This will be our frist trip to Holland (5 of us) and we intend to spend 2 or 3 nights in Amsterdam before flying home.
Can anyone please suggest some economical place (Hostel or apartment) to accommodate the 5 of us. If possible, which area is the best place to stay (i.e. walking distance to attraction sites and priced reasonably.)
And where are the places we MUST MUST visit / things we must do in the span of these 2 days.
Thank you.
I'm sorry I forgot to add that the dates I'll be visitng Amsterdam is something middle of March 2007. Thanks
As I never stay in Amsterdam, (I drive home after visiting.) I can't tell you were to stay. I'll leave that up to others, who have first-hand experience. (read some other postings, and you will get some ideas)
Of course it all depends on your interests (and maybe for some things you want to split up the group), but in my opinion you need to have the Anne Frank House on your list, and the van Goghmuseum (at least when you have some interest in art). The Rijksmuseum is a general art museum, and those can be found everywhere, but obviously some pieces in the collection can't, so that is your call.
You will see the canals, as they are simply impossible to miss, and the same is true for a lot of the buildings, streets and squares. Amsterdam is a compact city, so you will see most there is to see in the centre of town during these two days, by simply walking around.
And of course you have some other things Amsterdam is famous for: the Redlight area, and the Coffeeshops.
Thank you for the advice Herr Bert.
We're not so keen into arts but I think the least is to visit one museum and move on to see the landscapes and landmarks there are to see.
I especially love walking around to explore the city and stopping by coffee places for a cuppa.
So I gather from your views: Places to visit:
Museums (Art)
Buildings
Canals
Someone mentioned something about taking a canal boat ride to enjoy the city. I wonder if that is something we should consider and how much will that cost us.
Someone mentioned something about taking a canal boat ride to enjoy the city. I wonder if that is something we should consider and how much will that cost us.
That should be about €10,- per person for a tour of about an hour. You don't see _that_ much of the city from water level, but it's a good way to start a day and get a rough sense of where things are in relation to each other. (Almost all of them start out from near central station.)
Besides museums (which I'm not too keen on myself either, but Amsterdam does have some of the best in the world), my next recommendation for something to do would be purely to wander. Pick one of the canals and stroll along it. There's some amazingly beautiful bits of Amsterdam you'll get to see that way. Can't recommend any particular cafes or restaurants, as I can personally never refind any, and just pick whichever one is nearest whenever I'm looking for one.
If you're in Amsterdam in late March, the Keukenhof opens on March the 22nd. That's a park about half an hour south of Amsterdam, filled with tens of thousands of flowers. There's few things that say "the Netherlands" as much as that place does, and it's just nice to stroll through, too. I assume there'll be busses going there from Amsterdam, but you'd have to ask at a visitor's information center to find out for certain.
(btw, consider this my reply to your PM as well.)
[ Edit: Edited on Jan 29, 2007, at 11:37 AM by Sander ]
Hey,
See this post on where to stay in Amsterdam:
http://www.travellerspoint.com/forum.cfm?thread=33405
I went on a canal boat tour when i was there, yeah it was good and quite interesting to learn about the city but if you enjoy walking about then i'd stick to doing that. I spent hours just walking about and taking photos. Lovely city !!
I went last year in March and we were SO lucky with the weather... sun shining, blue skies, no rain... but still freeeezing! I've got some photos if you want a look:
http://www.bubbleshare.com/album/79292/overview
If you're going to just one museum i'd choose Van Gogh. And a definite is the Anne Frank House !! The Rijksmuseum is great but if you're not into art i think you'd get bored after an hour... the place is huge!
Enjoy,
Meeshy 
Quoting meeshy
The Rijksmuseum is great but if you're not into art i think you'd get bored after an hour... the place is huge!
Actually right now (until 2009) it's being renovated, so they're only displaying a fraction of their collection in one wing which has already been renovated. The Nightwatch and some ~400 other of its most celebrated works - and nothing more. You could see them all in two hours or less.
Hello Tehsi
If u google Hostels Amsterday, a bunch of hostels will come up. U can read about their prices and facilities, on the internet. U can even book them, on the internet, with your credit card.
Stay in the Old Town of Amsterdam. It is beautiful, and interesting. Some would say, a bit too interesting.
If u are interested in WW2 history, visit Anne Franks house.
Mel
Hey Tehsi,
well, I will suggest u to get an apartment for you and your friends. It si nicer than a hotel and u get to pay quite the same price. Apartments can be about 35 euros per person; i dont think that is much; anyhow ..places to visit: Anna Frank's house, Van Gogh Museum, Rijks Museum, Nemo,Heineken Brewery,many coffeshoops, smart shops, waterloo plein flee market, red light district and the city is just like a open air museums. If it won't be cold when u r there I suggest u tours with bicycles so that u can visit the whole city center in one day.
if u want to more some more, let me know,
ciao,
n
[ Edit: No promos please... ]
Hey there,
A Very BIG THANK YOU for all your help. Your postings have really helped ease my 'trip planning' to Amsterdam coming March. I have noted some of your ideas and webs for some accommodations tips and honestly, they're super super useful.
Regards, Kathleen