My dad will be traveling to Amsterdam by himself in a couple of weeks. His hotel is near Leidseplein.
1) I read that the GVB office (or is it the tourist office) at Schiphol does not sell the multi-day Amsterdam transport card. [My dad needs a 6-day one.] I guess he'll have to wait until he arrives IN Amsterdam and buy it at the GVB office in Central train station?
2) Has anyone taken Bus 197 from Schiphol into Amsterdam, operated by Connexxion? It appears to be the most direct way for my dad to get from Schiphol to his hotel. I think it costs €4; does the bus driver accept coins/cash?
http://www.connexxion.nl/dienstregeling/lijn?id=M197&tijd=0800&dgCode=12345
Few Questions about Amsterdam/Schiphol transport
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He can buy a ticket in the bus. That is not a problem.
The GVB card is only valid in AMsterdam on GVB buses trams and metro, not on Connexxion buses.
If he is planning any trips outside Amsterdam then he may be better off buying an anonymous OV chipkaart and putting some money on that.
I have taken bus #197. It is my preferred way of connecting airport to Leidesplein or Museumplein area. It is less hassle than the train+tram combo. Yes, the drive takes cash. He can follow the progress of the trip on the digital display screen.
I would recommend he try VVV (the tourist info bureau) or GVB (the city transit-if they really have a office) at Schiphol first. Every time I passed by the GVB at Amsterdam Centraal, the line to get into the office was very long. There are so many tourist oriented offices at Schiphol. This is roughly my understanding of where you can buy what.
The NS (the long distance train) is the most centrally located. I think they only sell mainly the NS train tickets. That includes Schiphol-Amsterdam Centraal. If he has Chip and PIN credit card (which most Americans don't) he can use the vending machine. Otherwise he has to go to the ticket window, pay little more for the privilege of doing person to person transaction, and use cash. They don't take US magnetic only CC either. They have a sign prominently displayed on the counter reminding you that Chip and PIN are needed if you want to use a card. I have also read that NS also sells GVB tickets, but I have not tried this.
VVV. They also sell NS train tickets for Schiphol-Amsterdam Centraal. I have also bought day GVB tickets there. I have not tried longer duration GVB tickets. This is where he can buy various tourist oriented passes if he plans to visit many attractions. This office is somewhat hard to find at Schiphol if his plane arrives at non-Schengen concourse such as E. It is beyond the jet engine display when coming from the NS ticket counter area.
I don't know about GVB office at Schiphol.
I have read that AKO shops also sell GVB tickets. I have not tried this route. I doubt they sell anything more than a day paper ticket.
Here is a detailed writeup on this subject.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g188590-c119198/Amsterdam:The-Netherlands:The.Ov.Public.Transportation.Chipkaart.html