Amsterdam and surrounds trip planning, tulip viewing.
Jan 2nd, 2014, 02:39 PM
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Amsterdam and surrounds trip planning, tulip viewing.
We are planning a trip to Amsterdam for a week in either late April or early May. We will be arriving from either Glasgow or London. Trying to fit the week into a larger holiday.
A must see part of the visit will be a visit to Keukenhof Gardens. Should we hire a car from say the airport and head south first and do a bit of a loop back up to Amsterdam, we do like the countryside touring. Maybe also hiring bikes for the gardens and surrounds.
I am looking for suggestions on where to stay and stop off. I am also aware that it will be Easter time and the Kings day holiday in April also, so will the public holidays impact too much. Or should I avoid them.
A must see part of the visit will be a visit to Keukenhof Gardens. Should we hire a car from say the airport and head south first and do a bit of a loop back up to Amsterdam, we do like the countryside touring. Maybe also hiring bikes for the gardens and surrounds.
I am looking for suggestions on where to stay and stop off. I am also aware that it will be Easter time and the Kings day holiday in April also, so will the public holidays impact too much. Or should I avoid them.
Jan 2nd, 2014, 02:50 PM
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<i>Amsterdam and surrounds trip planning, tulip viewing.
Posted by: aussie_10 on Jan 2, 14 at 6:39pm
A must see part of the visit will be a visit to Keukenhof Gardens.</i>
Here is a photolog of my bike expedition from Haarlem to Keukenhof, http://tinyurl.com/5nwqzp. There are also public buses from Haarlem and Leiden train stations.
There are hundreds of places to stay but book early. Provide your cost allowance for some recommendations.
Posted by: aussie_10 on Jan 2, 14 at 6:39pm
A must see part of the visit will be a visit to Keukenhof Gardens.</i>
Here is a photolog of my bike expedition from Haarlem to Keukenhof, http://tinyurl.com/5nwqzp. There are also public buses from Haarlem and Leiden train stations.
There are hundreds of places to stay but book early. Provide your cost allowance for some recommendations.
Jan 2nd, 2014, 03:16 PM
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spaarne - thank you for your reply.
The photos are beautiful!
We like to stay at B&Bs, prices maybe around 100e, would be good, but are happy to pay more for a good location or experience.
As for hotels in Amsterdam, good location at reasonable prices. We do not need 5*.
The photos are beautiful!
We like to stay at B&Bs, prices maybe around 100e, would be good, but are happy to pay more for a good location or experience.
As for hotels in Amsterdam, good location at reasonable prices. We do not need 5*.
Jan 2nd, 2014, 03:45 PM
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<i>aussie_10 on Jan 2, 14 at 7:16pm
We like to stay at B&Bs, prices maybe around 100e, would be good, but are happy to pay more for a good location or experience.
As for hotels in Amsterdam, good location at reasonable prices. We do not need 5*.</i>
I normally stay in Haarlem where you can easily find good enough places for €100. I prefer B&B Paula because it is owned by a dear friend of mine, and it is a full apartment, not a 6 by 9 foot room as are most of the low cost places in Holland. However it is on the west edge of the city and a car would be best for staying there.
In Amsterdam I have stayed at a couple of unremarkable places, the names of which are best forgotten. I did stay once at the Hotel Ambassade, a really unique hotel in an excellent area on the Herengracht, within a two minute walk of my favorite cafes at the Spui - the Hoppe and the Luxembourg. The Ambassade is expensive.
I'm sure many other Fodorites will make recommendations for you, in your price range in Amsterdam.
We like to stay at B&Bs, prices maybe around 100e, would be good, but are happy to pay more for a good location or experience.
As for hotels in Amsterdam, good location at reasonable prices. We do not need 5*.</i>
I normally stay in Haarlem where you can easily find good enough places for €100. I prefer B&B Paula because it is owned by a dear friend of mine, and it is a full apartment, not a 6 by 9 foot room as are most of the low cost places in Holland. However it is on the west edge of the city and a car would be best for staying there.
In Amsterdam I have stayed at a couple of unremarkable places, the names of which are best forgotten. I did stay once at the Hotel Ambassade, a really unique hotel in an excellent area on the Herengracht, within a two minute walk of my favorite cafes at the Spui - the Hoppe and the Luxembourg. The Ambassade is expensive.
I'm sure many other Fodorites will make recommendations for you, in your price range in Amsterdam.
Jan 2nd, 2014, 05:34 PM
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So do you feel Haarlem is a good base for the local countryside?
So you had a car? Did you hire bikes in Haarlem?
Do you have any other recommended places to visit either by car or bike.
In Amsterdam we would like a hotel in good walking distance or trams/buses of major sites.
So you had a car? Did you hire bikes in Haarlem?
Do you have any other recommended places to visit either by car or bike.
In Amsterdam we would like a hotel in good walking distance or trams/buses of major sites.
Jan 3rd, 2014, 12:51 AM
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Haarlem is close enough to Amsterdam that you could stay in Haarlem and visit Amsterdam by train. The trains run about every 5-10 minutes and take 15 minutes to get to central Amsterdam. In fact, I would prefer to stay there rather than in central Amsterdam.
Jan 5th, 2014, 12:43 PM
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tt for more suggestions please
Should we just use Haarlem as a base? Is it possible to visit the south countryside without a car?
