Is it worth it to endure a 12 hour flight to go to Amsterdam for 3 days?
Mar 9th, 2005, 12:18 PM
#21
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I'm pretty much a wreck on the first day and I leave from the east coast of the US. For 6-8 hours each way I might go for 2.5 days, maybe, but not twelve or more.
I once went to Seoul and flew 15+ hours to be there for 4 days, but it was for the Olympic Games, the flight was free, and I figured I'd never get back to Seoul. Probably if you want to get to Amsterdam some other time, you will.
How about you go the two days earlier that you mention, either meet up with DH in Gronigen, or go straight to A'dam and see it for the extra two days?
I once went to Seoul and flew 15+ hours to be there for 4 days, but it was for the Olympic Games, the flight was free, and I figured I'd never get back to Seoul. Probably if you want to get to Amsterdam some other time, you will.
How about you go the two days earlier that you mention, either meet up with DH in Gronigen, or go straight to A'dam and see it for the extra two days?
Mar 9th, 2005, 12:39 PM
#22
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About 3 years ago, I flew 10+ hours to Munich to pick up a car that I ordered, drove it around Germany and Switzerland for 3 days, then flew 11+ hours back to San Francisco.
Was it worth it? You betcha. When one can spend some time in Europe away from the stress of work, add some nice and relaxing drives around German/Swiss country, and the incentive of about $5k+ discount on the price of the car, makes the long flight definitely worth it.
Was it worth it? You betcha. When one can spend some time in Europe away from the stress of work, add some nice and relaxing drives around German/Swiss country, and the incentive of about $5k+ discount on the price of the car, makes the long flight definitely worth it.
Mar 9th, 2005, 09:30 PM
#24
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Of course you should go! Even the plane ride is not too bad if you are relaxed and enjoy the movies, or take a good book. I do 12 and 13 hour plane rides all the time (between Europe and Asia) and the trick is to be relaxed, enjoy the food and drinks, and movies, and bring a good book.
Groningen is also a nice city to spend one or two days. There is a direct train from Schiphol Airport (AMS) all the way to Groningen, takes a little over two hours. So you could meet up with your husband in Groningen, do some site-seeing there and rest a bit while your husband works, and train back to Amsterdam when he is ready with his work.
You would have Thursday evening, Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning in Amsterdam - direct KLM flight to LA leaves AMS around 11:30 AM so you don't have to wake up in the middle of the night.
If your trip is between late March and mid-May, you will be here for tulip season and you should spend half a day at the Keukenhof flower gardens.
Have a good trip!
Groningen is also a nice city to spend one or two days. There is a direct train from Schiphol Airport (AMS) all the way to Groningen, takes a little over two hours. So you could meet up with your husband in Groningen, do some site-seeing there and rest a bit while your husband works, and train back to Amsterdam when he is ready with his work.
You would have Thursday evening, Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning in Amsterdam - direct KLM flight to LA leaves AMS around 11:30 AM so you don't have to wake up in the middle of the night.
If your trip is between late March and mid-May, you will be here for tulip season and you should spend half a day at the Keukenhof flower gardens.
Have a good trip!
Mar 10th, 2005, 04:11 AM
#25
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Debby - My husband frequently travels for business, and we sometimes have to make the decisions about if I am going to go with him or not.
Last November, he went to Ireland for about 5 days; I was going to go with him, and we'd extend the trip another 4 days so we could both sightsee.
In the end, I had surgery in September and we decided for me not to go to Ireland. Instead, we decided to both fly to Aruba for 4 nights, and we were able to spend the whole time together.
We have teenagers, and sometimes the timing doesn't work out for both of us to be gone from home. Last month, he taught a class in Jamaica, and I wanted to go with him, but we weren't able to get the tickets we wanted, so I didn't go.
I feel the same as you do -- I enjoy meeting him at some of these places, but sometimes it's better to wait. Let us know what you decide.
Last November, he went to Ireland for about 5 days; I was going to go with him, and we'd extend the trip another 4 days so we could both sightsee.
In the end, I had surgery in September and we decided for me not to go to Ireland. Instead, we decided to both fly to Aruba for 4 nights, and we were able to spend the whole time together.
We have teenagers, and sometimes the timing doesn't work out for both of us to be gone from home. Last month, he taught a class in Jamaica, and I wanted to go with him, but we weren't able to get the tickets we wanted, so I didn't go.
I feel the same as you do -- I enjoy meeting him at some of these places, but sometimes it's better to wait. Let us know what you decide.
Mar 11th, 2005, 08:02 AM
#27
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Thanks for all the advise everyone. Well I am going - just got off the phone with AA and booked my ticket! I was able to stretch my trip into 6 days/7 nights. Now I'll have to research what I should do during that time.
