Our guests are always very positive about Hotel Mitland (EURO 87,50, valid till May 31st). However, this is outside the city center: 7 minutes by bus and then 10 minutes walking (or 30 minutes walking if you don't take the bus). DEON participants have to fill in the form and at the field "Questions / Special wishes" have to enter the code "blokboeking 48729" plus their credit card data to reserve a single room at the reduced price of 87,50 Euro.
Malie hotel (EUR 110, valid till May 1st) is nice as well (four stars) and is a close to the centre: 7 minutes by bus (same bus stop as Mitland) or 20 minutes walking. When booking a room, mention that you are a DEON participant.
Best Western Amrâth (EUR 90, valid till May 31st) is good and in the city centre, 5 minutes from the workshop venue. It is at a market place that can be busy during the day. DEON participants can use this form to make reservations with reduction.
Other suggestions are:
The one with the best location is NH Centre (in the heart of the historic centre at a nice square, and just five minutes walking to the workshop venue). However, sometimes guests complain that it is a bit noisy and slightly rundown. They offer no reductions for DEON participants.
NH Utrecht and Park Plaza are big modern hotels very near the railway station. They are close to the city centre but at the "wrong side" of the railway track. Walking to the hotel at night could therefore be a bit unpleasant and dark (but we heard no complaints of AAMAS-05 participants.). They offer no reductions for DEON participants.
Other Hotels (info from AAMAS'05)
From Schiphol Airport: Take the direct train to Utrecht, two trains per hour, at .13 and .43, usually departing from platform 3 (See the site of the dutch railways for the exact schedule.). Please note that the AAMAS'05 information, which says that passengers for Utrecht should change at Duivendrecht, is outdated.
Warning: Although travelling by public transport in the Netherlands is generally safe, the trains and railway stations around Schiphol and Amsterdam are popular targets of muggers and pickpockets. Be careful in the trains and at the platforms. If you bring a laptop, it is best to carry it within your suitcase instead of separately, and not to use it on the train.
By train from Belgium or Germany: When travelling from Belgium (Brussels-Antwerp): change for Utrecht at Rotterdam Central. When travelling from Germany (Koeln-Oberhausen-Arnhem): this train directly takes you to Utrecht Central. Those travelling from Germany (Osnabrueck-Hengelo) should change for Utrecht at Amersfoort.
From Utrecht Central Station:
- Utrecht Central is a slightly confusing station, built as part of an indoor shopping centre. Upon arrival go up the stairs or escalator and follow the signs for the buses or taxis. If you prefer to walk to the city centre (Janskerkhof) follow the direction Centrum / Hoog Catharijne, walk into the shopping centre and find the exit Vredenburg (near the end). On the street called Vredenburg turn right or ask one of the many friendly locals how to walk to Janskerkhof.
- Best Western Amrath hotel is at the corner of Vredenburg and Lange Viestraat (1 min).
- The hotels NH Centre and Strowis can be reached by foot, walking to Janskerkhof (10 min) or by city bus lines 3 and 4 (direction Burg. F. Andrealaan) and line 11 (direction De Uithof/WKZ), busstop Janskerkhof (approx. 3-5 minutes).
- For Hotel Ouwi and Maliehotel take city bus line 4 (direction Burg. F. Andrealaan) or line 11 (direction De Uithof/WKZ), busstop Oorsprongpark (approx. 10 minutes). At the traffic lights, for Hotel Ouwi turn left into the F.C. Donderstraat and for Maliehotel turn right into the Maliebaan, then the second street on your right is the Maliestraat.
- The strippencard: Local public
transport in The Netherlands requires a "strippencard". Within
Utrecht,
all rides are two strips. If you plan to use the city bus both to and
from the railway station and from your hotel to the conference venue
v.v., then buying a
15-strippencard is probably worth its money
(available at the railway station ticket office). Otherwise it is
probably cheaper to buy a single ticket
on the bus for each ride.
