hey everyone going to be in amsterdam 2 days & nights. we are wondering where to stay? looking for a nice clean hotel with airconditioning. would like to know what trains to use from the airport to the city? places of interest? places to eat? what not to miss. appreciate anyones input.

One place to check for hotels is www.channels.nl

To get downtown by rail from Schiphol, simply follow the signs for the RR station. When you get to the "Schiphol Plaza" area of the terminal, you'll see the ticket windows on your right and there will also be ticket machines near the head of the escalators. The platforms are one level down.

Trains leave about 4 times per hour and the trip takes about 15-20 minutes.

DO NOT leave ANY luggage unattended near the double doors (or any door) of the train cars when traveling in. Some trains stop at an intermediate station (Sloterdijk) and that is where unattended luggage has been known to be yanked out of the doors by people on the platform who make off with it. It is a rare occurrence but it has happened more than once

www.schiphol.nl

Ooops..sorry..should have said you will see the ticket windows on your LEFT.

Many of us like to stay in the Leidseplein area. It's a transportation hub with lots of restaurants and hotels.

Exit the train and Centraal Station. From there you can catch a tram or get a taxi. Schiphol is very close to Amsterdam, so the train ride is not long.

With only two days and nights, I would not venture far from Amsterdam. The canal cruises are fun, especially the evening cruises (some offer dinner).

we stayed out near vondel park which was fine for us; DH has stayed at the Marriott downtown Amsterdam for business trips. See: Ann Frank Huis, Rijksmuseum, Von Gogh Museum, Red Light district, many of the churches, etc. Take a canal cruise. My long weekend trip report is somewhere back on this board - search under 'queens day' and it should come up pretty easily.

Check Tripadvisor for many hotels. Donot expect airco in all hotels, only the more expensive ons will have that.

Not a hotel, and no airco, but something different- a houseboat. http://tinyurl.com/2v4za7