My husband & I are planning a trip to Munich in Sept 2000. I will love to get to Amsterdam, even if for a couple of days (I MUST see Ann Franks's house and the Van Gogh Museum!). Any thoughts on logistics? Hubby has agreed to go, only if is not too expensive....

From Munich to Amsterdam is between 10 and 12 hours by train; there's a direct overnight train which leaves at 10:50 pm and arrives at 9:40 am (of course the schedule may well change by fall of next year). This train has both couchettes and sleeper cars, so depending on the comfort level you need, you can reserve the bargain six or four-person couchettes for about $20 per person, or a private sleeper for rather more...I think about $100-ish per person. DB is not yielding a train fare, however, so I'm not sure what the tickets themselves would cost. <BR> <BR>What airport do you plan to fly into/out of? It might be more economical to schedule yourselves to fly either into or out of Amsterdam (the "open jaws" method), rather than flying into and out of the same German airport (Frankfurt?) and paying for two roundtrip train tickets between Munich and A'dam (and spending two nights on the train). <BR> <BR>

Gina- Thanks for your informative reply. Basically, we would fly into Amsterdam, out from Munich. So I was trying to figure out the cheapest way to go from AMST to MUN.

The absolute cheapest way is to hitchhike, ludicrously simple and extremely safe..just stand on the ramp to the highway (u can ever stand in Amsterdam on the main road to the ramp) with a sign that says "Munich" <BR>Something tells me you might not want to tho'... <BR>otherwise you can get a "mitfahrgeleegenhejt" I think that's how it is spelled via any University, American Express offices etc...basically you hitcha ride with someone and chip in on gas..the student unions are happy to help non students. <BR> <BR>You can go by train..once in Germany, if it is Saturday or Sunday switch (around Kleve I think is your first stop in Germany) to the Wochenend-ticket..for 30 Marks up to six people can travel anywhere within the country roundtrip any time on the week-end..you cannot ride on the ritzy ICE's but the IR or IC travel quicker than anything in the US..the ticket is also transferrable so once at the Munich HBF (main station) look for a bewildered student and give it to them or sell it for five marks....or in Kleve/your German entry point the two of you can ask around to be carried on someone else's ticket..for free or a couple of marks

Look into Transavia airlines, a KLM affiliate that does cheap flights out of Amsterdam. They don't have a website but are a farely large outfit and have their flights listed in various sites. They also sell one way tickets at reasonable prices. We flew from Seville to Amsterdam for $150. Marija

Thanks Marija. Great tip. I am already looking into it.