Travel Plans/Trip Planning

[Back]

I’m starting research for a trip to Amsterdam in October.

I do all my travel planning on-line. So I thought it appropriate to start a thread where we could all talk about our travel plans, advice on the best web sites to plan with, and probably most important... tips from people who have visited said destinations.

My goto air fare site is CheapOAir (http://www.cheapoair.com). It consistently comes in lower than Orbitz (isn’t that a brand of gum?), Travelocity and all those other sites.



As an aside, I accidently put AMS into departure and WAS into arrival. I found a flight with ONE stop at $395 US on a British airline... BMI? But when I corrected the error the lowest I could get was $550 US on Lufthansa out of Dulles.

Now I understand how Belgium just bought Anheuser-Busch.



I’ve used TripAdvisor (http://www.tripadvisor.com/) for hotels. They have great ratings, feedback, and just all around good info when traveling. Not so much for air fares as they just search the others.

[Sean]

How long are you planning to go for? I was there 2 months ago and thought a little over a week was a little too long to be there.

[Back]

How long are you planning to go for? I was there 2 months ago and thought a little over a week was a little too long to be there.

6 days. So... 4 days of leisure time.

[Back]

Here is a question. Where did you stay? Is it worth the Dam Square, or countryside?

[Solkern]

So many better places in Europe to go then amsterdam

tbh

[Back]

So many better places in Europe to go then amsterdam

tbh

Name one.

[Solkern]

Prague, Vienna, Sweden, Norway, Paris, Venice, Athens...want me to go on?

Yes i've been too all these places. Including amsterdam


Prague is considered the most beautiful city in the world
women are amazing, the sites to see are wonderful
and your money will go a LONG way as well

[Sean]

Here is a question. Where did you stay? Is it worth the Dam Square, or countryside?

I stayed at the Marriott at Leidseplein. It was crazy expensive but at least it was in one of the twon centers (leidseplein, rembrantsplein, red light, etc.). If you want to know anything just IM me.

[Sean]

Prague, Vienna, Sweden, Norway, Paris, Venice, Athens...want me to go on?

Yes i've been too all these places. Including amsterdam


Prague is considered the most beautiful city in the world
women are amazing, the sites to see are wonderful
and your money will go a LONG way as well

I haven't been to all those places but I got tired of Venice must faster than I got tired of Amsterdam.

[Keller]

I've spent about 3 months of my life in that city. Let me know what you need to know.

[Back]

Prague, Vienna, Sweden, Norway, Paris, Venice, Athens...want me to go on?

I agree with Paris. Haven’t been as well travelled as you, sir, but I am working on it. Machu Pichu and St. Petersburg have been on my list for a while now... Amsterdam is a matter of coincidence. Long story.

[Solkern]

I LOVED St, Petersburg

Yekaterinburg, Russia, was my favorite place I've ever been

[Keller]

Also -- I think Amsterdam is one of the most amazing cities in Europe. You need to get outside of the second canal.

[Solkern]

I've been there, and it wasn't all that it was cracked up to be imo, although I was only there for four days, but from what I did experience, it wasn't all that great

[Sean]

Also -- I think Amsterdam is one of the most amazing cities in Europe. You need to get outside of the second canal.

I walked everywhere my feet could take me. 1/2 through the week i threw out my maps and guides and just wandered and found some cool stuff. Everyone was helpful and for the most part pretty cool. I dunno, I guess I was just burned out since I crammed everything into the week that it started to lose it's luster by the end. I did try and do some other stuff like spend a day at the hague and rotterdam to space it out some more which I would suggest other people do too.

[Back]

I’m mostly interested in where to stay. Expense is not an issue.

[Gan]

I just got back from a week in Nassau, Bahamas if anyone is planning a trip to that island.

Let me know.

[thefarmer]

All these "I've been there before" are well and good, but you're missing the REAL question.

"Did you see any ghettos?"

[Allereli]

i really like the reviews at Tripadvisor, especially when going somewhere totally new.

[Daniel]

Thinking about Portugal\Switzerland\North Africa for new years.

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Thinking about Portugal\Switzerland\North Africa for new years.

Dude, I’d offer to be a part of the International New Year Jet-Set PC Party Posse... but only if cool people sign up. I have a black pinstripe seersucker jacket.

[Sean]

I’m mostly interested in where to stay. Expense is not an issue.

If expense isn't an issue than I liked the Marriott. It was just that .. expensive.

[Stanley Burrell]

I just got back from a week in Nassau, Bahamas if anyone is planning a trip to that island.

Let me know.

This place is win. If you complain about smoking being allowed in the casinos then for the love of Christ, that will be the worst thing to happen to you in Nassau.

[Daniel]

Nah. I travel alone for the most part.

[Mighty Nikkisaurus]

I just got back from a week in Nassau, Bahamas if anyone is planning a trip to that island.

Let me know.

I'm looking into taking a trip down in that area.

There's all the bigger places but I'm also getting information about Turks & Caicos.

[Allereli]

I'm looking into taking a trip down in that area.

There's all the bigger places but I'm also getting information about Turks & Caicos.

Club Med in Turks is awesome

[Keller]

I’m mostly interested in where to stay. Expense is not an issue.

Last time we were there (first time we weren't on a college budget) we stayed at the Swiss Hotel on Dam Square. The room was very "American" and the best part was the extra-long bath tub. We're both taller people so it was wonderful to be able to truly stretch out in a tub.

I've also stayed at the Hotel Rembrandt one night when my hostel room wasn't available in college. It's out by the Artis Zoo and more of a boutique hotel with nice clean (both in sanitation and in presentation) but small rooms.

When my wife went with her parents they stayed at the Chic and Basic. It's a cool old canal house near Central Station. Very chic and basic (duh). She says it's very modern (keeps citing the headboards, though I can't explain them). She says she would definately stay there again.

If price does become an issue -- Hotel Bryan is the best hostel in the city, imo. The guy who runs it is an English ex-pat who runs a no-drama and very helpful hostel. It's safe (for a hostel) and relatively clean. He makes breakfast (fried eggs, toast, and coffee) every morning. When you check in, he'll give you a nice map and mark it up with things you should see, tailored to your interests/budget. Also, free internet (one computer -- not wireless). Last time I was there was in the Spring of 2004, so things might have changed (wireless, etc) -- but I'd highly recommend it.

My parents also stayed a bed and breakfast. I figure that's not really your style, but if it is I can get the info from them.

[Back]

Chic and Basic works. Thank you. Is that the actual name of the place?

[Keller]

Chic and Basic works. Thank you. Is that the actual name of the place?

Yes. http://www.chicandbasic.com/eng/hotel_amsterdam/