Amsterdam: hotel and language question (April 2007)
Dec 13th, 2006, 12:53 PM
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Amsterdam: hotel and language question (April 2007)
Dear all, I found this on the Vondelpark website:
Stadsdeel Oud-Zuid en Waternet gaan vanaf 9 januari tot en met 29 april 2007 ingrijpende werkzaamheden uitvoeren in het oostelijke deel van het Vondelpark. Het gaat om het gebied dat loopt vanaf de ingang van de Stadhouderskade tot net voorbij het viaduct ter hoogte van de Eerste Constantijn Huygensstraat. Dit deel van het Vondelpark is in deze periode niet toegankelijk voor fietsers en voetgangers. Zij worden tijdelijk omgeleid via de P.C. Hooftstraat en de Overtoom.
Babel fish translated it so:
Stadsdeel Oud-Zuid and Waternet will carry out serious activities as from 9 January up to and including 29 April 2007 in the Eastern part of the Vondelpark. It concerns the area which runs as from the entrance from the city holder quay to exactly beyond the viaduct off the first Constantijn Huygensstraat. This part of the Vondelpark is in this period not accessible for cyclists and pedestrians. They are re-routed temporarily by means of the P.C. Hooftstraat and the Overtoom.
Does this mean there will be some renovation with street closing, and it's better not to make hotel reservations close to Vondelpark.
If yes, this is not good, most of the cheaper hotels are in the area
Any thoughts?
Stadsdeel Oud-Zuid en Waternet gaan vanaf 9 januari tot en met 29 april 2007 ingrijpende werkzaamheden uitvoeren in het oostelijke deel van het Vondelpark. Het gaat om het gebied dat loopt vanaf de ingang van de Stadhouderskade tot net voorbij het viaduct ter hoogte van de Eerste Constantijn Huygensstraat. Dit deel van het Vondelpark is in deze periode niet toegankelijk voor fietsers en voetgangers. Zij worden tijdelijk omgeleid via de P.C. Hooftstraat en de Overtoom.
Babel fish translated it so:
Stadsdeel Oud-Zuid and Waternet will carry out serious activities as from 9 January up to and including 29 April 2007 in the Eastern part of the Vondelpark. It concerns the area which runs as from the entrance from the city holder quay to exactly beyond the viaduct off the first Constantijn Huygensstraat. This part of the Vondelpark is in this period not accessible for cyclists and pedestrians. They are re-routed temporarily by means of the P.C. Hooftstraat and the Overtoom.
Does this mean there will be some renovation with street closing, and it's better not to make hotel reservations close to Vondelpark.
If yes, this is not good, most of the cheaper hotels are in the area
Any thoughts?
Dec 13th, 2006, 01:03 PM
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sounds like it only affects the eastern part of the park and the detour is only for cyclists as a major cycle path runs thru Vondel Park from the Leidesplein area - a non-factor for streets, just the cycle path will be closed.
Dec 13th, 2006, 01:53 PM
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Faina,
I am looking for accommodation in Amsterdam too from the 3rd May to the 6th. We are looking for some reasonable priced hotels - I have looked at heaps and some of the prices are staggering. Do you mind sharing what you have found?
We have been offered an apartment in a street the runs paralell to Damstraat for 140E per night for 4 adults. I am just not sure if it is too close to the red-light district for my liking!!! As you can probably guess we are on the budget end of the scale.
Thanks.
I am looking for accommodation in Amsterdam too from the 3rd May to the 6th. We are looking for some reasonable priced hotels - I have looked at heaps and some of the prices are staggering. Do you mind sharing what you have found?
We have been offered an apartment in a street the runs paralell to Damstraat for 140E per night for 4 adults. I am just not sure if it is too close to the red-light district for my liking!!! As you can probably guess we are on the budget end of the scale.
Thanks.
