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Best place to stay in Amsterdam for less than $35?

Best place to stay in Amsterdam for less than $35?

Old Jun 25th, 2015, 10:21 AM
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Best place to stay in Amsterdam for less than $35?

Hi

I'm looking for a room to stay in Amsterdam during our visit in early October. Need some advice regarding the locality to choose given budget constraint of $35 (for 2 people). I guess we would not find any decent hotels at this price.

Thanks, Aman
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Old Jun 25th, 2015, 10:22 AM
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I doubt that you will find anything at that price.
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Old Jun 25th, 2015, 10:28 AM
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Check the Flying Pig's two Amsterdam hostels - my son stayed at one of them and loved it - a Bohemian atmosphere and an active bar scene at night on premises: but unless you book weeks ahead it is often sold out and the cheapest rooms are 38 euros a person - bottom price range in Amsterdam - well some are cheaper but I would not advise staying in them - full of drug addicts and seedy types.

$35 for 2 no way in Amsterdam - Flying Pig has a beach hostel in Norwijk that charges about 14 euros a person but that is way out of Amsterdam. Check Let's Go Europe for details on all reputable and some unreputable hostels in Amsterdam and raise your budget - you will not find a place for that price in any large European city.
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Old Jun 25th, 2015, 10:57 AM
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Two other hostel suggestions but I don't know price - The Shelter and The Shelter Jordaan. First one in red light district, the other in lovely Jordaan. Both are Christian but not overtly, just IMO a little nicer than other hostels and a bit better oversight for their guests.
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Old Jun 25th, 2015, 11:12 AM
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When will you be in Amsterdam? Even the Shelter has a minimum charge of €15 a night pp, which goes up considerably during the summer. Plus you have to pay a deposit for the key, and rent towels if you don't have your own.
Seriously that is an unrealistic sum to expect to spend in a city such as Amsterdam.
Hostels are often fully booked, or have little space, allowing them to charge higher rates. Hotels etc are amongst the most expensive in Europe.
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Old Jun 25th, 2015, 11:14 AM
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Sorry just saw you will be here in early October. Try the shelter but expect it to be more than €15pp.
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Old Jun 25th, 2015, 11:44 AM
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I'm sorry but your budget simply isn't realistic. And from your other thread it seems you are considering visiting Switzerland -- no way on Earth you'll find accommodations for $35 there.
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Old Jun 25th, 2015, 12:02 PM
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yes, I have realized that in the last hour or so I have spent looking for accommodation. I'm finding some rooms on airbnb at $50-$60. The choice I have to make now is whether to go for good rooms away from centrum or have a not-so-good room (cramped, with just a double bed and nothing else) in the centre.

I will check the hostels everyone has recommended above - had initially looked at Cocomama and Collector only (recommended on lonely planet), but they were already booked/expensive.
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Old Jun 25th, 2015, 12:50 PM
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Keep in mind that staying out of the center will cost you a bit to travel back and forth and use up travel time. I would rather stay only two days in the city center where I could walk right out and be seeing things, than three days where I use up an hour or so each day getting back and forth.

While the rooms may be better for the money out of the center, in this price range, you are not looking at luxury anyway, and your lodging for this trip is not a destination. You probably won't be spending enough time in the room for it to be an issue.

Have never done it and know nothing about it, but couch surfing might be something to consider for a day or two.
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Old Jun 25th, 2015, 01:09 PM
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I have done couch surfing before on my trips to Australia and Brazil and both were very good experiences. The difference I'm discovering here is that even couch surfing is expensive in Amsterdam ($35 I mentioned above was from my past two experiences).
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Old Jun 25th, 2015, 07:58 PM
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On what planet is $35 'expensive'?

In some places -- maybe. But not in Western Europe -- there $35 is lunch . . . (only a slight exaggeration)
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Old Jun 25th, 2015, 08:10 PM
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Last month, on Hotwire, I got the Dorint Hotel by the airport for about $53 USD including tax and fees ($43 before). Really nice hotel - but of course, the location is awful unless you are departing on a flight (which I was).

I saw another hotel, a 3-star in the museum district on Hotwire for $46 + tax/fees for the same night.
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Old Jun 25th, 2015, 08:26 PM
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Keep in mind that you are visiting some major cities of tourism. OK, not Rome, Paris, etc. but still cities in countries that can be more costly than other cities in other countries. $35.00 will be impossible in Switzerland, and food is very costly. As you are finding, $35.00 does not get you much in Amsterdam either.

Not knowing where you are coming from, I hate to tell you to cut your trip short, but if you made it 11 or 12 days rather than 15, you could apply the money saved on three days of lodging and food, to the 11 or 12 days. It would still be very tight, but more possible with much less stress trying to stay in your budget.
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Old Jun 25th, 2015, 10:31 PM
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I would agree that your budget is very small even with all the bargains one can imagine. The best thing I can say beyond suggestions like hostels such as the Flying Pig-and 35 euros is closer to a per person hostel price is always the Air BnB outside the center. How long are you staying for? If staying longer a place outside the center isn't so bad if you prefer higher quality but if it is only a short time and also the first time walking to everything is a very nice thing! Outside the center can cost for the transport but in some areas it can be cheaper-like if you in Amsterdam Noord in can cost less or places on the farther East and West sides. Amsterdam is an expensive city and October is still high season usually.
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Old Jun 26th, 2015, 12:09 AM
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Thank you people. I checked on the tram/metro costs and thought staying near the city centre would be a better option.

So we have booked a room for $58/day in the Nieuwe Uilenburgerstraat area.

PS - budget was never an issue for us - it is just that we hate to spend on accommodation while travelling...but I guess, Amsterdam left us with no choice
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Old Jun 26th, 2015, 10:21 AM
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budget was never an issue for us - it is just that we hate to spend on accommodation while travelling...but I guess>

If traveling on train take overnight trains where you can save on the cost of a hostel - for lots of good info on overnight trains and European trains in general check www.seat61.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com. For example you could take an overnight train connection from Amsterdam to Zurich - not sure where else you're going.

But in Switzerland Interlaken the base city of the fabulous Jungfrau Region has some for Switzerland very cheap hostels - check out the famous or infamous perhaps Balmer's Auberge in Interlaken - a gathering place of young folk from all over the world.
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Old Jun 26th, 2015, 10:55 AM
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it isn't that cheap any more PQ. Sure, you can get a bed at Auberge Balmer for €5 -- but it is a hammock. And only in the summer season.

In October the rates are minimum €35 pp in a dorm, and its €65 for a private room.
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