adeeba

Hi All Fodors Travelrers <BR>this is my first time to Netherlands in mid september. <BR>I will stay with my family in Amsterdam ,we will stay for 4 days ,any recommendations about the best hotels ,where to go ,what to see , any sites for hotels restaurants or any thing about Netherland will be apprecite. <BR> <BR>

s.fowler

That's a tall order adeeba! Can you tell us what kind of hotel your parents are looking for? And what kinds of things interest you? <BR> <BR>Among the hotels that get mentioned here for Amsterdam from the moderate range up are: Esthera, Ambassade, Pulitzer. I've seen all of these and they are *lovely* -- at a bit more budget level is Hotel Agora where we stayed. It's not fancy, but has a great staff and a NICE breakfast [no hot food -- but a great selection of cereals, yogurts and breads.] <BR> <BR>As for sights -- well you want to take a canal cruise. And you want to walk around a LOT -- but watch out for the bikes. They seem to have absolute right of wayOf course you want to see the Anne Frank House. Here is their website: http://www.annefrank.nl/eng/default2.html <BR> <BR>If you want to see some pictures of A'dam in the snow you can go here for our recent trip: http://geocities.com/travelswithus/march01/ams-1.html and http://geocities.com/travelswithus/march01/ams-2.html

adeeba

Thank you so much S.fowler for the websites ,Im looking for 5stars hotels in a picturic serounding ,one of my aims is to see the natural beuty ,old picturic villeges with canals and old stone bridges,best places to buy E oils ,bulbs ,cheeses,country crafts. <BR>we love to dine or have lunch in open nice serounded areas,

ilisa

We stayed at a wonderful hotel in Amsterdam called Hotel Toren. No, it is not 5 star, but the service and location was excellent. It is formerly two canal houses located on Kaisersgracht and in a very central location suitable for walking. We paid about $122 per night. Our room was large with a magnificent view of the canal. The staff was very friendly. The Anne Frank House is a must-see as is the Van Gogh Museum (in my opinion). A canal cruise, as s.fowler mentioned, is a wonderful way to see the city. I only wish we took one at night. Have fun. Amsterdam is a wonderful city.

Adeeba

Thanks Ilise <BR>do you have web site of Toren hotel , <BR>I realy want that kind of hotels ,canal cruise is a must ,and may be we made it at night ,did you have a lanch or dinner in the cruise ? <BR>do holand have agricalture museums ? <BR>

s.fowler

Hi again adeeba! <BR>The agriculture that the Netherlands is best known for are flowering bulbs such as tulips. I think the height of that season is well over. The places people talk about for this are Keukenhof [sp?] and Aalsemeer [again sp.]. <BR>The hotels I mentioned are all very lovely and in the case of the Pulitzer [run by Sheraton] luxurious. Here are some websites for you: <BR>http://www.ambassade-hotel.nl/ambeng.html <BR>http://www.estherea.nl/ <BR>http://www.sheraton.com/property.taf?prop=100 <BR> <BR>Another interesting thing in the Netherlands are the museums that show how much of their land was reclaimed from the sea. I remember visiting a "polder" was was in the process of being drained way back in the 70s and found it fascinating. Maybe someone knows where the best museum, that documents this project is?

Marj

We stayed at the Estherea (family of 4). It was great. My kids enjoyed Amsterdam. They especially like the Anne Frank house and the canal museum boat.