Hotel Okura, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Although this is a luxurious hotel, it's in a surprisingly nondescript, heavily residential area on the Amstel canal. That said, it's located in trendy De Pijp, which has a good selection of cafés and restaurants, and there's easy access to central Amsterdam via tram. Rated eateries nearby include Restaurant Floreyn for Dutch dishes and artisan beer brewer Brouwerij Troost for burgers and bar snacks.

By train: the Eurostar goes direct from London St Pancras to Amsterdam Centraal. The hotel is a 20-minute taxi ride from the station. Book trains to Amsterdam.

By plane: direct flights from London and Manchester take around 1 hour 15 minutes. The hotel is a 20-minute drive from Schiphol airport and central station. Parking costs €55 per day. Book flights to Amsterdam.

The spacious lobby with its soft colours, cream marble polished floor, wood panels and gentle piano music playing to create a calm ambience all exude a Japanese design undercurrent. With kimono-clad waitresses in one restaurant and a garden and spa also with a Japanese feel, you could almost be in Tokyo.

Service, though efficient, can be rather stuffy. However, this is overshadowed by a wealth of amenities including two bars, four impressive restaurants, a ballroom, gift shop, indoor pool, fitness centre and a spa.

• Two bars
• Restaurants
• Terrace
• Garden
• Swimming pool
• Fitness centre
• Spa
• Family-friendly
• On-site parking
• Free Wi-Fi

The rooms here are spacious and decorated in neutral light colours, with marble bathrooms offering both baths and walk-in showers. The beds are very comfy and flat-screen TVs and espresso machines add to the comfort.

Room types: Superior Room, Executive Room, Panorama Room, Junior Suite, Corner Suite, Royal Suite, Okura Apartment, Presidential Suite, Imperial Suite

Key amenities: ensuite bathroom with toiletries, bathrobes and slippers, Nespresso machine, pillow menu, TV, free Wi-Fi

The hotel has outstanding restaurants offering imaginative and innovative dishes, most notably the two Michelin-starred Ciel Bleu (international cuisine) and one Michelin-starred Yamazato (Japanese), the latter overlooking a tranquil Japanese garden. The Serre Brasserie on the ground floor has a lovely terrace shaded by trees.

Ciel Bleu: 2 Michelin-starred restaurant, scenic views. Open for dinner, Tue-Sat.

Yamazato: Michelin-starred garden restaurant. Japanese cuisine. Open for dinner, Wed-Sun.