We are going to Amsterdam from Dec. 27th-Jan 4th. I found a great deal on a flight! Anyway, this is my third trip to Europe and my SO's first time. <BR> <BR>I am looking for one: a hotel under $100(US) a night (or close to it) that would have ensuite facilities as well as television and is close to everything, but without the noisy club scene. (I realise that on New Year's Eve *anywhere* will be noisy!) I've been looking at the Hotel Amstelzicht, but no one I have run across has any opinion of it. <BR> <BR>Two: Any interesting day trips off of the beaten-path around Amsterdam? We are definitely considering going to Brussels for a day, though I have heard that Brugges is better? <BR> <BR>Three: Any "don't miss" and "tourists don't know about" places not to miss in Amsterdam? <BR> <BR>Any help or advice welcome! <BR> <BR>Regards, <BR> <BR>Samantha <BR>

Samatha, this is not a personal recommendation since I'm not going to Amsterdam until the first week of December myself, but the tourist board at www.visitamsterdam.nl will send you info on their promo "Amsterdam, The Winter Way" via email and you can make reservations over the internet. You choose between catagories of hotels - Deluxe, 1st Class, Super Tourist ($100.00 a night catagory), Tourist and Budget. They have a four star, The Estheria, which has gotten good reviews here, for $100.00 a night if you stay three nights. They will send you brochures of the hotels, but it will take a couple of weeks. Also in the $100.00 a night catagory was The Best Western Eden. <BR> <BR>The Canal House, which looks gorgeous, is over $100.00 a night but it just has to be great. Also The Toren is over $100.00 but looks good. You can look these places up on the internet. <BR> <BR>Maybe someone here can comment on these hotels. Also, be sure to use the search function to get past Fodorite opinions. The Bridge Hotel sounds nice or maybe someplace on Vondel park like The Owl. I ended up choosing a 10 room Canal House B&B, The Prisenhof. It doesn't have a TV, but my travelling companion is 11 years old and she will need to catch up on her missed homework! <BR> <BR>If anyone else wants to kick in with the second segment of Samatha's qquestion, I'd be interested, too. I'd LOVE to see Brugges, but I'm thinking a day trip would be too much, also considering that there are many places of interest nearer.

A search for "Netherlands" will bring up many posts about day trips from Amsterdam. Both Brugge and Brussels are do-able, but a bit far for a day trip. Better are: Delft, The Hague (Den Haag), Haarlem, Leiden, Enkhuizen, Hoorn, Alkmaar, Utrecht, 's-Hertogenbosch, Rotterdam. <BR>Book soon, as Amsterdam is always very busy end of the year!

Hi Samantha: <BR>My husband and I were in Amsterdam for Queen's Day this year and loved it. We stayed at the Hotel Acacia (found it in one of the big travel guides - e-mail: [email protected]). It is in a quiet neighborhood, only a 10-20 minute walk to most places. We loved it, BUT there is no elevator (up 5 long, narrow flights to our room at the top), it's a bit worn and occasionally the bathroom smelled (the bathroom was clean. I just assumed that it was in the pipes). It had an in room shower/toilet, tv, double bed, overlooked a canal, came with breakfast and was only ~75/night during prime tourist season. It was very quiet (amazing, considering Queen's Day is the biggest party of the year). For an amazing reijstaffle, try Tempo Doeloe (Utreschtsestraat 75). We got the delux, which had ~25 dishes and seemed much less touristy then the other places we ate - many vegetables, chicken, beef, pork, liver - all ranging from mild to quite spicy. For really cheap, we had delicious falafels at a couple of places in the city center. Only ~$3, with an "all you can stuff in your pita" salad bar (saw some folks going back for seconds!). We didn't try it, but I did read lots about ice skating on the canals in the winter when/if they freeze. Safety issues aside, this sounds like great fun! I also read great things about the new Dutch resistence museum, but didn't get a chance to go (ended up going to Van Gogh museum twice!). We thought about Brugge (3 1/2 hours each way by train), but didn't do it. Brugge is beautiful. I've never been to Brussels, but my mom went and much preferred Brugge (much smaller and prettier). Have fun!

Annette, <BR> If your traveling companion is 11, I highly recommend that you look into KinderKookKafe in Amsterdam. She will get to meet Dutch kids around her age, cook dinner or tea, serve, eat, and enjoy in a kid sized restaurant. My 12 year old daughter and 7 year old son had a great time there this summer. KinderKookKafe has a web site in Dutch and I would be happy to give you any further info.. Send me an e-mail if I can help. Have a great time in Amsterdam. Our family loved it.

Samantha: I'd recommend Brussels and Brugge, but not as a daytrip. We went to Brussels one morning, spent the rest of the day and night there, then noon the next day headed to Brugge for a couple of days. Brussels has a lot to offer or very little, depending on how deeply you scratch the surface. The Grand Place is, well, grand, but it doesn't take long to see. You could head to Brussels, spend an afternoon there (around the GP, which is close to the main station), then continue to Brugge (an hour away) and spend the night there, returning the next day to Amserdam, but I would suggest staying yet another night in Brugge before returning.

