Finally, a decision!!
 

Thanks for all the help! Finally decided despite the possible high temps and crowds, will go to Florence. Arrive in Amsterdam on a Sat, cannot fathom waiting 7 hours for flight to Florence so will stay in Amsterdam, take a glimpse of city and go to Florence on Sun (Aug 15--Assumpption Day--NAtional Holiday) and hope the whoel city is not closed! Spend three nights and on the last day take an EARLY flight to Amsterdam.
Will have an almost 7 hour layover......may try to go into town.
So will the museums be open on Sun the day we get in. I now they are closed on Mon.

THANKS!!!!!!

OK I sound illiterate! "now" = know! Must be too late to be typing!

Hi Laura,

Good idea.

I think the Uffizi will be open on Sunday, but you can call them.

See http://www.uffizi.firenze.it/infoE.html

Florence and Amsterdam! What a nice contrast. Be sure to take a canal boat tour. Also the Ann Frank museum is very inspiring.

I was in Florence on Easter Monday a few years ago and shops and restaurants around Santa Croce were open so I am sure you will find a few things to do and places to eat. You should be able to tour the Duomo, Santa Croce, Uffizi or Academia. The museums will probably be open shorter hours on Sunday but are closed Mondays.

A stroll around Vondelpark is always heavenly! I really enjoy the Leidseplein district for an area to stay, restaurants, etc. Canal boat tour too.

There's a Connexxion bus that runs a loop of all the hotels for about $10 as an alternative to taking the train back and forth airport/to city.

The train from Schiphol to Central is only 3.5Euro, much cheaper (and faster) than using Connexxion. You can buy a tram ticket (strippenkaart) at the same time to get from Centraal to the hotel, unless you are close enough to walk.

If you think you'll take a taxi from Centraal to hotel, then it might be less to take Connexxion after all. Our taxis between Centraal and Leidseplein always run about 10-11Euro.

Thanks so much....considering staying at hotel in airport vs in town....if we stay in airport, easy to get to morning flight. But if we go to town we can esily go back to room fr a nap before dinner, etc...

Also, any comments on best hotel in Florence? Savoy, Westin Excelsior, the Grand, KD Place, Lungarno, or Lungarno Suites????

Taxi from Florence airport to hotel??

THANKS!

Laura,

I strongly recommend staying in Florence rather than at a hotel near the airport. The taxi ride takes about 20 minutes tops in the early morning.

I don't have personal experience with the top hotels you named in Florence but I do have experience with the Hotel Tornabuoni, which I think is a gem. If you haven't looked at it, I recomment that you do: http://www.tornabuonihotels.com/.

Suzy Kane, http://www.IdyllicItaly.com

Laura, Are you talking about the Amsterdam airport? It's SO easy to get there from the Centraal Station. Takes about 20 minutes. Stay in the city. It's so much nicer. Based on your Florence budget, I'd say take a look at Hotel American (Liedespein). If you want to be closer to the station for that early getaway, try the Barbizon or Crowne Plaza near Centraal Station. I can often get good rates on www.hotel-booker.com If you're looking for something more moderate, consider Hotel Fita, near the museums.

THanks, I was speaking of the hotel in AMsterdam at airport vs in town.
In FLorence we are staying in town. Looking for suggestions from the ones I mentioned in Florence......
And whether we should stay in town in AMS or at airport...

THANKS!!!

Oh dear, no need to stay at the airport in Amsterdam! It's kind of ugly out that way. It is not too far distance and you can quickly & easily get to town by taxi, Connexxion hotel shuttle bus, or a tram/train combo. I'd second Grasshoppers recommendation of American Hotel in the Leidseplein. Though I have not stayed there, it always gets good reviews and is a GREAT location!

Thanks. We will do that! Now I am worried about our plans to go to Florence on Aug 15 for three days. It is a holiday in Italy, and I understand that things will be closed. But now I need to know if they will stay clodes the whole time we are there?? SHops? Restaurants? Street vendors? Cafes?
THANKS!

Well... here's a crazy idea, how about all 4 days in Amsterdam? That would make a nice trip- with a lot less stress, rushing around, spending time and money only to see the insides of taxis and airports. Since I'm assuming the plane tickets for A'dam are purchased, are you SURE you don't want to save Florence for a seperate future trip when you have more time?

Hi Laura,

Because Aug 15 is a Sunday, it is likely that everything will be on a Sunday schedule on Monday.

The idea of staying in Amsterdam is a good one.

You could visit Edam, Gouda, Haarlem and Den Hague if you tire of AMST.

OOPS! We bought the tix to Florence. Hmmmmmm..........hope it ends up being ok....
We overnight in Amsterdam, (getting in at noon) so we can see a few things.
Then back to airport in am to fly to Florence. Get to FLorence at 11:30am on Sun and leave Wed am.
Will have a 7 hour layover in AMS on Wed before heading home.

Will go back to Italy one day and spend more time of course!

Hi Laura,

All is not lost,

The Uffizi should be open on Sunday. You can call them at +39.(0)55.294883

You can ask them about the other museums as well.

Ira,
Thank you so much!! I will call them and see if we can go in the afternoon on Sun.
Now to decide on a hotel. Looking at Hotel Lungarno, JK PLace, The Savoy, The Excelsior, the Grand, the Palazzo Magnani Feroni, and posibly the Villa San Michele (but wondering if it is too out of the way--aside from the mega-$$!)
Any comments?? (I have looked at tripadvisor.com)

THANKS!

Laura, I've never been to Florence but since I seem to be so interested in helping with your trip (LOL) ... My comment for Florence hotels would be to check them on a map and pick the most central location. Especially on a 3 day stay it will make the most of your limited time to be really close to the area and sites you hope to visit.

I wholeheartedly second Suze's wise suggestion!