Sjoerd - Thank for you the info on Groningen - direct train. I will be staying there the first few days with my husband. I will be visiting first week of May so hopefully I can visit the Keukenhof flower gardens. BTW tulips are one of my favorite flowers. Not sure if it will be tulip season then.
Samsaf - your situation is very similar to mine. I pick and choose what trips to accompany my husband on as he travels extensively on business. I was actually attempting to convince him of rendezvousing in the Bahamas instead of going to AMS. He thought going to AMS was a wonderful opportunity as we haven't been there before, so he felt we should see AMS.
I was able to obtain the tickets I wanted for this trip (bus class with points) and also stretch the length of the trip. We also have teens who are too young to stay home alone at the moment, but I was able to have my parents fly in and take care of our kids for the week.
Again thanks all. If anyone has suggestions on what to see - please let me know. Take care and happy travels....
Sjoerd - Thank for you the info on Groningen - direct train. I will be staying there the first few days with my husband. I will be visiting first week of May so hopefully I can visit the Keukenhof flower gardens. BTW tulips are one of my favorite flowers. Not sure if it will be tulip season then.
Samsaf - your situation is very similar to mine. I pick and choose what trips to accompany my husband on as he travels extensively on business. I was actually attempting to convince him of rendezvousing in the Bahamas instead of going to AMS. He thought going to AMS was a wonderful opportunity as we haven't been there before, so he felt we should see AMS.
I was able to obtain the tickets I wanted for this trip (bus class with points) and also stretch the length of the trip. We also have teens who are too young to stay home alone at the moment, but I was able to have my parents fly in and take care of our kids for the week.
Again thanks all. If anyone has suggestions on what to see - please let me know. Take care and happy travels....
Mar 11th, 2005, 08:07 AM
#28
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FWIW - when I worked for TWA in Kansas City, some of my colleagues and I would take a dinner flight to New York and decide there whether we wanted to go back home or spend the day in Shannon, London, Madrid, or Paris.
Was it worth it? HELL, YES!
Was it worth it? HELL, YES!
Mar 11th, 2005, 02:07 PM
#29
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Debby, the city of Groningen has a tourist information website at http://www.vvvgroningen.nl/en/
Not a great site, but there is some useful information there. You can climb the Martinitoren (main tower in Grote Markt square) for a good view of the city, and the Groninger Museum (opposite the main railway station) is a beautiful building (modern) with often interesting exhibitions. On a nice day, visit Martinikerkhof (behind Martinitoren) and Noorderplantsoen (a nice park).
The Keukenhof flower gardens will still be beautiful in the first week of May. http://www.keukenhof.nl click on English at the bottom of that page
The dutch also remember the end of WW2 on the 4th and 5th of May. On the evening of the 4th of May there is two minutes silence all over the country at 8 PM, and an official remembrance ceremony at Dam Square in Amsterdam and at many other locations. The 5th of May is a national holiday this year (most shops and offices closed), and there will be lots of freedom celebrations and festivals accross the country. http://www.4en5mei.nl/portal/english.summary
Not a great site, but there is some useful information there. You can climb the Martinitoren (main tower in Grote Markt square) for a good view of the city, and the Groninger Museum (opposite the main railway station) is a beautiful building (modern) with often interesting exhibitions. On a nice day, visit Martinikerkhof (behind Martinitoren) and Noorderplantsoen (a nice park).
The Keukenhof flower gardens will still be beautiful in the first week of May. http://www.keukenhof.nl click on English at the bottom of that page
The dutch also remember the end of WW2 on the 4th and 5th of May. On the evening of the 4th of May there is two minutes silence all over the country at 8 PM, and an official remembrance ceremony at Dam Square in Amsterdam and at many other locations. The 5th of May is a national holiday this year (most shops and offices closed), and there will be lots of freedom celebrations and festivals accross the country. http://www.4en5mei.nl/portal/english.summary
Mar 11th, 2005, 04:17 PM
#30
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Thank you for the Sjoerd. I better start looking for accomodation. Given that we're visiting during a national holiday - I hope I do not run into problems finding suitable accomodation.
My husband is staying at the Golden Tulip in Grogingen. I'll have to find something for AMS. Do you have any recommendations? Or at least a recommendation as to location?
Thanks again.
My husband is staying at the Golden Tulip in Grogingen. I'll have to find something for AMS. Do you have any recommendations? Or at least a recommendation as to location?
Thanks again.
Mar 11th, 2005, 04:26 PM
#31
I would suggest the canal rings, Leidseplein district, around Vondelpark, or the Jordaan (instead of the true central area around the train station, the Dam, RLD, etc.). More beautiful, less congested, a better view of Amsterdam IMO.