We stayed at the Toren. As I recall, it was $125 for a canal-front room in the Spring. Breakfast included. A garden-facing room in the winter will probably get you under $100. Fits your description perfectly: very close to things, but quiet. An old canal-house mansion in a beautiful part of town. Very near the Anne Frank house and an easy walk to the heart of the city.

Hi, Samantha, <BR>I'd strongly recommend you spend a little more for a hotel in order to get a good location. The Canal House is really lovely, canalside and quiet except for the church bells, but easily walkable to the very lively Jordaan area (restaurants, shops, brown cafes). The top room runs around $160 per their web site, and lesser rooms might be pretty close to your budget. How many times do you get to stay in a canal house in Amsterdam, anyway? <BR> <BR>I think Brussels or Brugge are a little long for a day trip, and remember this part of Europe is quite far north hence daylight hours are very short this time of year. Delft is a great alternative for a fun day.

Samantha <BR>Don't miss, of course Anne Franks House and the Van Gogh Museum. <BR>As for day trips Brugge is beautiful, quaint and small enough to walk around and explore in a day. It should ?take about two hours from Amsterdam by train. I also love Brussels though, it is majestic and has a wonderful international feel to it, plus of course the chocolate shops mmm - Godiva, Neumann. I like Brussels and would like to visit more often, unfortunately not many friends agree with me. You may or may not enjoy Brussels, but anyone would appreciate Brugge. (It is very romantic) <BR>Angela

ps <BR>Forgot to say that at this time of year it does get dark early, but this is not a problem as both cities are equally beautiful by night.

Places to visit in 21st Century Amsterdam, the most "progressive" city in the whole, wide world. 1) A Euthanasia factory where undesirable old people with dementia are put to death. 2) Pothead bars for people who have no use for life or wish to live as permanent children. 3) A whore house by a nifty little canal to see the good side of modern prostitution. 4) A nice queer wedding, all legal and everything. 5) An old, hardly ever used, Dutch Reformed Church to see a part of Holland that is long, long, long gone.

Samantha - Kathy, Jeff, and others gave good suggestions. Have stayed w/my family at Hotel Acacia (Amsterdam) twice in recent years. On a canal, quiet, except for nearby bar on some Friday or Sat. nights. Across street was an OK Mexican restaurant. It will be cold that time of year; I remember nearly freezing walking to Van Gogh Museum in late November; but you can take the bus easily. <BR>Jeff's idea of visiting Brussels and then Brugges sounds good. We enjoyed the Christmas market in the Grand Place square during the day. But on certain nights, they play classical music on speakers hidden in the beautiful, lighted old buildings that surround the square. I felt like I was standing the middle of Europe. <BR>Good food, sights, and beer in Brugges. <BR>And cheaper than Brussels, too. <BR>

Some of the smaller Dutch towns like Utrecht and Delft make great day trips. It is nice to get out of Amsterdam and get a sense of what the smaller towns are like. Utrecht is only about 30 minutes from Amsterdam by train. In Utrecht you can visit the "Dom" which has the highest church tower (I think) in the Netherlands and get a nice over view of the surrounding land.

we spent five days in may in amsterdam. stayed in the hotel rho located near the main square. 115 dollars including a nice breakfast. utrecht is a nice day trip as you leave the train and enter a large mall..kid will like this. also there is a museum there that is in an old church which has street organs. also suggest getting daytrips in holland, belgium by earl steinbicker. its great with a walking tour and maps

Please, don't forget to visit Antwerp on your way to Bruges or Brussels ! <BR>Bruges is a romantic open-air museum. <BR>You can visit Bruges in 1 day, but it takes more time to find the heart and charm of Brussels. <BR>In between you find Antwerp, which is a beautiful medieval city known for its retaurants, old-fashioned cafés with sometimes more than 100 different beers, its 16th-17th painters such as Rubens, Van Dijck and Jordaens, the port and the diamond-centre. <BR>Please, mail me, if you want more specific info. on Bruges, Brusselsor Antwerp : [email protected]

<BR>For Leigh!

Hotel Washington, <BR> <BR>In museum district, by tram line, lovely neighborhood, great staff, great rooms, great rates....who could ask for anything more...It's in the Fodor's listings <BR> <BR>Have fun!

Canal House was about 140.00 US last year inc nice breakfast. It was worth it and one of the nicest hotels I have ever stayed in. <BR>Van Gogh Museum <BR>Albert Cuypmarket <BR>Ann Frank House <BR>Heineken Brewery Tour (check hours and get there early it sells out) skip lunch that day they have unlimited pitchers and cheese and crackers after tour. <BR>Rijksmuseum. <BR>These are all must does in my opinion. <BR>Restaurant: Speciaal is excellent also

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