Amsterdam for 8 nights? (also Q about Estherea hotel)
Feb 6th, 2011, 06:55 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,083
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Amsterdam for 8 nights? (also Q about Estherea hotel)
Hi all
I am contemplating my spring trip. I've always wanted to see the tulips in springtime and am considering late April this year.
I would take one week (8 nights) and as I prefer nonstops, I can either go in-out of Amsterdam and base myself there the entire time, or, open jaw out of Brussels and spend the last three nights there, with a day trip to Bruges.
I was in Bruges/Brussels in November 2009 and loved Bruges and want to go back.... quite lukewarm on Brussels but given that it was cold and rainy and dark early, I may have an entirely different outlook in late spring.
I've been to Amsterdam once and I did enjoy it, but it didn't strike me as some place that would fill my days for 8 whole days as would, for instance, Paris. This is even assuming I took two days out to see the tulips (being generous). If you did visit Amsterdam for 8 full nights, what day trips would you take? Or would you consider Brussels or even Paris to go home - split the trip up a little?
Second question: The hotel Estherea is highly rated on TA (top ten) and quoted me an average of 225 per night, classic single, for my 8 nights there (each night is a different price and the swings are wild - almost 100E difference low to high!). I've noticed that this hotel does get a fair number of "bad/mediocre" reviews despite the overall high rating and mostly good scores. In reading some, a common theme is room size.
How small are the single rooms in this hotel? The hotel said they "thought" they were 20m2, but a 200 SF room isn't really all that small, unless they are including the bathroom in that area (14x14 roughly).
Thank you.
I am contemplating my spring trip. I've always wanted to see the tulips in springtime and am considering late April this year.
I would take one week (8 nights) and as I prefer nonstops, I can either go in-out of Amsterdam and base myself there the entire time, or, open jaw out of Brussels and spend the last three nights there, with a day trip to Bruges.
I was in Bruges/Brussels in November 2009 and loved Bruges and want to go back.... quite lukewarm on Brussels but given that it was cold and rainy and dark early, I may have an entirely different outlook in late spring.
I've been to Amsterdam once and I did enjoy it, but it didn't strike me as some place that would fill my days for 8 whole days as would, for instance, Paris. This is even assuming I took two days out to see the tulips (being generous). If you did visit Amsterdam for 8 full nights, what day trips would you take? Or would you consider Brussels or even Paris to go home - split the trip up a little?
Second question: The hotel Estherea is highly rated on TA (top ten) and quoted me an average of 225 per night, classic single, for my 8 nights there (each night is a different price and the swings are wild - almost 100E difference low to high!). I've noticed that this hotel does get a fair number of "bad/mediocre" reviews despite the overall high rating and mostly good scores. In reading some, a common theme is room size.
How small are the single rooms in this hotel? The hotel said they "thought" they were 20m2, but a 200 SF room isn't really all that small, unless they are including the bathroom in that area (14x14 roughly).
Thank you.
Feb 7th, 2011, 02:36 AM
#2
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,927
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Day trip options (depending on your tastes):
The Hague (the Mauritshuis for artlovers, Parliament for people with an interest in history) and Delft (again, more for historical interest, perhaps)
Utrecht: handsome university city, and it also houses the Museum of Mechanical Musical Instruments, which is a hoot.
Haarlem (only 20 minutes by train): Frans Hals! And a good street market.
In all the years I've been visiting, I've never yet been to the Kroller Muller Museum, or Het Loo palace, which are on the list for next time.
The Hague (the Mauritshuis for artlovers, Parliament for people with an interest in history) and Delft (again, more for historical interest, perhaps)
Utrecht: handsome university city, and it also houses the Museum of Mechanical Musical Instruments, which is a hoot.
Haarlem (only 20 minutes by train): Frans Hals! And a good street market.
In all the years I've been visiting, I've never yet been to the Kroller Muller Museum, or Het Loo palace, which are on the list for next time.
Feb 7th, 2011, 04:15 AM
#3
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,056
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Leiden (very old botanical garden) and Delft (wonderful tile museum) are other good daytrips.
Het Loo is enormous, lots to see, and a beautiful reconstruction of a 17th century garden. You can borrow bikes at the Kroller Muller to ride around the park.
Het Loo is enormous, lots to see, and a beautiful reconstruction of a 17th century garden. You can borrow bikes at the Kroller Muller to ride around the park.
Feb 7th, 2011, 04:27 AM
#4
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,541
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Stop by the Amsterdam forum at TripAdvisor and see the threads "Bidding on a 4* in the center" and "Bidding on a 5* in the center".
Using Priceline's NYOP you can get a central hotel for less than 100 USD a night. Worth checking. See also http://www.betterbidding.com
Using Priceline's NYOP you can get a central hotel for less than 100 USD a night. Worth checking. See also http://www.betterbidding.com
Feb 7th, 2011, 05:15 AM
#5
IMO, if you are going to North Holland "to see floweers" and you DON'T take the bus from Schiphol (or elsewhere) over to Keukenhof then you have missed one of THE "to see flowers" opportunities <B>of all time</B>.
Yes, it is worth the effort; yes there will be a lot of other people there (for obvious reasons).
As to the Estherea...all depends IMO on what part of town you want to be in. I don't usually stay in the "museum district" so cannot really comment further.
Yes, it is worth the effort; yes there will be a lot of other people there (for obvious reasons).
As to the Estherea...all depends IMO on what part of town you want to be in. I don't usually stay in the "museum district" so cannot really comment further.
Feb 7th, 2011, 05:36 AM
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,083
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks all
Yes, the Keukenhof is THE entire point of this trip. Everything else will be built around it. I also plan to have a car to visit fields nearby.
I just don't know that I will need 8 entire days. Delft and Den Haag for day trips, plus the flowers, would be about 3 days. Two more days, plus the mornings/evenings of my day trip days, and I've seen a fair bit of Amsterdam too. It will be light until 9 PM then, as well.
Yes, the Keukenhof is THE entire point of this trip. Everything else will be built around it. I also plan to have a car to visit fields nearby.
I just don't know that I will need 8 entire days. Delft and Den Haag for day trips, plus the flowers, would be about 3 days. Two more days, plus the mornings/evenings of my day trip days, and I've seen a fair bit of Amsterdam too. It will be light until 9 PM then, as well.
