Here's the story of one of the "hotels with a back story" I have stayed in.
A few years ago, whilst on my way back home from a (non-railway) European trip, I stayed at the Prins Hendrik Hotel in Amsterdam.
When I checked in, the receptionist said "I hope that trumpeter doesn't keep you awake tonight". Not knowing what he was talking about, I smiled and went to the room.
What I didn't know is that they'd put me in room 210, which was called "The Chet Baker Room". Now, I didn't know who he was at first, but I quickly found out that he was Chesney Henry "Chet" Baker, Jr. (December 23, 1929 May 13, 1988), an American jazz trumpeter, flugelhornist and vocalist.
Not only that, I found that he'd died outside that very room! Well, to be accurate, his body was found in the road outside, as he'd apparently fallen out of the window. He'd had drug problems for many years, and quantities of heroin and cocaine were found in his body at the autopsy.
The room was named in his memory, and there were a couple of pictures and a review of his biography on the walls. So, when I saw the receptionist the follwing morning, I was able to tell him that "No, the trumpeter didn't keep me awake last night"!
Despite the start, though, I enjoyed my stay both in the hotel and in Amsterdam. The hotel is right opposite the Centraal Station, and the tourist areas are very easily accessible from there, both by foot and as there's a tram station virtually opposite the hotel.
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Another place I've stayed in London, which not everyone will be eligible to stay at, is the Union Jack club which is conveniently located between Waterloo and Waterloo East stations in a high rise building which, depending on which way your room faces, gives some quite good photting opportunities! It is however only available to servicement past and present, plus those employed in the emergency services and UK civil service. A basic single is £49.50 if I recall correctly, a bit more expensive than the County Hotel and it doesn't include breakfast, but it doesn't have the same run down feel to it.
I fully recommend the Union Jack Club!
I was there in December, and it's excellent. It's very well placed for Waterloo Station(s), and only a short walk across Waterloo Bridge to Strand and everywhere else.
It's a little more than £49.50 now, but I only paid £58 for a single room with a television. You have to share the facilities (which is something that I prefer not to do), but the advantage is that those rooms are not always fully booked, so you don't often have to worry about anyone else.
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Blimey is that place still open - I stayed in there over thirty years ago when I was in the "Air Cadets". Thought it would have been rubble by now. Or was it when I was in the Navy its so long ago I can't remember.
Ah, you stayed in the
old Union Jack Club.
That was demolished in the 1980's and replaced by the current building. I never stayed there as it was, but I have heard some stories!
