Honey moon to London and Amsterdam
Jan 21st, 2013, 12:56 PM
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Honey moon to London and Amsterdam
We are entirely new to travel and looking for help or suggestions with booking our honeymoon to London and Amsterdam. We'd like to spend 2 or 3 nights in London and 3 nights in Amsterdam. This will be in early April this year. Can someone recommend the best way to book our flight and hotel? Is there a good website for package deals? Should we book the flight/hotel separately? I found a good deal on europeandestinations, but I'm not sure if it's safe. Just looking to get pointed in the right direction.
Here are the main concerns:
We are looking to depart on March 30 or 31 and return April 6. Our budget for just the travel and hotels is around $3500. Should we budget more?
Are there other options should we consider?
What's a good budget for spending money? No major purchases.. just food and sight-seeing.
Thanks!
Here are the main concerns:
We are looking to depart on March 30 or 31 and return April 6. Our budget for just the travel and hotels is around $3500. Should we budget more?
Are there other options should we consider?
What's a good budget for spending money? No major purchases.. just food and sight-seeing.
Thanks!
Jan 21st, 2013, 01:05 PM
#2
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Where are traveling from?
With those amount of days, I would recommend ONE of those two cities. If you decide to do both, fly in to one city and out of another - this is an open jaw ticket and usually costs the average of a roundtrip to each city. Check kayak.com for fares. I suggest booking directly with the airline.
With those amount of days, I would recommend ONE of those two cities. If you decide to do both, fly in to one city and out of another - this is an open jaw ticket and usually costs the average of a roundtrip to each city. Check kayak.com for fares. I suggest booking directly with the airline.
Jan 21st, 2013, 01:34 PM
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I'm sure you are aware that Easter falls within that period, so if you are headed to London and Amsterdam with a list of sightseeing targets you might want to double check all will be open and receiving tourists. It is not likely to be a huge problem in those two countries and you may luck out with some lovely events, but it is worth double checking if you have your hearts set on doing certain things.
I would also recommend that you might consider "flipping" your itinerary. Amsterdam is a fairly easy town to get a grip on in a day or two, even if you are jet-lagged (but watch out for cyclists). It has a small town feel despite being a capital city and you can do easy things like take a canal boat tour and tiptoe among the tulips until you feel ready to take on a museum.
London really does bustle and feel huge, and it will all go by in a real blur I'm afraid if you arrive jet lagged and stay only 2 nights.
Both have a reputation for being quite expensive cities when it comes to lodging, although you can beat those costs in Amsterdam by tracking down a charming b&b. If you try to book hotels as a "package deal" through travel companies, very often you get hotels that are not well located in Amsterdam (on the outskirts of town), and in London you can get some shabby hotels. also not well located.
If you are trying to plan a wedding and a honeymoon at the same time, I can really understand the urge to just book a package and be done with it. But you might be happier in the end letting people help you find the right places -- this message board, Frommer's message board and Tripadvisor all have people who have been to these cities, flying from the US
I would also recommend that you might consider "flipping" your itinerary. Amsterdam is a fairly easy town to get a grip on in a day or two, even if you are jet-lagged (but watch out for cyclists). It has a small town feel despite being a capital city and you can do easy things like take a canal boat tour and tiptoe among the tulips until you feel ready to take on a museum.
London really does bustle and feel huge, and it will all go by in a real blur I'm afraid if you arrive jet lagged and stay only 2 nights.
Both have a reputation for being quite expensive cities when it comes to lodging, although you can beat those costs in Amsterdam by tracking down a charming b&b. If you try to book hotels as a "package deal" through travel companies, very often you get hotels that are not well located in Amsterdam (on the outskirts of town), and in London you can get some shabby hotels. also not well located.
If you are trying to plan a wedding and a honeymoon at the same time, I can really understand the urge to just book a package and be done with it. But you might be happier in the end letting people help you find the right places -- this message board, Frommer's message board and Tripadvisor all have people who have been to these cities, flying from the US
Jan 21st, 2013, 01:50 PM
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You might want to look at Gate 1 travel - which does packages - they arrange air and hotel (but you have to pick hotel - least expensive ones are VERY basic and the pleasant ones are NOT cheap) and transfers. Then you do what you want when you are there.
I don;t know fares from ATL (seems like your best option) may well not be cheap. And hotels in Amsterdam and esp London will be quite a bit more expensive than in the US. In both places you want hotels that are right in the center - so you can walk to some sights.
I would vote for landing in London - and staying an extra day or 2 - since English will make culture shock less - and then return from Amsterdam. (Look at multi-destination flights.)
