I am a single woman and I plan to spend 12 days in Amsterdam (doing some family research in the archives) and also travelling in Holland and and possibly Antwerp. I wonder if I should establish a base in Amsterdam and travel during the day or if I should be flexible and allow things to unfold and book hotels as I go.

Please let me know if you have any thoughts wether I should book a B&B, or a budget hotel or similar. I know my question is a bit vague but I am feeling a bit lost.

Someone in here suggested booking on "name a price" and I like that idea. Would the last 2 weeks of April be too busy? Or is there a nice B&B that would suit my needs? I am looking at spending less that 100 Euros per night.

Thanks

We spent 10 nights in Amsterdam, but took five day trips around Holland. The trains are fast and clean and most people speak english so getting around is easy. We stayed at the Omega Hotel in the museum district, reasonable rates, good location, but rude staff and in need of a good cleaning. We we're there in Jan, a little cold but no crowds anywhere. I don't know about April.

We're going around the same time, and it was only when looking at a calendar that I realized that Easter is VERY late next year - April 24th. This might make a difference in booking a B&B or choosing to wing it. Perhaps someone more familiar with Amsterdam and the Netherlands can address that.

The last two weeks of April are very busy in Holland due to the blooming of the tulips in the fields south of Haarlem and especially at Keukenhof (http://tinyurl.com/y8hltjl), and Queen's Day (http://tinyurl.com/55px5p) on April 30, arguably the greatest one day party anywhere. The links are to my photos. I am partial to Haarlem because I lived there and have a friend there, and it is a very nice city.

There are a number of B&Bs in Haarlem and several one star hotels in the city center, all well below €100 per night.

How do you plan to travel, by train or car?

Thank you all for highlighting Easter (had totally forgotten about it...) and thanks for the amazing photos.
How far is Harlem from Amsterdam? Would I not feel a bit isolated there as a single traveller? I am not sure about car vs. train yet (the cheapest option might be the best). I want to go to Antwerp where my father lived for 12 years during the war, etc. And I also want to go to the north of Holand to see my gradfather's birth place.

Where was your grandfather born? If you tell me that it can help with the car vs train decision. A combination of the two may be best. Antwerp is easy to get to by train or car, but most of the northern Netherlands are not.

Car parking is expensive in Amsterdam.

You will not feel isolated in Haarlem - indeed you may feel less isolated there as it is a more manageable size, and has a lively centre. It is about 15 minutes by train between the two and costs €7.10 return.

You might look at the Hotel Hestia , it is right on Vondel Park and within a few blocks on the museums. The transportation options are excellent. The rate is under 100 Euro and includes a substanial breakfast and free Wifi.

I LOVE Antwerp!

I am going to Amsterdam in May 2011...I loved seeing your pictures spaarne!!! You have some really great shots! Definitley makes it look appealing. Looks like so much fun, and the flowers OMG! GORGEOUS! I will be putting some of the places you highlighted on my list of things to see. Thanks for sharing!

Grandfather #1 was from Zeist.
Grandfather #2 was from Groningen.
Thanks for all your help.
I think the key here is to have a lot of flexibility as this trip will be full of surprises and turns. It is a trip to the "past" and God knows what will happen. I would however, feel more comfortable having a hotel booked for the entire duration that I can cancel or make changes to the booking if necessary. Having Easter in the middle of it was not my idea, but that is what I got with airmiles. Also, expecting flowers to be out during last two weeks of April. Thanks a bunch!

Ok both Zeist and the city of Groningen are easy to get to by train.

For Zeist (just down the road from me )you need to get a train to Utrecht then either a train to Driebergen Zeist, or a bus to Zeist.

Groningen city is 2 and a half hours by train, and you change at Amersfoort. €43,80 day return.

You may prefer to spend a night there.

If it is a village in Groningen then a car would be better.

Definitely visit Keukenhof for tulip time. It's amazing!

hetismij

I am thinking I should go straight to Haarlem from the airport. Is it easy to get there? Any hotel you recommend I book?

I can't recommend hotels - i never stay in hotels that close to home .

For the train you get a train towards Amsterdam and change at Amsterdam Sloterdijk for a train to Haarlem.
If you are on an Intercity train it won't stop at Sloterdijk so you carry on into Amsterdam Centraal and get a train back our to Haarlem from there.
Alternatively get the 300 bus from Schiphol to Haarlem, but that is much slower (50 minutes against 30 if you change at Sloterdijk).

The time for the bus is about 45 minutes. It runs every 10 minutes from Schiphol Plaza to the front of the Haarlem station. I prefer it because it is direct and more secure than the trains. The train will actually take longer than 30 minutes because you must wait for the connecting train. Amsterdam Centraal Station is Pickpocket Centraal.

There are about a dozen hotels and B&Bs in Haarlem from one star to four star. How much do you want to spend? Fodorites lately have been giving Stempels compliments. It is the newest in town and centrally located right next to the big church, about a 10 minute walk from the station.

Dear hetsmij and spaarne, thanks for your help.

As far as the hotel, 100 euros would be my budget across the cities I want to visit (that is quite a good budget in the US. Not at all as good in Europe, I know). I wonder if I could go with no hotel reservations and find a good deal once I am in Holland. The rationale for that is that my travel is not yet set in stone and maybe I can get a better price by betting on priceline. I notice that many B&Bs have a 21 day cancellation policy and that is confining when you are not sure where to be and when. Do you think April will be too fully booked? Is my plan a crazy one?
Thanks

Spaarne the total train journey if you change at Sloterdijk, including waiting for the connection is 29 or 31 minutes, depending on the connection.

You exaggerate about Amsterdam CS - I have never had a problem there and nor have thousands upon thousands of people who use it daily.

You have less chance of having your pockets picked there than in a bus/tram queue, and far less chance that in some other cities.

I think most hotels and B&Bs near Amsterdam and the bulb fields will get booked up in April.
Your alternative is too look further afield - maybe staying in Utrecht since you also want to go to Zeist and Groningen would be better as a last minute destination.

Does anyone know if the tulips will still be in bloom mid-May/June? Want to see the display but am concerned with the cold weather (I'm from Florida) and dragging my bulky ski jacket around on the trip will be a bother since I am trying to pack as little for the trip as possible. I haven't made the complete plans yet so some info would be appreciated.
The tour is with Globus in Amsterdam, Luxen., Belgium. a very relaxed trip for 10 days. Help please, I need to decide on the month.
Thanks
almaruth60

Does anyone know if the tulips will still be in bloom mid-May/June? Want to see the display but am concerned with the cold weather (I'm from Florida) and dragging my bulky ski jacket around on the trip will be a bother since I am trying to pack as little for the trip as possible. I haven't made the complete plans yet so some info would be appreciated.
The tour is with Globus in Amsterdam, Luxen., Belgium. a very relaxed trip for 10 days. Help please, I need to decide on the month.
Thanks
almaruth60

Good grief! You won't need a ski jacket in May or June, even if you are from Florida. A fleece maybe, a waterproof jacket almost certainly, but not a ski jacket - even in our bleak mid-winter that would be too much.

Tulips are pretty much finished by mid-May I'm afraid. Keukenhof closes on May 20th next year. If we have a warm spring it may close earlier, if we have a cool spring things will still be blooming.
May has tended to be a nicer month then June the last few years.