Honey moon to London and Amsterdam
Jan 24th, 2013, 04:44 AM
#41
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Ok, so I've booked the flight into AMS and the return flight from LHR, and it was a little less expensive than I had anticipated, so that leaves us a little more flexibility in other areas. We are still looking into places to stay. I think we're leaning more toward the apartment idea.
This brings up our next "dimemma"...getting from Amsterdam to London. I've looked into pricing, and I've found the cost of plane travel from AMS to LCY to be near the same as taking a train via Brussels.
We like the idea of taking a train for one reason. We would leave Amsterdam that morning...it's about a 2 hour trip to Brussels and another 2 to London. We are thinking of perhaps stopping for lunch in Brussels (she really wants waffles) before hopping on another train to London. Does anyone forsee an isssue with that?
Otherwise, we'd just take the plane. It seems to be a short flight, so we'd lose less time.
Also, any other suggestions of getting from Amsterdam to London that are fairly quick and affordable?
This brings up our next "dimemma"...getting from Amsterdam to London. I've looked into pricing, and I've found the cost of plane travel from AMS to LCY to be near the same as taking a train via Brussels.
We like the idea of taking a train for one reason. We would leave Amsterdam that morning...it's about a 2 hour trip to Brussels and another 2 to London. We are thinking of perhaps stopping for lunch in Brussels (she really wants waffles) before hopping on another train to London. Does anyone forsee an isssue with that?
Otherwise, we'd just take the plane. It seems to be a short flight, so we'd lose less time.
Also, any other suggestions of getting from Amsterdam to London that are fairly quick and affordable?
Jan 24th, 2013, 04:54 AM
#42
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You could do the overnight ferry between Amsterdam and London and save yourself the cost of a hotel room. We did it in 2010 with my parents and are doing it again in May 2013. Here is my trip report with details of how to do it:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-adventure.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-adventure.cfm
Jan 24th, 2013, 05:31 AM
#44
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Here is the site - you can do it either direction:
http://www.stenaline.co.uk/ferry/rail-and-sail/holland
http://www.stenaline.co.uk/ferry/rail-and-sail/holland
Jan 24th, 2013, 06:27 AM
#45
Which flights are you looking at? Easyjet from Amsterdam to Gatwick looks cheaper than the train, even allowing for trains to the airport at either end (NOT the Gatwick Express, Southern Connect).
Jan 24th, 2013, 08:07 AM
#46
www.kaphotel.nl
is where I stayed in Amsterdam. it was quite a few years ago, so do read current reviews. i liked it a lot! it's 2-star and includes a nice breakfast, in a quiet yet convenient location. doubles are 112e for April this year.
i'm sure there's a million hotels in Amsterdam just happen to know of this one.
Food was reasonable where i ate in Amsterdam. I have greek food one night, great italian food another, shopped at a little coop for a picnic lunch one day, never did make it to a 'rice table' which i'm sorry to have missed.
Vondelpark is beautiful, go there. Leidseplein is fun to walk around. I saw amazing fire dancers in the square there one evening.
is where I stayed in Amsterdam. it was quite a few years ago, so do read current reviews. i liked it a lot! it's 2-star and includes a nice breakfast, in a quiet yet convenient location. doubles are 112e for April this year.
i'm sure there's a million hotels in Amsterdam just happen to know of this one.
Food was reasonable where i ate in Amsterdam. I have greek food one night, great italian food another, shopped at a little coop for a picnic lunch one day, never did make it to a 'rice table' which i'm sorry to have missed.
Vondelpark is beautiful, go there. Leidseplein is fun to walk around. I saw amazing fire dancers in the square there one evening.
Jan 24th, 2013, 08:32 AM
#48
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Drop by the Netherlands forum at Tripdvisor.com Look for the threads "Bidding on a 4 star..." and "Bidding on a 5 star...".
Start at the ends of the threads and go backwards as both are now very long. You'll discover that Amsterdam is a great place to use Priceline's Name Your Own Price feature. How about a 4 star hotel for less than $100 US a night? Learn the ropes at BetterBidding.com too as see other winning bids and strategies.
London can also be very good to use NYOP.
Start at the ends of the threads and go backwards as both are now very long. You'll discover that Amsterdam is a great place to use Priceline's Name Your Own Price feature. How about a 4 star hotel for less than $100 US a night? Learn the ropes at BetterBidding.com too as see other winning bids and strategies.
London can also be very good to use NYOP.
Jan 24th, 2013, 08:41 AM
#50
easyJet is great --but do <u>carefully</u> read their luggage rules/fees.
Re staying in apartments - that would work better if you were staying the whole time in one city. There are flats in London that rent by the night -but they tend to be a bit more expensive than typical weekly rentals. (This is mostly re LOndon since I've never rented an apartment in Amsterdam)
But something you might want to consider since you are only staying a few nights - bidding for a hotel on Priceline. It is very good for London (again - not sure about A'dam).
If you do decide to try priceline, we can give you pointers before you bid.
