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I haven't stayed in them because I live in Amsterdam. So I don't know what the atmophere and amenities are like but just check the review websites such as Tripadvisor.com and Hostels.com.

It depends on what you are into, I guess.
Stadsdoelen is in the middle of the red light district, a very touristy area with lots of neon. It's close to lots of coffeeshops, bars, canal boats, various sights (Dam Square). It's safe enough.
Vondelpark is a nice big building in the middle of a beautiful park, walking distance from Leidseplein with lots of nightlife (Paradiso, Melkweg, Sugar Factory and other nightclubs), bars, touristy restaurants. And also closer to Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, Stedelijk Museum, than the other hostel. If you were to leave the Vondelpark via side exits instead of the Leidseplein (Max Euweplein) one, then you'd end up in rather posh residential neighbourhoods, which I find a lot nicer than red lights / prostitutes and neon coffee shops.

So basically I like the Vondelpark a whole lot more than the red light district. But if you're here for the weed and for partying, you might be better off in Stadsdoelen, or in one of the Bulldog or other hostels where people smoke.

Amsterdam is not very big and either one would be great for being close to lots of highlights and museums.

Meeting people in hostels is easy, simply start chatting to someone, or for example at breakfast ask if a seat is free next to someone who's sitting alone.
Or join Couchsurfing and read the groups and forums, there are lots of 'events' and get-togethers, and people looking for other travellers to enjoy the city with. You don't need to actually surf a couch in order to use the forums.

Amsterdam Tips on my website under Travel! :-)

Veel plezier,
Cécile
Amsterdam

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I am a young female traveller and stayed in Stadsoelen in February, had a great stay. Found the hostel to be great, really clean and quiet (even though I was in a 20 bed dorm - all the lockers are outside the room so you don't get the noise of people rummaging around during the middle of the night). Fantastic location as well, only a few minutes' walk from the city centre, I would definitely recommend it.

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only a few minutes' walk from the city centre

Well in fact it is in the middle of city centre.

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Thank you guys for the responses. I don't smoke so weed is out of question as for the partying and stuff I get to do that enough of it in New York City (so partying is not on top of my to do list in Amsterdam) however, with that said its also not like that I am not up for checking out Nightlife in Amsterdam but I guess just for that purpose I don't need to choose Stadsoelen....and as you said Celcilia that even Vondelpark is near by may tourist attractions and nightlife then I don't think I should have any difficulty in enjoying party scene as well in Amsterdam. And as you are saying that Amsterdam is also not that big so traveling to city center, other highlights which are in Stadsoelen and near by areas should be walkable distance or can be access through bicycle if I want to rent a bike to explore Amsterdam. Correct?

Edited by: am6699

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Correct!
Us Amsterdammers like to get around by bike because it's faster than walking, cheap and healthy (except for breathing fumes...). As a woman I also feel safer at night on my bike instead of walking, not that safety is a huge issue.
You can rent a bike and find your own way, or you could join an organised bike tour with a guide explaining a lot about the city. They also offer guided bike tours in the countryside, taking you to picturesque fishermen's villages. Check out www.yellowbike.nl and www.macbike.nl.

Amsterdam is so compact that a lot can be done on foot.
For example, walking from Dam Square to Leidseplein without stopping should take about 20 minutes. And from StayOkay Stadsdoelen to StayOkay Vondelpark in about 25-30 minutes. (Or 10 minutes by bike.)

Vondelpark is closer to the area I mentioned: De Pijp, which is full of nice cafes, bars and restaurants, and which has the famous Albert Cuyp market (watch out for pickpockets), just an ordinary market for food and clothes. You could have lunch at grand cafe / restaurant Bazar (middle-eastern food) in that street.
It's also close to the P.C. Hooftstraat with posh shops like Armani, if you're into that.

Whichever of those two StayOkays you choose will be convenient for sightseeing in Amsterdam. Stadsdoelen is closer to Anne Frank's House, shopping streets, the canals; Vondelpark is inside the nice park (which also has a few bars), closer to museums, closer to Leidseplein and all its bars, nightclubs and restaurants.

Even StayOkay Zeeburg is very nice, it's in my own residential neighbourhood in the up & coming eastern part of town, in a cool building, and right next door from Studio/K cafe/bar/restaurant/cinema/nightclub, and close to Dappermarkt (market), many Turkish fruit shops and other shops, others cafes and bars, Brouwerij 't IJ (beer brewery in a windmill), Tropenmuseum, etc.
It's about 15-20 minutes by bike to the center (but only about 10 minutes by bike to Artis Zoo).
On my website you will find more tips about things to see and do in the eastern part. From there you can also reach the countryside in about 15 minutes by bike (to Ransdorp, Durgerdam) and do your own bike ride to the picturesque villages (Holysloot, Marken, Zuiderwoude etc).

If you have a full week you may also want to visit other places in the Netherlands, doing a search in the Thorn Tree will give you thousands of suggestions. :-)
Personally I still feel like I haven't seen everything in Amsterdam after almost 15 years of living here, but for most visitors about 3-4 full days is enough to see a nice variety of lots of highlights.
Many other interesting towns are only a 20 or maybe 60 minute train ride away, but you may even want to take the 2.5 hour train ride to Maastricht, or visit Hoge Veluwe national park.

Edited by: Cecilia

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Wow! Thank you so much! I really appreciate your effort in taking out time and providing this much detail. Surly I will visit your website for more info. :)