Dec 13th, 2006, 02:20 PM
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My husband and I were in Amsterdam in May 2004. We stayed at the Sunhead of 1617 Bed and Breakfast, although we had a separate apartment that wasn't part of the B&B. We loved it! The owners were very friendly and helpful. Having the apartment was great - lots of privacy and we could come and go at any time without feeling like we were disturbing anyone else.
For more info, you can check out our trip report at:
http://prestopnik.com/honeymoon/04_05_17.php
We stayed in the Singel Apartment:
http://www.amsterdam-accommodation.nl/singel.html
This apartment only accommodates two, but I bet they have other rooms to accommodate a larger group.
Link to the Sunhead:
http://www.sunhead.com/
For more info, you can check out our trip report at:
http://prestopnik.com/honeymoon/04_05_17.php
We stayed in the Singel Apartment:
http://www.amsterdam-accommodation.nl/singel.html
This apartment only accommodates two, but I bet they have other rooms to accommodate a larger group.
Link to the Sunhead:
http://www.sunhead.com/
Dec 13th, 2006, 02:25 PM
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Maudie, my search is simple. Opened Expedia, typed in the dates, sorted by price, they also have a map.
In addition, Venere.com is a good website to see the prices in Euro. And sort by reviews (a number assigned, tossed lower then 7.0)
I printed both, compared them. Picked the ones with a lift - I really need it, bad legs. Also checked how far from a tram.
After that, checked with Trip Advisor.
Sorry, I have the papers at home... I think Piet Hein was high on my list. Also, on a Fodorite's advice, Acro - it's not on the websites I've mentioned.
There is a website recommended here on Fodor's Channels.nl I don't know why, got a virus warning on my work computer.
Some hotels don't have 2007 rates posted yet, so it's your decision to reserve now or to wait. I've decided to wait to see if the flight prices will go down. And not sure how many nights I want.
In addition, Venere.com is a good website to see the prices in Euro. And sort by reviews (a number assigned, tossed lower then 7.0)
I printed both, compared them. Picked the ones with a lift - I really need it, bad legs. Also checked how far from a tram.
After that, checked with Trip Advisor.
Sorry, I have the papers at home... I think Piet Hein was high on my list. Also, on a Fodorite's advice, Acro - it's not on the websites I've mentioned.
There is a website recommended here on Fodor's Channels.nl I don't know why, got a virus warning on my work computer.
Some hotels don't have 2007 rates posted yet, so it's your decision to reserve now or to wait. I've decided to wait to see if the flight prices will go down. And not sure how many nights I want.
Dec 14th, 2006, 06:41 AM
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www.hotels.nl has a comprehensive listing in all different price ranges.
I agree with Faina that the Vondel Park area is a great place to stay - close to and walkable to anything but out of the sleaze. Quiet, safe area and the park is a plus - also neat area with local pubs, restaurants.
I agree with Faina that the Vondel Park area is a great place to stay - close to and walkable to anything but out of the sleaze. Quiet, safe area and the park is a plus - also neat area with local pubs, restaurants.
Dec 14th, 2006, 07:19 AM
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I wasn't as impressed with the Vondelpark as some have been but that's obviously personal.
Another good site with all ranges of accommodations and user reviews is www.channels.nl
Another good site with all ranges of accommodations and user reviews is www.channels.nl
Dec 14th, 2006, 08:52 AM
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Faina, did you e-mail them directly for a rate quote? They gave us a 10 percent discount because my husband was attending a conference at the University. It seemed they are interesting in building their clientele, as they are fairly new-ish. Tell them your budget and ask their best rate. You never know until you try.
Have fun in Amsterdam. We loved it there.
Have fun in Amsterdam. We loved it there.
Dec 14th, 2006, 08:53 AM
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Try this website:[email protected]. I've been to Amsterdam 3 times and have stayed twice on a houseboat, which was on the Singel Canal and once in their b&b in Rembrandt Square. Rates are resonable, and for a few Euros more you can have the breakfast added to your resevation, which was quite a spread. In addition to all the cerals, breads etc, they have an grill station where you fix your own eggs with an assortement of different fillings and however you like your eggs. Of course if you stay on one of the houseboats you can shop and stock the refrigator with your own personal snacks etc. By the way Rembrandt Square is very centrally located to museums and most of the sights.
