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Thanks for the tips JoulesMSU!
i wanted to ask you more about the transportation card. We will be arriving at the central train station.
I saw cards call "IamSterdam" is it the one you get for transportation"
Thanks again
Quote:
Originally Posted by JoulesMSU
I just got back from Amsterdam this Sunday.
I would say it doesn't matter where you stay. Public transportation makes it very easy to get around. We stayed a little ways outside of the "inner ring" (where all the action is) but had no problems because we bought the 72-hour public transport card and could easily get around via bus and tram.
I wouldn't go to the Anne Frank House unless you have a lot of time to waste. Every time we went by it there was always a line around the block for it. We skipped it because we were only there for 3 days and didn't want to waste 3-4 hours just standing in line to get in. There are plenty of other things to go do and see as well. Lots of museums, especially for art (Van Gogh and Rembrandt).
Also, yes, look both ways about 6 times every time you cross a street. For the average crossing there is a bike lane, then a road, then a couple of tram lines, then another road, and another bike lane. Each one could have traffic even if the previous one(s) didn't.
There are plenty of restaurants for any style you like. Indonesian is probably going to be the most "unique" since those aren't very common over here, but there are also plenty of Italian, Chinese, and even burger joints. There are also a surprisingly large number of Argentine steak houses. It can get expensive eating out all the time though, so there are also a ton of grocery stores that can be a cheaper option for some meals. The main chain seems to be Albert Heijn, there are a number of them in the downtown area and also scattered elsewhere on the "outskirts" of the city.
Just be careful, they really like to nickle and dime you over there. Buying the public transportation ticket they said it was extra if you bought from the counter, but then the machines were broken so you HAD to buy from the counter and pay extra. We had paid for our hotel online but when we checked out we still had to pay a "city tax" - why was that not included in the online payment? Lots of restaurants won't give you free tap water (so you have to pay extra to get something to drink) AND some even charge you to use the toilet... even the grocery store wouldn't give you a bag, you had to either bring your own or buy one from them. Basically, I felt like they had a lot of ways to add extra charges that most places don't. That was probably the main thing I didn't like about it.
We also spent some time in Rottedam. I would highly recommend it. I kind of liked it more than Amsterdam TBH. The architecture in Rotterdam is amazing, I think I took more pictures in 1 day there than I did in 3 days in Amsterdam haha - because so many buildings are just "wow - look at that!" whereas in Amsterdam, the buildings look nice, but nothing really stands out like some of the Rotterdam buildings did. There are also a lot of really unique and interesting statues around the city, and some cool areas to eat and shop at, such as "Chinatown". Also, it's just not as "touristy" either - Amsterdam is lined with souvenir shops and whatnot - I don't think we saw a single souvenir shop in Rotterdam.
*For example, check this out:
That was our hotel in Rotterdam; our room was in one of those cubes! (and it was way cheaper than our Amsterdam hotel too!)
You are I hope taking the Thalys high speed train? Are you taking a lot of trains in Europe..did you get a pass etc.It usually is cheaper to book on this side of the Atlantic for Thaly's and TGV etc.
Hi Natnasci,
Yes, we are taking the Thalys!
and already bought tickets online. a total of $346 for 2 round trip tickets.
Thanks,
I'm staying in Amsterdam the first week of July. What is the typical temperature during this time? Also, if I wanted to check out all the best clubs in the city and other nightlife, what would you recommend?
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