I don;t know fares from ATL (seems like your best option) may well not be cheap. And hotels in Amsterdam and esp London will be quite a bit more expensive than in the US. In both places you want hotels that are right in the center - so you can walk to some sights.
I would vote for landing in London - and staying an extra day or 2 - since English will make culture shock less - and then return from Amsterdam. (Look at multi-destination flights.)
Jan 21st, 2013, 07:08 PM
#7
Congratulations!
Is this honeymoon immediately after the wedding or are you delaying the trip?
the reason I ask is . . . If right after the wedding festivities - you will already be exhausted. Then there is the overnight flight and the jet lag. And an all day flight home. For that reason I'd seriously consider doing only ONE of the cities.
Especially since you say you haven't traveled much before.
Arrival day is at least half eaten up w/ immigration formalities/transfers/checking in and then you lose another half a day traveling between London and A'dam.
So I'd do <i>either</i> London OR Amsterdam. London would be my choice, but both are wonderful. IMO don't try to squeeze in both
Is this honeymoon immediately after the wedding or are you delaying the trip?
the reason I ask is . . . If right after the wedding festivities - you will already be exhausted. Then there is the overnight flight and the jet lag. And an all day flight home. For that reason I'd seriously consider doing only ONE of the cities.
Especially since you say you haven't traveled much before.
Arrival day is at least half eaten up w/ immigration formalities/transfers/checking in and then you lose another half a day traveling between London and A'dam.
So I'd do <i>either</i> London OR Amsterdam. London would be my choice, but both are wonderful. IMO don't try to squeeze in both
Jan 22nd, 2013, 01:28 AM
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I think that I would agree with some of the others here - that London and Amsterdam, both being incredible cities could easily warrant a week's exploration each. However if it's possible that you can add just a little more time, it's super easy to get from London to Amsterdam by train in around 4h hours or thereabouts. It's a direct train to Brussels and from there you can get an onward connection to Amsterdam by high speed Thalys train.
Your financial budget is absolutely plenty unless you only plan to stay in very plush accommodation (and why not, it's your honeymoon!). However were you to depart on the 31st and return on the 6th and allow 1 day transfer between cities, you only have 4 days so thats 2 days apiece - not nearly enough imho. This is also assuming you have an open jaw ticket and don't have to track back to London for your flights home.
Your financial budget is absolutely plenty unless you only plan to stay in very plush accommodation (and why not, it's your honeymoon!). However were you to depart on the 31st and return on the 6th and allow 1 day transfer between cities, you only have 4 days so thats 2 days apiece - not nearly enough imho. This is also assuming you have an open jaw ticket and don't have to track back to London for your flights home.
Jan 22nd, 2013, 03:46 AM
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I disagree with the others who think you should only do one city – you're young, it'll be fine, and the two cities have very different paces to make your stay more interesting. You also get to take the Eurostar under the Channel tunnel, which will tick something off life's travel lists.
If, however, you are keen to see the sights rather than people-watch from cafes (nothing wrong with that, mind), then I would give London the extra nights – so, 3 nights in London, 2/3 in Amsterdam, as London has vastly more to see. I also agree with goldenautumn about starting in Amsterdam, as it's so small, friendly and relaxed compared to London. Language is not a problem – I have a friend who has lived there for years and barely speaks a word of Dutch (not endorsing his approach, just pointing out that Dutch people under the age of 60 speak impeccable English and are happy to do so).
If, however, you are keen to see the sights rather than people-watch from cafes (nothing wrong with that, mind), then I would give London the extra nights – so, 3 nights in London, 2/3 in Amsterdam, as London has vastly more to see. I also agree with goldenautumn about starting in Amsterdam, as it's so small, friendly and relaxed compared to London. Language is not a problem – I have a friend who has lived there for years and barely speaks a word of Dutch (not endorsing his approach, just pointing out that Dutch people under the age of 60 speak impeccable English and are happy to do so).
Jan 22nd, 2013, 04:34 AM
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Thanks for all the replies thus far! You are all a big help! I know that most people will agree that we should stick with one destination, and I agree. However, her heart is set on both, regardless if we see everything we want to see. So with that being said...
@janisj - we are having an early wedding on the morning of the 30th, so we'd be looking at leaving in the afternoon/evening or perhaps the following morning. It's going to be a very small wedding with no reception, so we're not too worried about being exhausted that day.