Dec 14th, 2006, 08:53 AM
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PS. Here are my trip notes:
Final stop: Amsterdam. Five nights’ stay, first visit for all of us.
LOVED, LOVED, LOVED Amsterdam! You always hear of the Red Light district and the coffee shops and the laissez-faire attitude, but you don’t hear how open and friendly the people are, how lovely the canals and side streets, how wonderfully trendy the restaurants and cafes, how people are out strolling at all hours of the night and you feel safe everywhere. I think I’d expected it to be quaint and charming (which it is), but in a dark wood-paneled cliché way, not in the young and contemporary way it is.
The standard reply we were given in Amsterdam, when we asked for anything, was always “Of course!” How refreshing.
We stayed in a fabulous location, at The Hotel Residence le Coin, which was directly across a small street from the Hotel de l’Europe, down the street from the Hotel Doelan, on Nieuwe Doelenstraat (sp?). A great neighborhood in the heart of old Amsterdam.
The hotel has a lift and A/C, also free use of the hotel’s washing machine and clothes dryer in the basement (which was welcome as we’d been traveling over a week when we arrived there). Each room has a little kitchenette, a nice-sized bath, large rooms with wooden floors and a sitting area. It’s fairly new, so everything sparkles. Very friendly front desk, too.
Two cafes on the same block as the hotel were wonderful: Café Katoen for a university atmosphere, and Café le Jarden, for great table seating on the canal.
Amazing dinners at two restaurants in particular:
“Stout!”, at Haarlemmerstraat 73 (www.restaurantstout.nl). Fabulous ‘foamy asparagus’ soup with shrimp, chateaubriande, fresh fish, dessert course, wine list. Very trendy lighting. Great service. We’d gone to the neighborhood in search of a restaurant called “Lof” which we’d seen written up. We didn’t like its atmosphere, but were lucky that Stout! was just across the street.
Also at “Restaurant Dining Eleven” we had a great dinner. It’s at Reestraat 11. Also trendy and contempory, well-presented and beautifully-served meal.
Another nice dinner at “frenzi”, at Swanenburgwal 232. Very simple and contemporary. We arrived shortly after 10:00p.m., when most restaurants close in Amsterdam, and persuaded the owner to sell us any left-overs they had in the kitchen! They put together a nice Caesar salad with cooked-in-the-shell shrimp and mango. Very nice.
Also a good brunch at a place across the street from frenzi—called “Puccini”. Creative salads and sandwiches. Very nice also.
We took a canal cruise one evening. Toured the Anne Frank Huis and the Van Gogh Museum. Visited the Nieuwe Kerk (sp?) Our teens went to a concert at the Paradiso and loved it.
One afternoon we did the 2:30 “Best of Holland” excursion to Volendam and Marken, with a stop to see wooden clogs made, Gouda cheese created, and to visit windmills. It was by bus, with a boat from Volendam to Marken. A lot of fun. Even our two teens liked it.
Our teens also liked shopping at one street in particular, between our hotel and the museum district. Also a Zara shop there, and many others like it. They thought the selection and prices were better in Amsterdam than what they’d seen in London and Paris even.
A detail about Amsterdam if you go there-- carry enough Euros in cash, because many places won't accept a credit card for a 'small' purchase (i.e. under 25 EU).
The only unpleasantness we encountered in Amsterdam related to cab rides and inconsistent pricing. Especially when our two teens were grossly overcharged cabbing to the hotel from the concert. They were well aware of the route, having walked it already twice, but we'd wanted them to cab home late at night. They knew the cabbie took a very round-about way back in order to over-charge. Also, when we arrived at the taxi sand at Central Station, I was literally swarmed by rather aggressive cabbies and felt uncomfortably jostled by them all.
