangements luxurious. Best of all? Standard cabins start at EUR 35 for four hours and EUR 70 for an overnight. Quick, tell all those people sleeping on chairs in the waiting rooms that there’s a better solution!

Why not go to Rotterdam this summer while visiting Holland? From the end of May until the beginning of September almost every weekend there is something going on in Rotterdam. Street theater, open air movies, dance parades and concerts on the water. You can find more information on Rotterdamfestivals.nl where you can link to the different festivals (culturele agenda).

If you're looking for a place to stay in Rotterdam the people at Use-It can help you out. Here is a list of hostels and cheap accommodation. Sleep-In De Mafkees seems like the cheapest option. For only € 10 per night (including breakfast) you can spend the night at an old skating rink near Central Station. And they have one very special suite: the honeymoon suite!

Some of your may remember my video tour of the Lloyd Hotel, available right there in the top right hand menu if you shuffle through the videos.

This week I decided it had been too long since I was last in the Lloyd Hotel Restaurant/Bar/Cultural Embassy, and as my mom is visiting, I figured it was a good time.

Middle of February is certain not the high season in Amsterdam, though I'm sure you enjoy the pun. So the Lloyd was pretty quiet... made me want to get a room and go to sleep in such a peaceful atmosphere. But dinner was the goal so we grabbed a table and perused the menu.

I chose a pasta dish of course, sticking with the vegetarian's reliable friend. Mom went for the Mackerel, sticking with our Portuguese fish culture. While the food itself was delicious, there's not too much in terms of filling up the plate. The cuisine is very designer, just as the hotel itself prides itself for being. This meant we had to order some delicious panacotta deserts. If you can explain what panacotta is, you get a cookie.. cause I can't - but I like it.

The delicious but not quite filling food gave us just enough energy to wander around the hotel and take in the super-interesting exhibition on the history of the Lloyd. An amazing history, of course.

All in all, it was nice and overdue, to be back at the Lloyd Hotel for some food, relaxation, and education. (not to mention free wifi!!)

Some recent news from the hotel/accommodation world: the hostel chain StayOkay has apparently become the first institution in the tourism industry to be given the eco-friendly label.

Yes, ecofriendly! They use cleaning products that don't contain harmful chemicals, they use hotel supplies that are environmentally sustainable, they offer bike rental, they use minimal garbage, smokefree communal spaces, etc. There is a whole long list of criteria that StayOkay and its 30 hostels in the Netherlands have fulfilled in order to be granted the European Ecofriendly Label.

So keep that in mind next time you're thinking, "Yes I want to go on vacation to the Netherlands but I want to stay in a place that cares as much about its environmental impact as I do." Now there is a place... oh if only more institutions would follow their lead.

The thing I hate about change is that cool traditions are often thrown aside. With all the changes going on around Central Station and the new neighborhood known as ODE, the latest victim is the well known Amsterdam Botel.

Yes the hotel that is also a boat will be moving soon, destination: NDSM dock. The furthest of all the Amsterdam north docks, the Botel will have plenty of cool neighbors like the Soviet Submarine, occasionally Greenpeace, and plenty of hip eateries and café's popping up in that area.

The only sad part is that the Botel will no longer be right next to Central Station. To get to it, you'll have to grab the free ferry, and destination NDSM is less frequent in the evening.

So if you're thinking of trying out the Amsterdam Botel that has for so long stood next to the floating Chinese Restaurant in Centrum, make a note that from now on, the Botel will be way up in the North. Sure there will be shuttle buses, free parking, and easy access to the A10 highway, but if you ask me, it is the end of a lovely era.

Another person visiting me, this time a family member. As per usual the apartment is way too small, so my cousin ended up at the Park Hotel, located just at the entrance of Vondelpark and the edge of Leidseplein.

Prime location of course, that was my initial thought. Then she added the fact that since its the off season, the Park Hotel compared to most others was offering the best deal in such a central location.. so she went for it.

As a proud trippist, I told her I needed the full tour and to test every part of the Hotel and I must know how her stay goes. Initially everything was ok, not special, just ok. Small rooms, normal fixings, and as always with the big chain hotels -- no free wifi. (when will they learn!?)

My cousin felt they'd misled her with their brochure and website that featured rooms that looked nothing like the small room she was in. To me it looked like a typical Amsterdam hotel. As I said goodbye for the evening she announced she would ask the front desk for another room. "Odd" I thought... "will the next room be so different?"

Sure enough the next day my cousin calls: "Come to the hotel, you'll want to see this." She instructs me to go to another room number, which it turns out is in a completely renovated and futuristic wing of the building. So futuristic in fact, that the rooms defy typical hotel room design... because the bathroom is in the room.

Seriously. Here's some form of photo evidence..

which I took from the bed, which is a few steps and no door away from the toilet or shower.

For single person this room was not only funny, it was cool. My cousin doubted any couple would ever tolerate being that close to each other, especially if someone is using the toilet.

As a visitor, I thought the design was fun and edgy, and therefore good. Though I admit, I was happy to go home and use my WC which has its own room as I believe it should be.

So.. the Park Hotel Amsterdam... now featuring new rooms and crazy bathroom features.