Help! I am planning a short 3 day stop over in Amsterdam the 2nd week in May. Someone on this site said that Amadeus Hotel in Haarlem was cheap and nice. The web site looks good BUT, can I get back in forth from Haarlem to Amsterdam without too much trouble? How far is it? Mass transit? Haarlem looks like a cute town. Any comments. Thank you all in advance for all your help over the past few years! I love this site!

It's about a 10-15-min. walk to Amsterdam Centraal Station from the Amadeus. It's very easy to get into Amsterdam by train from the Haarlem station. The hotel is okay - a little less for the money than you'll get elsewhere, and there are a LOT of Americans who frequent the place, including Rick Steves' tours.

The foregoing comments are correct. I'm sure Russ is right, there are better deals, there alwayas are, but I had the darndest time finding things available in Amsterdam (except much more expensive lodgings). We enjoyed Amadeus, but its front rooms can be noisy; weekend nights (Saturday) the locals party till 4 am or so on the square! We enjoyed Haarlem, particularly the square, the church, and the Teyler's museum. The hike from the train station can get old, though enjoyable a few times (taking different streets).

Haarlem is a great choice, but you may have some problems finding a good place to stay since you're going at a peak tourist time (tulips!) and Haarlem is so close to the tulip fields & Keukenhof Gardens.....book something soon.

May I offer a correction: the Amadeus Hotel is a short walk to the Haarlem station, not the Amsterdam station. The owner of the Amadeus is not an especially pleasant fellow. I've talked with him and visited his web site, where you'll find some other opinions.<BR><BR>Check my page at<BR>http://www.enjoy-europe.com/hte/chap...02.htm#haarlem for ideas on Haarlem; I know it well, having lived a few doors from the Tyler's Museum on the Spaarne. <BR><BR>The second week of May would usually be a difficult time to find a room in Haarlem because of the flower season. However, it has been a mild winter to date and the daffodils are already two inches out of the ground in Haarlem. The flower fields might be barren by Queen's Day and the tourists will vacate soon after. <BR><BR>A "zimmer" (German word for room) is cheaper than any hotel. If you can't find one in Haarlem try Zandvoort an Zee. There are several zimmers within a block of the station over there, and many more scattered throughout the town. If you want to spend beaucoup on a room, there is a unique place almost next door to the Tyler's Museum.

Hi,<BR>When you come to Amsterdam, why stay in Haarlem ?<BR>I live in Amsterdam and think Haarlem is a nice place but a tourist has a lot better time staying in Amsterdam !!<BR>Check this site of the official Tourist Board and try to find something.<BR>Have a nice stay in Holland<BR>http://www2.holland.com/amsterdam/gb/<BR>