missypie

I've asked a similar question before but I'm trying to narrow my choices of places to stay. Our group will be H and I, plus our kids ages 20, 18 and 15. We want a neighborhood that is both convenient to transportation and that has good neighborhood restaurants.

Opinions?

lincasanova

I will be watching this as I have been to Amsterdam two times and simply remember both times that I really liked the Jordaan area. However, I cannot give any info as to how convenient it is as compared to the others. , etc.. but it was an area I would have liked to have stayed in.

uhoh_busted

We stayed out near Vondelpark and the Concertgebouwe (I know I slaughtered that spelling). While it wasn't on a canal, there were trams and busses to get everywhere, and nice local restaurants. I totally loved it.

menachem

Jordaan, definitely

avalon

We stayed near Vondelpark and really liked the transportation options and the closeness of the major museums

fourfortravel

We just returned from Amsterdam last month with our children (9 and 14) and rented an apartment in the Jordaan neighborhood. Would recommend Jordaan for location, transportation, and restaurants.

bardo1

Jordaan - location, location, location (and beautiful canal views).

november_moon

Jordaan would be my choice too. It is a great neighborhood and well located. We thought about Haarlem for our trip to Amsterdam, but decided against it based on the lack of good transport back late at night.

hetismij

Jordaan first choice, Vondelpark second, Haarlem third (simply because of travelling in and out of the city). If you are not intending on spending much time in Amsterdam proper then maybe Haarlem would be better. A lot depends also on whether you will allow the older two to go off on their own. If you will then staying in the city may suit better. They may be able to get tickets for a concert at Melkweg or Paradiso for instance.

missypie

Allow the older two to go off on their own? In Amsterdam? I don't think it would occur to them, thank goodness. Actually, it's a boy and a girl and they don't like each other all that much, so they wouldn't want to go off together.

november_moon

Missypie - I just assumed that adults would not spend all of their time with their parents on a family vacation. Even the high schoolers I know generally want time away from mom and dad on vacations. Are you sure that they aren't going to want to go off on their own?

I am not sure why you are concerned about them going off on their own in Amsterdam in particular. Sure, there is the RLD and people smoke pot there, but there is a lot more to the city than that and if the kids aren't into any of that, they aren't going to get into it in Amsterdam.

hetismij

I agree with November_Moon. They are adults and may well want to go of on their own. You should trust them, they are no more likely to get into pot or booze or whatever in Amsterdam than in any city in the US, and will be a darn sight safer too.
My middle son moved to Amsterdam and lived there with a friend from age 17. I trusted them and they had a wonderful time there. They didn't turn into drug addicts or frequent the RLD. They were basically god kids and living in Amsterdam didn't change that.

kismetchimera

We,my teenager Grand-daughter and I, stayed at the Hotel Brower which is located on the Singel Canal,walking distance from the Central station..

Very convenient location.

I would go back there again.

missypie

It will be interesting to see if the kids have the slightest desire to be on their own. The last family vacation was March 2010 and they didn't even ask.

hetismij

If they do - please let them go. Set them a time to return by, make sure they know the name and address and phone number of the hotel, more for your peace of mind than theirs.
And relax, enjoy your time