>-
Final stop: Amsterdam. Five nights’ stay, first visit for all of us.
LOVED, LOVED, LOVED Amsterdam! You always hear of the Red Light district and the coffee shops and the laissez-faire attitude, but you don’t hear how open and friendly the people are, how lovely the canals and side streets, how wonderfully trendy the restaurants and cafes, how people are out strolling at all hours of the night and you feel safe everywhere. I think I’d expected it to be quaint and charming (which it is), but in a dark wood-paneled cliché way, not in the young and contemporary way it is.
The standard reply we were given in Amsterdam, when we asked for anything, was always “Of course!” How refreshing.
We stayed in a fabulous location, at The Hotel Residence le Coin, which was directly across a small street from the Hotel de l’Europe, down the street from the Hotel Doelan, on Nieuwe Doelenstraat (sp?). A great neighborhood in the heart of old Amsterdam.
The hotel has a lift and A/C, also free use of the hotel’s washing machine and clothes dryer in the basement (which was welcome as we’d been traveling over a week when we arrived there). Each room has a little kitchenette, a nice-sized bath, large rooms with wooden floors and a sitting area. It’s fairly new, so everything sparkles. Very friendly front desk, too.
Two cafes on the same block as the hotel were wonderful: Café Katoen for a university atmosphere, and Café le Jarden, for great table seating on the canal.
Amazing dinners at two restaurants in particular:
“Stout!”, at Haarlemmerstraat 73 (www.restaurantstout.nl). Fabulous ‘foamy asparagus’ soup with shrimp, chateaubriande, fresh fish, dessert course, wine list. Very trendy lighting. Great service. We’d gone to the neighborhood in search of a restaurant called “Lof” which we’d seen written up. We didn’t like its atmosphere, but were lucky that Stout! was just across the street.
Also at “Restaurant Dining Eleven” we had a great dinner. It’s at Reestraat 11. Also trendy and contempory, well-presented and beautifully-served meal.
Another nice dinner at “frenzi”, at Swanenburgwal 232. Very simple and contemporary. We arrived shortly after 10:00p.m., when most restaurants close in Amsterdam, and persuaded the owner to sell us any left-overs they had in the kitchen! They put together a nice Caesar salad with cooked-in-the-shell shrimp and mango. Very nice.
Also a good brunch at a place across the street from frenzi—called “Puccini”. Creative salads and sandwiches. Very nice also.
We took a canal cruise one evening. Toured the Anne Frank Huis and the Van Gogh Museum. Visited the Nieuwe Kerk (sp?) Our teens went to a concert at the Paradiso and loved it.
One afternoon we did the 2:30 “Best of Holland” excursion to Volendam and Marken, with a stop to see wooden clogs made, Gouda cheese created, and to visit windmills. It was by bus, with a boat from Volendam to Marken. A lot of fun. Even our two teens liked it.
Our teens also liked shopping at one street in particular, between our hotel and the museum district. Also a Zara shop there, and many others like it. They thought the selection and prices were better in Amsterdam than what they’d seen in London and Paris even.
A detail about Amsterdam if you go there-- carry enough Euros in cash, because many places won't accept a credit card for a 'small' purchase (i.e. under 25 EU).
The only unpleasantness we encountered in Amsterdam related to cab rides and inconsistent pricing. Especially when our two teens were grossly overcharged cabbing to the hotel from the concert. They were well aware of the route, having walked it already twice, but we'd wanted them to cab home late at night. They knew the cabbie took a very round-about way back in order to over-charge. Also, when we arrived at the taxi sand at Central Station, I was literally swarmed by rather aggressive cabbies and felt uncomfortably jostled by them all.
>-
Dec 14th, 2006, 09:02 AM
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Maureen, thank you, I didn't think of e-mailing them! But I'll go in the last 2 weeks of April, hot time
You posted a nice report, I printed it out and highlighted some parts for futher research for myself.
You posted a nice report, I printed it out and highlighted some parts for futher research for myself.
