Where to stay in Netherlands

Apartments:For travellers who prefer the comfort and convenience of their own flat with cooking facilities, apartment rentals make a good, surprisingly affordable option. Airbnb.com and homelidays.co.uk are among the most consistently reliable providers. Amsterdam CityMundo (amsterdam.citymundo.com) has apartments for rent in the capital, some in choice locations.

Youth Hostels: There are 29 hostels in various settings, from cities to seacoast to countryside, housed in castles, historic homes and modern buildings. People with a Hostelling International card receive a discount of €2.50 for an overnight stay including breakfast. Information is obtainable from Stayokay (the Dutch Youth Hostel Association, www.stayokay.com). Sleeping facilities can be cramped with up to six bunks in spartan rooms, but each hostel is equipped with a bar and lounge areas where you can meet other travelers.

Houseboats: Visitors planning a stay in Amsterdam might consider sleeping on a houseboat. Moored along the banks of the city's numerous canals, they make a fun, romantic alternative. Most offer B&B type accommodation, with terraces, internet access and sometimes a dinghy for guests who want to ply the canals on their own. There are also a few retrofitted freighters that are more like floating hotels. The website www.iamsterdam.com provides links to a number of houseboat renters.