If so, is there a weekly train pass we could purchase?
Should we just use Haarlem as a base? Is it possible to visit the south countryside without a car?
If so, is there a weekly train pass we could purchase?
Jan 5th, 2014, 12:48 PM
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I think you saw my trip report last spring
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...etherlands.cfm
We stayed in Leiden and thought it was perfect. Bikes are a great way to see a bit of the countryside.
There is a woman who posts weekly updates about the blooms in that area. Very helpful for planning - you may want to post there as well!
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...etherlands.cfm
We stayed in Leiden and thought it was perfect. Bikes are a great way to see a bit of the countryside.
There is a woman who posts weekly updates about the blooms in that area. Very helpful for planning - you may want to post there as well!
Jan 5th, 2014, 12:50 PM
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Depending on the weather this spring the tulips may be starting to be cut by the beginning of May...we were lucky last year that they were still in bloom the fist weekend in May. If it's a warm spring the farmers may start to cut them so be sure your timing is right!
Jan 7th, 2014, 12:36 PM
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Thanks Jamikins, Yes I saw your beautiful photos from last year, that inspired me! Where did you stay in Leiden?
Who is the lady that posts the weekly updates?
I am leaning towards going the last week in April or first week of May. But I really want to make it before they start cutting the blooms. We will be visiting our son in Glasgow beforehand, who is working for the Commonwealth games. But as it will probably be a busy time in The Netherlands i will need to book ahead. Just really undecided whether to stay in two places e.g. Amsterdam and or somewhere closer to the Tulips fields. We like staying in the countryside, but are not sure whether to hire a car as well. And we like to walk and ride bikes.
Who is the lady that posts the weekly updates?
I am leaning towards going the last week in April or first week of May. But I really want to make it before they start cutting the blooms. We will be visiting our son in Glasgow beforehand, who is working for the Commonwealth games. But as it will probably be a busy time in The Netherlands i will need to book ahead. Just really undecided whether to stay in two places e.g. Amsterdam and or somewhere closer to the Tulips fields. We like staying in the countryside, but are not sure whether to hire a car as well. And we like to walk and ride bikes.
Jan 7th, 2014, 01:42 PM
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Here's my 2 cents with lots of help from others!
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ite-things.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ite-things.cfm
Jan 7th, 2014, 01:46 PM
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Don't avoid King's Day - the greatest citywide celebration/party I have ever been to - worth the journey alone - well was Queen's Day when I was there but the same - tremendous - something for everyone.
everyone wearing orange - a sea of orange - bnads on boats in canals - huge rock concerts in the Museumplein - folks selling anything and everything - kind of a huge citywide flea market where anyone can stake out a space and sell anything practically.
young folk carrying ubiquitous cases of Heineken around - trams and trains shut down.
a great great time!
https://www.google.com/search?q=quee...=1600&bih=1074
everyone wearing orange - a sea of orange - bnads on boats in canals - huge rock concerts in the Museumplein - folks selling anything and everything - kind of a huge citywide flea market where anyone can stake out a space and sell anything practically.
young folk carrying ubiquitous cases of Heineken around - trams and trains shut down.
a great great time!
https://www.google.com/search?q=quee...=1600&bih=1074
Jan 7th, 2014, 02:01 PM
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We stayed here and loved it http://www.debeukenhof.nl
Leiden was big enough to provide a couple days of wandering, has some delightful restaurants and a great atmosphere!
We didn't have a car, we took the bus right from the train station in Leiden to Keukenhof then rented bikes from the afternoon...then took the bus back...perfect day. Another day we took the train to Amsterdam. And the last day we just hung out in Leiden.
We wouldn't change anything, loved every minute. I believe you can also get bike routes around the many windmills nearby but we didn't get a chance to do that!
Hope this helps!
Leiden was big enough to provide a couple days of wandering, has some delightful restaurants and a great atmosphere!
We didn't have a car, we took the bus right from the train station in Leiden to Keukenhof then rented bikes from the afternoon...then took the bus back...perfect day. Another day we took the train to Amsterdam. And the last day we just hung out in Leiden.
We wouldn't change anything, loved every minute. I believe you can also get bike routes around the many windmills nearby but we didn't get a chance to do that!
Hope this helps!
Jan 28th, 2014, 01:44 AM
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Thank you for your replies.
After much investigating and researching we have decided to rent an apartment in Haarlem, great suggestion.
We will stay there for 1 week and hope to do day trips into Amsterdam, visit the tulip fields and some other towns. Our rental has 2 bikes so we are looking forward to doing some local bike trips.
We will also be there on Kings days, so any suggestions for that day would be appreciated
After much investigating and researching we have decided to rent an apartment in Haarlem, great suggestion.
We will stay there for 1 week and hope to do day trips into Amsterdam, visit the tulip fields and some other towns. Our rental has 2 bikes so we are looking forward to doing some local bike trips.
We will also be there on Kings days, so any suggestions for that day would be appreciated
Jan 28th, 2014, 09:51 AM
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For Kings Day go to Amsterdam for the biggest citywide celebration I've ever seen - many Haarlemers also go to Amsterdam this day - folks come from towns all around so for the best Kings Day take the train to Amsterdam for the day!
