turista2

Is exactly a 4-hour layover enough time to take the train into amsterdam? If we are connecting to another KLM flight, does our luggage automatically transfer?

If not enough time, can someone please tell me where the airport showers are located.

Many thanks.

Dukey

It used to be that if you had <b>at least</b> four hours, KLM would tell you that was enough time to do a quick tour of the city. But that was before 9/11, &quot;increased&quot; &quot;security&quot; and so forth.

Your bags should transfer all the way to your final destination.

You can easily reach the center in about 15-20 minutes by rail on your own directly from the airport. There is also a visitors desk where tours can be arranged.

Tulips

If it's 4 hours between touch down and take-off I would say probably not. Schiphol is a very good airport. There's a subsidiary of the Rijksmuseum, a casino, lots of things to do. I'm sure there are showers; check on the airport website (www.schiphol.nl)

jay

I agree. Usually at Schippol 6hrs is the minimum for a trip to the city. Usually that is for a coffee and not much more. There are showers in the KLM lounge if you can get or have access. also go to their website to check locations.

Nikki

When we connected in Amsterdam last week, on the way to the US, check in for the transatlantic flight began an hour and a half before the flight. There was a security line right at the gate which took a very long time to get through.

BStro

turista2, did you attempt a run into Amsterdam???

I'm booking a flight from Bologna to NY that has a 5 hr layover in Amsterdam and I'm contemplating a mad dash into the city. This will be my first attempt at leaving an airport while waiting for a connecting flight - always have had short layovers.

I'm assuming as long as I get back to the airport 2 hours before departure I should be OK... no bags to check, just have to deal with customs when re-entering the airport.

My wife thinks I'm nutz, but I don't want to waste this brief opportunity...

Any logistics suggestions... I already know I'm going to spend my time eating/drinking.

Thanks for any finger-pointing or sense-talking...

NorthShore

You are not nuts, just..... . Don't do it. Risk/reward ratio is bad.

flybob

Nuts from me too, relax at the airport pay to go into a lounge it will be cheaper than dashing into the city for a coffee AND less stresfull worring about getting back

flybob

Forgot, I paid 17 euro last week at Amsterdam and was in the lounge for 3 hours. Excellent value

Eleni

BStro, I'm a big one for leaving airports, and am very familiar with Schiphol and Amsterdam. Nevertheless, I would not try to go into town with a five-hour layover. Yes, if everything goes right, it will be fine. But if anything goes wrong, you could end up missing your connecting flight and that would really be a sad thing.

Keep in mind that five hours on paper is not necessarily five hours on the ground. I've had planes be late or significantly delayed waiting for a gate, I've had it take an hour to get through Passport Control at Schiphol (now that was an ugly scene). All kinds of things can throw off a person on a tight schedule.

Assuming everything goes absolutely perfect (your plane is on time, there are no lines at passport control, etc), and no problems at customs, 30 minutes will have elapsed from your five hour layover. You will need to walk to the trains, buy a ticket, and ride into town, which will take you about 30 minutes each way. Then you will need to walk to and fro wherever you to to eat drink, let's say for another 30 minutes. You plan on getting to the airport 2 hours before your flight. That leaves you with 1 hour in Amsterdam.

Since the consequences for you are significant if you don't make your plane, for me, the risks would not be worth a 1 hour trip to Amsterdam.

luvtotravel

How do you buy entrance to a lounge? I'm flying on United, but I don't have entrance to their Red Carpet Lounge. Flying coach this time around.

BStro

So, I guess I will not be risking the trip into the city... Thanks for all the replies. I'll probably spend most of my layover at the casino.

Thanks again!

flybob

I didnt pre book but here is the link, the lounge is run by the airport not the airlines
http://airport-lounges.trip-extras.c...rt-Lounges.cfm

ekscrunchy

saving

MaureenB

Good advice not to risk it, even though Amsterdam proper is wonderful. When we arrived in Amsterdam, the train from the airport was in an accident and we waited forever to get moving again. If that happened to you, it could make you miss your flight. The locals on the train told us it happens often.
&gt;-

suze

5 hours is somewhat more reasonable than 4 to attempt a mad dash into town. But if you really want to do it why not schedule 8-10 hours between flights, then it becomes absolutely do-able.

Dukey

Hmmm...five hours which probably means the clock starts ticking when the wheels hit the tarmac.

That means time elapses as you taxi to the gate.

Are you in First? If not, add more time to get off the plane, down the jetway, and what could be a troop.

Eleni has summed it up quite nicely IMO.

Either try to schedule a longer layover (I know, probably impossible without incurring extra fees) or spend the time at Schiphol shopping, going into the casino, hanging out in a purchased lounge area, looking at the Rijksmuseum offering, eating and drinking, shopping some more, etc.

Please AVOID the Burger King in Schiphol Plaza...the worst french fries ever produced IMO!

turista2

BStro --

We decided not to attempt a trip into Amsterdam with our 4-hour layover. We did take advantage of the showers at the Amsterdam airport (fairly nice facilities -- you essentially get your own bathroom with toilet, sink, shower, shelves, rack, towels, and shampoo/soap). I believe the shower was around $20US, which was well worth the price, since we arrived refreshed at our destination.