Re staying in apartments - that would work better if you were staying the whole time in one city. There are flats in London that rent by the night -but they tend to be a bit more expensive than typical weekly rentals. (This is mostly re LOndon since I've never rented an apartment in Amsterdam)
But something you might want to consider since you are only staying a few nights - bidding for a hotel on Priceline. It is very good for London (again - not sure about A'dam).
If you do decide to try priceline, we can give you pointers before you bid.
Jan 24th, 2013, 09:14 AM
#51
The trains are straightforward. Although it is almost always cheaper to buy tickets in advance it's not really worth the trouble for such short trips. That's especially true for England as you can't be sure how long it will take you to clear immigration and customs.
See seat61.com for more info than you need on train travel in Europe, and bahn.de for schedules. If you search here on Gatwick and train or Southern Connect you'll find a lot of threads.
In future, check whichbudget.com and skyscanner.net for cheap airlines.
See seat61.com for more info than you need on train travel in Europe, and bahn.de for schedules. If you search here on Gatwick and train or Southern Connect you'll find a lot of threads.
In future, check whichbudget.com and skyscanner.net for cheap airlines.
Jan 24th, 2013, 10:21 AM
#52
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Hi Portune,
This two websites should help you out a lot when it comes to tasty food in London and Amsterdam that keeps you in your budget:
http://golondon.about.com/od/eatingd...UnderFiver.htm
http://www.dutchgrub.com/
For Amsterdam, soups and sandwiches really are the way to go. Plus fries of course, and cheese. This is some of the best food to be had in Amsterdam, along with its outstanding beer.
London is all over the map when it comes to food, but if you like Indian food, it can be outstanding in London, much better than what you get in the states and worth seeking out.
This two websites should help you out a lot when it comes to tasty food in London and Amsterdam that keeps you in your budget:
http://golondon.about.com/od/eatingd...UnderFiver.htm
http://www.dutchgrub.com/
For Amsterdam, soups and sandwiches really are the way to go. Plus fries of course, and cheese. This is some of the best food to be had in Amsterdam, along with its outstanding beer.
London is all over the map when it comes to food, but if you like Indian food, it can be outstanding in London, much better than what you get in the states and worth seeking out.
Jan 24th, 2013, 10:26 AM
#53
http://www.airporthotelshuttle.nl/site/home.asp
Connexxion Shuttle
In Amsterdam I used the above service, rather than trying to navigate the train system with luggage. I thought it was a good compromise, good value. A bit more money than public transportation but way less than a taxi. And very easy.
Connexxion Shuttle
In Amsterdam I used the above service, rather than trying to navigate the train system with luggage. I thought it was a good compromise, good value. A bit more money than public transportation but way less than a taxi. And very easy.
Jan 24th, 2013, 11:00 AM
#54
suze - but the train service between Amsterdam Centraal and the airport isn't difficult. Takes 15-20 minutes, direct. And how much luggage are they going to have for a one week trip?
Portune - you might start with this chowhound thread for foodie London:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/879212
These are some of the recommendations:
http://duckandwaffle.com/menus/all-day/
http://www.harwoodarms.com/dinner.htm
http://www.arbutusrestaurant.co.uk/m...re-theatre.pdf - pre-theater is a good way to get a deal even if you're not going to the theater.
Note how many recs are for "ethnic" food. London has some of the best Indian food anywhere. In Amsterdam don't pass up Indonesian.
Portune - you might start with this chowhound thread for foodie London:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/879212
These are some of the recommendations:
http://duckandwaffle.com/menus/all-day/
http://www.harwoodarms.com/dinner.htm
http://www.arbutusrestaurant.co.uk/m...re-theatre.pdf - pre-theater is a good way to get a deal even if you're not going to the theater.
Note how many recs are for "ethnic" food. London has some of the best Indian food anywhere. In Amsterdam don't pass up Indonesian.
Jan 24th, 2013, 12:00 PM
#56
thursdaysd, Look just trying to share here what worked for me.
I was coming off a transatlantic red eye (from Seattle actually) and didn't feel like trying to navigate public transportation on my 1st visit to the city, where I don't speak the language and didn't know my way around. Plus my hotel was not walking distance from the train station so would still have to grab a taxi or tram in addition to the train. The Connexxion was reasonably price right from the airport to my hotel front door. OK?
I was coming off a transatlantic red eye (from Seattle actually) and didn't feel like trying to navigate public transportation on my 1st visit to the city, where I don't speak the language and didn't know my way around. Plus my hotel was not walking distance from the train station so would still have to grab a taxi or tram in addition to the train. The Connexxion was reasonably price right from the airport to my hotel front door. OK?
Jan 24th, 2013, 01:05 PM
#58
Fine... but it's not like I'm recommending a limo or private driver or something extravagant. Train gets them to the center of the city, depending on their hotel location they may still have to spring for the cost of a tram or taxi on top of the train ticket price. Connexxion is 16euro door-to-door. I hardly think this will make or break there food budget.
