Amsterdam does a certain kind of boutique hotel very well: ornate detailing, luxurious patterned fabrics, crystal chandeliers and dim lighting, and Hotel Estherea is one of the best. Originally started by Maria Flieger-Gruyters as a simple, small canal house hotel after the Second World War, the hotel now consists of a row of houses run by her granddaughter Esther; it's a family affair through and through as her sister Caroline is responsible for the interiors and brother Jan-Willem for an impressive aquarium in the lobby and the maintenance of the patio gardens. Room sizes vary, but all are comfortable and stocked with L'Occitane bath products, and extras such as valet parking, free tea and coffee all day in reception and the use of an i-pad during your stay are much appreciated by guests. The location is great: in walking distance of Dam Square, the railway station, museums and shops.