Amsterdam has almost 350 hotels and 18,000 rooms, providing accommodation for every taste and budget. There are currently a dozen five star, 38 four star, 79 three star, 67 two star and 53 one star hotels. There are lots of other types of accommodation as well, such as campsites, hostels, B&Bs, apartments and houseboats. Business visitors and tourists are equally important for many hotels. Room rates (which are dependent on hotel occupancy) fluctuate wildly, even in high season. You should be able to negotiate a great rate on a Sunday, but some hotels are adopting a weekend three-night minimum stay. A 5% city tax may or may not be included in the price and breakfast is often extra. Many of Amsterdam's most stylish venues are (of course) by the water, ranging from elegant canal houses and mansions to floating houseboats. Accommodation is no less varied in the rest of the country with castles, windmills, farms, sailing ships and lighthouses to choose from. Check out the tourist board's website (www.holland.com) and the ‘luxury’ and ‘explore’ sections, or for some Dutch sources, www.weekenddesk.com and www.weekendhotel.nl (English version).