Amsterdam is known for many things and is a desirable destination for many different travelers. From Nautical Nuts to History Buffs, from Pot-Heads to Cheese-Heads, this city has something for everyone.
Travel-Happy has been to Amsterdam several times in all seasons, and can honestly say, there's nothing quite like Amsterdam in the Spring. Tulip fields, comfortable weather, and not quite peak-season prices only adds to the allure of Amsterdam in April.
Sleeping in Amsterdam
At Travel-Happy we weigh and judge the rate of a hotel room based on several criteria. Firstly, as in Real Estate, Location, Location, Location. Any time you decide to stay in a city center, you're going to pay more for less in the luxury department, however, if it is not a city with great public transpo, it might be worth it. Amsterdam, adversely, has the benefit of ample public transpo, and the benefit of boating to boost.
Secondly, we rate rooming based on inclusions. Breakfast included, wifi included, private bathroom included, parking included, etc. Americans are usually thrown by this, but Europe is not very inclusive when it comes to travel costs. At Travel-Happy, we rate hotels based on if they nickle and dimed us or not.
Thirdly, at Travel-Happy we rate rooms on class and style. If we've made the decision to shell out a little more to gain some luxury, was it worth it? Knowing when it's worth it to splurge is a big part of being a Travel-Happy traveler.
Our favorite recommendation for room reservations in Amsterdam is the Hotel Waterfront. We always find our rooms there through Kayak.com, and reserve via booking.com. The Hotel Waterfront is located on a “Gracht” (Dutch for Canal) called Singel, right across the street from the Floating Flower Market. The location is great, with access to the 1, 2, and 5 trains stopping practically right next to the hotel. Breakfast of toast with your choice of cheese, deli meat, and jam. All you can eat and all you can drink coffee and tee. They even let us drink coffee after we had checked out. This is not a luxurious hotel, but in Amsterdam, there's so much to see and do, you only need the room for sleeping.
The cost varies depending on the season and if there is an event in town or not, but Hotel Waterfront is consistently one of the lower priced hotels in the city center that includes breakfast. Breakfast? Check! FREE Wifi? Check! Private bathroom? Check! (mostly, some rooms have private bathrooms that are located outside the rooms). Parking included? No, but that's no big deal, but we'll tell you what is...
Parking in Amsterdam
If you've ever traveled to Amsterdam by car, you know how expensive parking in the city center, or anywhere for that matter, can be. The Travel-Happy tip is, park at the Olympic Stadium Park&Ride parking lot. For 8 Euros per 24 hours. Just outside is the train stop for the 16 and the 24 that both head right into the city center. The best part? This park and ride deal includes train tickets for you and your guests.
For example, if you are traveling with two people, you park the car and receive two train tickets with your parking stub. These two train tickets are good for two hours each. One hour to travel from the parking garage, to your hotel, and into the city. And another hour to get back from your hotel to the parking garage. What a deal, right?
Eating in Amsterdam
At Travel-Happy we always encourage trying the local cuisine. In The Netherlands, they like it fried. Fried cheese, fried meat, did I say fried cheese? “Bitterballen” is our Must Try recommendation for Amsterdam. We like the platter at O'Reilly's Irish Pub http://oreillys.nl/ that includes slices of Gouda and a fried meat taco/spring roll kind of thing. Good price, feeds two.
Another foody fact is that one must eat a pancake for breakfast, or lunch, while in Amsterdam. Our pick? Any of the little breakfast places lining the Floating Flower Market just down the street from the Hotel Waterfront. One pancake is enough for two, but go ahead and splurge here and order one ham and cheese pancake, and one sweet pancake, like apple. Then you can share and enjoy a savory and sweet start to your day in Amsterdam.
Traveling on a budget? Bring a rucksack and go shopping at the Albert Cuyp Market after breakfast to buy all your goodies for lunch. This street market is a must see all on it's own, but make sure to hit it on a full stomach, otherwise you'll buy everything in sight. This is also a great place for replica watches and bags, cheap sunglasses if you need a pair to hold you over, cheap luggage, and great fresh food. There's a little One Euro store (like the 99 cent stores in America) hidden back there to buy wild and fun little a-typical souvenirs for a great price for all those at home.
After loading up on fresh fruit, sausages, cheese, and trail mix at the market, head to Vondelpark for a relaxing stroll. You can picnic here, or on the side of any canal throughout the city and enjoy the water.
When to do Amsterdam
As we mentioned before, we're a sucker for Springtime in this aquatic city. However, there is something to be said for Amsterdam in the Winter. Amsterdam under snowfall is the things fairy tales are made of, it's cheaper since it's the off-off-season, but there's a reason. It's cold. You might laugh and say, oh, I live in a cold climate, so what? Fine, but be warned. It's a wet cold with bone-chilling wind. Don't believe me? Do what you want. When we were there it was just a sprinkling of snow, and the canals weren't frozen over, so you couldn't skate. But they did have a very cute Christmas Market set up in Leidseplein with a little skating rink. Summer is hot, expensive, and crowded, like most European tourist cities in the summer. Be prepared.
Other “activities” in Amsterdam
From a space-cake to a booty shake, the famed Red Light District has what you're looking for. Leave your camera in your bag. For all intents and purposes, while in the Red Light District, you are in Vegas. What happens here, stays here. No matter what your poison, look no further than the canal just at the end of the Damstraat. Susie's Bar next to Rick's Cafe and across from the Green House, sitting on the Oudezijds Voorburgwal Canal and watching the boats go by is enjoyable for everyone. For people watching, Travel-Happy gives this area an A+ with honors.
The Artists Zoo and Botanical Gardens are also nice spring/summer time activities. The Artists Zoo was 20 Euros per person, so we skipped it and went to the Botanical Gardens. I had two coupons from our hotel for 20% off the entrance fee of 7.50 Euros. It was nice, but smaller than I imagined.
If you're up in that area, then you HAVE to go to the Windmill Brewery Brouwerij 't IJ http://www.brouwerijhetij.nl/ . It's brewed right there in that building. It doesn't get more local than that. Have fun tasting the local brews before hopping on the Canal Boat for a cruise around the city.
The Hop-on-Hop-off Canal Bus is, in our opinion, the best bang for your buck. You can bring your own food and drink with you on board and have your little picnic there. The driver tells you all about the area you're driving through, and for 33 Euros per person, you have all inclusive travel for three days, if you're smart. The 24 hour pass is 22 Euros per person, but the canal bus doesn't run 24 hours. For 11 Euros more, you have a 48 hour pass good from 2:00 PM (14:00) Friday afternoon, until the same time on Sunday, when you can pack up and drive a half hour to the North Sea for seafood and a sunset.
Just outside Amsterdam
The town of Gouda, go buy some Gouda in Gouda. Not far away is Keukenhofbos, the famed tulip fields in the town of Lisse. For us, driving buy was impressive enough. We didn't feel the need to pay money and do a tour. Then head up to Zandvoort. This quaint beach town is dead quite and cheap to sleep any other time than summer. Near the Casino is a fish stand with the freshest fish. Try the herring on a bun, and an order of the “Strandmix” (beach mix) of fried seafood, including crab, shrimps, fish, mussels, and the like. Then walk down the stairs and dip your feet in the North Sea. Grab a coffee or cocktail at the beach house 9 or 10 right there on the beach, and cuddle up for the sunset. If it's not too cold or windy, sit outside.
from a Travel-Happy traveler,
Travel on!
