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On one of my recent trips, I had the chance to plan a quick stopover in Amsterdam, a city I love. I was looking for a hotel near Schiphol Airport, as my flights were both landing late at night and departing very early in the morning. That’s something I’ve done many times, and there are plenty of options to choose from, even inside the airport terminal. However, this time one caught my attention: Corendon Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, a Tribute Portfolio hotel that was recently opened, and has a large 747-400 sitting in its yard. Without overthinking, I booked it right away and got excited about testing this out. Here’s my experience, let’s dive in!
In This Article
How to Get to the Hotel
From all the airport hotels at Schiphol, this one is quite far, ~15 min by bus. A dedicated shuttle bus runs every 30-45 minutes, conveniently located outside the arrivals area. That night was super cold and raining heavily, but other than that, the bus was huge and sufficient for plenty of passengers with luggage.
Check-in
I arrived right before 21. The front desk is small but very efficient; it took only a few minutes to get our room cards. The lobby is ample and warm, with beautiful lightning and plenty of seating options (picture below, from the next day).
Right after checking in, I crossed the entire lobby and restaurant area to reach the back exit, where I found a garden that led to the 747 in the backyard. I took some pictures of the 747-400 from the outside. The access was completely closed, but I was told there is a 3 EUR tour you can take every day in the morning and afternoon, so I immediately signed up for it the next morning. The plane is massive, and it’s unbelievable you can get so close to it.
The Room
As a Marriott Bonvoy Platinum member, I was upgraded to a Triple Room, which was supposed to have slightly more room and better views from the corner. The room is cozy and well-decorated. As you walk in, you’ll find a hallway with access to the bathroom, which leads to the actual room.
There’s a desk with a few complimentary snacks, bottles of water and a coffee machine. The room is not incredibly big; in fact, it leans more towards being small. But the absolute best part is the view. If you open the window or sit by the desk, you get a direct view of the 747, which is stunning.
Breakfast
The next day, I signed up for breakfast at the main restaurant downstairs. The price is 22 EUR per person, but it is either included or discounted for Marriott Bonvoy Elite members (depending on the level). The restaurant is big and can accommodate dozens of groups and large parties.
The breakfast buffet is top-notch, with high-quality and international options, selection is impressive, and there are plenty of stations to choose from, plus an à la carte menu for certain dishes you can order. It’s worth the price.
The 747-400 Tour: City of Bangkok
The Outside
After breakfast I was ready to visit the 747. I walked down the garden, which looked beautiful at daylight.
The tour started at 11:00, so I arrived 15 minutes early to spend some time exploring and admiring the outside, taking in the hundreds of details you never get the chance to see. It’s impressive to stand by the engines or just be able to stare at the aircraft below. The way they exhibit the plan is very well thought out, making it shine while showcasing its massiveness.
Exactly at 11:00, a member of the staff arrived and opened the stairs and the plane’s door. Luckily, there was no one else signed up, so I had the entire plane to myself! The ‘tour’ is just access to the aircraft. Right before you enter, the hotel staff hands out a sheet of paper with some facts and information about the plane, and then lets you walk around for 20-30 minutes visiting all the areas you want.
The Crew Rest Area
I started visiting the main crew rest area, which is right after the entrance.
Economy Class
Then I went to the back, going through the last part of Economy Class towards the back galley and toilets.
Tail and Flight Recorders
It was interesting to see firsthand the tail of the plane and the area where the flight recorders are located.
Upper Deck
I headed to the Upper Deck, as this was an ex-KLM plane; the cabin is still configured with their older World Business Class version, featuring a 2-2 configuration, similar to the current Lufthansa Business Class cabin before it is replaced with Allegris. In a way, this cabin felt more private than Lufthansa’s, which has no divider between the seats and smaller legroom.
Cockpit
The highlight of the entire plane is the cockpit. You can sit on it, and there’s even some uniform touches you can wear to pretend you are one of the pilots. It was simultaneously fun, cool, and exotic to be there. Some of the instruments are covered with a layer of acrylic to prevent people from touching them. The screens are covered with stickers that simulate being turned on. As the plane is slightly elevated from the ground, you get a really nice view.
Lower Deck Business Class (Front)
Coming down from the cockpit, I went down to the front of the plane, which was also configured with World Business Class, up to the nose of the aircraft. The plane is extremely well-maintained, and the entire exhibition is thoughtfully planned. The plane is connected to electricity for the lights, and also has some ACs installed to prevent the excessive heat! Kudos to the team that set this up.
Galley
One interesting part was seeing both the huge galleys with storage for food, as well as a small communications room that’s usually not accessible.
Entrance
Finally, I ended the tour at the main entrance. I sat down for a few moments on one of the seats, and took a few pictures through the window.
About Corendon’s 747-400
The Boeing 747-400, formerly a KLM aircraft named ‘City of Bangkok’, took its first commercial flight in June 1989. After three decades of service, it has found a new and final home in the garden of the Corendon Amsterdam Schiphol Airport Hotel. The aircraft’s interior is largely preserved from its time with KLM. Although it now bears the Corendon livery, the airline group has never operated this type of aircraft.
Here are some key facts about this impressive aircraft:
- Wingspan: 64.44 meters
- Height: 19.4 meters
- Length: 70.67 meters
- Cruise speed: 920 kilometers per hour
- Range: 12,900 kilometers
- Maximum number of passengers: 408
- Weight: Approximately 178,750 kilograms
- Total flight hours: Over 134,297
- Total takeoffs: 18,024
- Passengers transported: Approximately 6 million
A Queen's Journey
The journey of the 747 from Schiphol Airport to the hotel was a monumental five-day task undertaken by specialized transport company Mammoet. The 150-ton aircraft had to cross 17 ditches, the A9 highway, and a provincial road to reach its final destination. This was the first time a Boeing 747 had been transported in this manner, including its wings.
From KLM Blue to Corendon Red
Before its journey to the hotel, the ‘City of Bangkok’ was stripped of valuable parts like its engines by aircraft recycling company AELS. The aircraft was then repainted in Corendon’s colors in Rome before being transported.
Final Verdict
I had a great time at the Corendon Amsterdam Schiphol hotel. The hotel itself is modern, beautifully decorated, and well-prepared for travelers who are also far from both the city and the airport. The hotel offers food options throughout the day, a Starbucks, a well-equipped gym, conference rooms, excellent restaurants, and other amenities that make it an excellent 4+ star hotel. Room rates are also reasonable for airport hotels.
For sure, the highlight was the 747-400. To have that already in the backyard and as the main view in your room makes it appealing enough to try the hotel. On top of that, you are able to access the interior of the plane and stay 30 minutes walking around, staring, taking pictures, and just enjoying yourself inside this huge and empty plane, all for yourself!
At the time I visited the hotel, the 737 Suite was not available; however, it is now. That’s a room where they’ve cut and prepared a 737 cockpit inside. I’m looking forward to trying that out my next time around in AMS.
