Amsterdam vs. France
 

Hi all,

First, let me thank you guys for reading and for your time. Let me explain a little bit about my situation. I'll have a 2-3 day trip from Ireland to go visit either Amsterdam or France. I have never been to either so both sound very appealing to me. Barcelona is already checked off as I'll be there for a little bit, so that leaves London, France, Amsterdam, or any other suggestions you guys have. So far those three places I have listed are all about $100-$200 flights round trip so if there are any suggestions, hopefully they will fall into that flight budget.

Please let me know. Thank you for your time and knowledge :)

Well you mention 3 cities (Barcelona, London, Amsterdam) and one whole country. Do you be any chance mean Paris?

In any case, you can easily fly for a weekend on a budget airline from Dublin or other airports in Ireland to Amsterdam or Paris or London or Edinburgh, or 50 other places.

What sorts of things do you want to see/do?

A single city vs. an entire country? It's hard to figure out how to take that. But if you only have 2-3 days, it would seem only logical to limit yourself to Amsterdam.

Without knowing a bit more about you, i.e., budget, taste in food, likes and dislikes, things you are looking forward to doing/seeing, etc., it is impossible to give you any meaningful advice, Johnny.

For example, where in France would you like to visit? Big town or small town? Museums or nightlife? What are you looking for?

Two to three days would be fine for Amsterdam. It's no enough time IMO for Paris.

Good question peeps. I guess what I mean by France is that I'm open to any cities - Paris being the only one I truly know anything about.

I'm open to everything. Amazing sights and good food is all that I know and I just want to be submerged into the local culture, see all that I can see and stay busy while traveling.

@nukesafe : budget would be reasonable I guess, I'm trying to reduce cost but I don't mind shelling out a couple hundred bucks for the weekend if it is worth it. I'm planning on spending a couple hundred a lone just on airbnb or hotels. As for where in France, I don't know anything so please throw some ideas out if you are willing - perhaps with a general ballpark idea of how much it'll cost me to go here or there.

@Kathie - thank you for your advice, I'll keep that in mind.

Thank you everyone for their comments and suggestions

>> I just want to be submerged into the local culture,<<

Sorry but that ain't going to happen on a long weekend.

>>I don't mind shelling out a couple hundred bucks for the weekend if it is worth it. <<

A 'couple hundred bucks' is about £150 or €180 but the you say you are spending a couple hundred just on accommodations so do you mean $200 PLUS accommodations?

Sorry -- not being rude here - but you are all over the place. Why not pick up a couple of guide books and and see what interests you?

Everyone has to see Paris at least once. Now's your chance!

(Been to Paris and Amsterdam and several rural French villages, but not London. I still vote see Pareee!!!)

@janisj I guess what I mean by a couple hundred is maybe 2-300 euros. Not quite sure what I'm going up against but I think 300 euros for 2 days is quite an amount. If that is too little for France or wherever, I guess I'd have to cross that off the list.

When I say submerge into local culture, it could be as simple as eating local cuisine and seeing the local arts.

No offense taken buddy, I really appreciate your time and questions - they are great questions. I'll be sure to pick up some guide books and spend some quality time planning.

Several things about Amsterdam.
They all speak English. In Paris only most do.
You have the coffee shops if you like herb.
You have bad beer (Heineken). In Paris you gave bad beer (1664) but more Belgian beer.
Small rural towns in france not much English spoken.

<<I just want to be submerged into the local culture, see all that I can see and stay busy while traveling. >>

Well, you won't have any problem at all staying busy for 2-3 days. That's just enough time to skim the surface of anything, and certainly not, by a long shot, enough to submerse yourself in much of anything.

I would check out cheap airline flights from wherever it is in Ireland you'd be coming from and plan based on that. Plus guidebooks, of course, and a careful look at the official websites of cities that interest you.

@whathello but where is the good beer? :) thanks for your comment buddy! I think so far I'm leaning towards Amsterdam

With only 2-3 days, I'd head to Amsterdam.

The good beer is in Belgium. In Amsterdam, drink genever.

@stcirq

Thanks for your responses!

@suze looks like Amsterdam it is!

Plenty of good beer in Amsterdam. The Netherlands has more craft breweries than Belgium.

@hetismij2

tell me where to find this madness

In Amsterdam, Momo. It's madness. It's expensive. It's happening.

More breweries, maybe. Better breweries never !

You'll have a good time in Amsterdam, but I suspect you'd have goot times in a lot of places - something to do with having a good spirit !

<tell me where to find this madness>

Amsterdam. Just go.