Here are the flight details I found that seem best suited for what we had in mind:
- Leave Sat 30-MAR, 6:28 pm Savannah, GA (SAV)
- Arrive Sun 31-MAR, 1:45 pm Amsterdam AMS, NL (AMS)
- Stay 3 nights in AMS
- Leave Wed 03-APR, 2:00 pm Amsterdam AMS, NL (AMS)
- Arrive Wed 03-APR, 2:10 pm London City Apt LCY, GB (LCY)
- Stay 3 nights in LON
- Leave Sat 06-APR, 2:25 pm London Heathrow, UK (LHR)
- Arrive Sat 06-APR, 9:56 pm Savannah, GA (SAV)
It allows us about $600 for hotels, which I hope will be enough. We don't want a fancy hotel...just a place to sleep that's fairly clean, and that is not too far from everything.
Does this seem doable? Or am I way off base?
@janisj - we are having an early wedding on the morning of the 30th, so we'd be looking at leaving in the afternoon/evening or perhaps the following morning. It's going to be a very small wedding with no reception, so we're not too worried about being exhausted that day.
Here are the flight details I found that seem best suited for what we had in mind:
- Leave Sat 30-MAR, 6:28 pm Savannah, GA (SAV)
- Arrive Sun 31-MAR, 1:45 pm Amsterdam AMS, NL (AMS)
- Stay 3 nights in AMS
- Leave Wed 03-APR, 2:00 pm Amsterdam AMS, NL (AMS)
- Arrive Wed 03-APR, 2:10 pm London City Apt LCY, GB (LCY)
- Stay 3 nights in LON
- Leave Sat 06-APR, 2:25 pm London Heathrow, UK (LHR)
- Arrive Sat 06-APR, 9:56 pm Savannah, GA (SAV)
It allows us about $600 for hotels, which I hope will be enough. We don't want a fancy hotel...just a place to sleep that's fairly clean, and that is not too far from everything.
Does this seem doable? Or am I way off base?
Jan 22nd, 2013, 04:48 AM
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I will respond later with more information but whatever you do, but as you mentioned that you are new to international travel be sure that you book your wife to be air tickets in the name that is on her passport already and not her married name (if she plans to change it). If she plans to change her name when you marry she won't be able to change her passport until after the wedding. I have heard horror stories of couples who booked their honeymoon tickets with the bride's new name and of course without a matching passport they will not even let her check in for the flight.
Jan 22nd, 2013, 06:18 AM
#13
"<i>It allows us about $600 for hotels, which I hope will be enough</i>"
That is about £60 and €75. That will be slightly easier in A'dam than in London. In London consider university housing. They have hostel-type accommodations, private rooms and flats.
Do realize you have relatively little free time in each city. Essentially an evening and 2 days in each city.
That is about £60 and €75. That will be slightly easier in A'dam than in London. In London consider university housing. They have hostel-type accommodations, private rooms and flats.
Do realize you have relatively little free time in each city. Essentially an evening and 2 days in each city.
Jan 22nd, 2013, 08:12 AM
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In my research, I see several hotels for under $100/night in both cities. Many seem to have good reviews with regards to cleanliness and location, which are our only concerns. I am also looking at hostels and other options. If anyone could recommend a specific place, that would be great.
We do realize the time constraints as well. We know that we won't see everything, but the opportunity may not present itself again for a long time. So we will make the best of what we are able to do.
We do realize the time constraints as well. We know that we won't see everything, but the opportunity may not present itself again for a long time. So we will make the best of what we are able to do.
Jan 22nd, 2013, 09:10 AM
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Here are some very well located options within your price range FOR YOUR DATES:
London:
http://www.72qt.co.uk/ (B&B)
http://www.yha.org.uk/hostel/london-earls-court (hostel)
Amsterdam:
http://www.hotelpax.nl/
http://rembrandtsquarehotel.com/?lang=en
For £60/night in London and €75/night in Amsterdam, an en suite bathroom ain't happening unless you elect to stay in the boonies.
London:
http://www.72qt.co.uk/ (B&B)
http://www.yha.org.uk/hostel/london-earls-court (hostel)
Amsterdam:
http://www.hotelpax.nl/
http://rembrandtsquarehotel.com/?lang=en
For £60/night in London and €75/night in Amsterdam, an en suite bathroom ain't happening unless you elect to stay in the boonies.
Jan 22nd, 2013, 09:14 AM
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Am really surprised that you are finding decent hotels at those prices - esp in London - which is quite a bit more expensive. Are you sure you're looking at prices per room and no per person?
Perhaps you would tell us what hotels/areas you are looking at.
Perhaps you would tell us what hotels/areas you are looking at.
Jan 22nd, 2013, 09:32 AM
#18
I am extremely surprised you are finding hotels for under $100, that seems too cheap to me for decent places in central locations in either of those cities.
Besides that I think your plans are coming along nicely!
Besides that I think your plans are coming along nicely!
