Zunling

Dear All,

To update my travel plan, my family has now decided to change our itinerary as follow:

22/12/2014 (night) - Departure from Malaysia

23/12/2014 - 27/12/2014 - Arrival at Amsterdam (have 3 full days for sightseeing)

27/12/2014 - 2/1/2015 - Paris (by Train from Amsterdam to Paris & have 5 full days for sightseeing)

2/1/2015 - 7/1/2015 - London (by Train from Paris to London & have 4 full days for sightseeing)

7/1/2015 - Fly home to Malaysia


I would really appreciate to have your suggestion about accommodation (budget with good location) & best attraction to visit.

Thank you so much for your help.

Zunling

Typo: Sorry! Should read as "Need Advice for my first family trip to Europe"

janisj

Your division of time looks good. But >>I would really appreciate to have your suggestion about accommodation (budget with good location) & best attraction to visit. <<

Is too general to be able to answer.

How many in your family (and how old are the children since it makes a difference what sorts of rooms you'll need)?

What is you budget in € and/or £ per night for rooms.

What sorts of things interest you?

Zunling

Hi janisj, Sorry for my silly mistake.
We are in a family of 4 (son 22 & daughter 17). I'm looking at the budget of €150-200 and/or £130-180 per night. Would prefer the Quadruple room type or an apartment for 4 pax that we can cook our meals. Want to visit famous landmarks. Thank you.

menachem

That's kin of budget will require some good searching for rooms, especially if you want a quadruple or an apartment.

PalenQ

You can save a ton of money on both the Thalys train Amsterdam to Paris and the Eurostar train Paris to London by booking really REALLY early - ASAP as the sites let you - literally saving hundreds of bucks over just showing up - the deepest discounted tickets can be sold out weeks or months early and then cannot be changed not refunded so be sure of your dates and times. IME try for a mid-week to London as that is the slackest time period I believe.

www.eurostar.com for Paris-London; www.thalys.com for Amsterdam to Paris. For lots of general info on European trains I always spotlight: www.seat61.com - good info on discounted tickets; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com. Forget about any railpass of being any use for those trains.

Nonconformist

Be aware that some attractions will be shut over Christmas, especially on Christmas Day itself, so your "three full days" in Amsterdam may not stretch as far as at another time of year.

PalenQ

Christmas Even too things may close early - Christmas Day about the deadest day of the year in lively Amsterdam - heck even most if not all of the infamous coffeeshops IME will be closed!

PalenQ

The week between Xmas Day and New Year's is I've been told by many Amsterdam hotels and the tourist office the busiest week of the whole year in Amsterdam and younger folks flock in from all over Europe for what is basically a huge party the whole week - book hotels every early for that time or face being shut out of the best ones you want.

nytraveler

I think you have failed to take into account the holidays. Many places will shut early on 12/24 and 12/31 and possibly all day on 12/25 and 1/1.

As for budget - I wold start looking NOW for what options there are for 4 adults and a fairy modest budget. What bed configuration d you need? Many hotel have only 1 or 2 family rooms that could accommodate you.

moosey

You can try the hotel Leydsche Hof in Amsterdam - it is tiny, with only two rooms but I think would accommodate your family if you can get both. I have not stayed there, but we used to live next door and always heard wonderful reviews. The price is in your budget.

hetismij2

The museums are open on Christmas Day, so that isn't a problem.
The hotel budget is though for Amsterdam certainly.
Also finding a restaurant that doesn't require a booking may be a problem.

iris1745

You can use booking.com for good reviews.

Once the dates are inserted for a city, you will find on the left a box to check for dollar/budget considerations.

If you are making hotel arrangements 9 months in advance, look for 'free cancellation'. On booking.com it's very easy to change a reservation when you are closer to traveling, either for a better price or a different hotel.

For me, the itinerary looks good.

PalenQ

Wow museums open on Christmas Day - i saw the same in Paris on Christmas Day - well a few were open and the town was thronged with strollers as they celebrate Xmas the night before with a family meal after folks return from midnight mass (well when they used to go to mass!)_

I know Dutch may celebrate Sinter Klaus on Dec 6th or sometime - is that a factor why Christmas Day seems museums open? It is not a big deal for families like here Stateside where families spend Christmas with families and nearly nothing except a few fancy restaurants and gas stations are open - even pubs are closed in my state and you cannot even buy booze anywhere on that day.

Zunling

Thank you for your replies, they are very helpful.

Tulips

December 26 is also a holiday in the Netherlands - don't know if shops will be open in Amsterdam.
Christmas day is a family day. Sinterklaas was traditionally the day that kids got presents - there were never presents at Christmas when I was young; church and a big family meal. But nowadays most people give presents at Christmas (and for the kids at Sinterklaas as well).

PalenQ

a Dutch resident recently posted that museums were open on Christmas Day in Amsterdam - surprised me but given the source I believe it.

spanishsarah47

For Paris, I suggest dividing your days between the arrondissements. For example, one day tackle the 5th which includes Notre Dame and the Louvre. Another day, the 7th with the Eiffel Tower, Musee d'Orsay, and Champs Elysees. Stayed at the Comfort Inn Mouffetard-Latin Quarter (5th arr.) and it was lovely. I also suggest booking.com for searching for hotels. Don't be afraid to look at hostels! They're not all terrible, but you will have to look at the reviews carefully, even on multiple websites. People complaining about a cold room or unfriendly staff (especially in Paris) - not something to worry about. Bedbugs and clogged trains - a definite "no." Overall, pick up your favorite company's guidebook and and prioritize your "must-sees!"

Tulips

In Amsterdam the Rijksmuseum is open every day of the year.
Except for this morning, due to a visit bij President Obama.

PalenQ

For great objective reviews of hostels I always suggest getting a copy of Let's Go Europe (amazon.com) - written by American college students for younger backpackers - great rundown of zillions of hostels.