As for location, I second plastic_paddy's suggestion in preference to the Old Kent Road.

I go past these apartments most days. Although Tower Bridge Road is a rather dull traffic route, these apartments are within walking distance of Tooley St, which has a fair range of shops and restaurants, and there is space for the youngsters to run around at Potter's Field (beside Tower Bridge) and in the pleasant little park in Tanner St. You're still some distance from the tube (at Tower Hill and London Bridge), and access by bus to London Bridge is a bit complicated by water main repairs at the moment.

All the Londoners, at the end of this week, I will post my selected apartments for your feedback in the other thread I created about London Apartments. Please help me decide by providing feedback.

Congratulations on settling on your final itinerary! From my screen name you can guess where my heart lies. ;^)

For Amsterdam check into getting 2 hotel rooms through Priceline's "Name Your Own Price" feature. You can get 2 rooms at a central 4 star Amsterdam hotel for the $120-150 USD range... for BOTH rooms... not each! I see hotel prices on that everynation site that are 4 times the price than the same hotel using Priceline.

Check the thread in the Netherlands forum at http://tripadvisor.com on recent Priceline wins. it's usually kept in the first couple of pages. Then check under 'other countries' at http://betterbidding.com to learn how to work things to your advantage.

Now that your airline tickets are bought you need to book your trains as soon as possible. The further ahead you book the less expensive the tickets.

Driving from Paris to Amsterdam takes a full day so you just don't have time.

Have a great trip!

Rob

BTW... the reply above by 'yipads' is most likely either self advertising or at least a site you'd want to think twice about using... here is the domain registration contact per whois:

------------------------
Administrative Contact:
yip, jerome [email protected]
landargun street
araneta ave
quezon, 1113
Philippines
----------------------------

It appears the screen name 'yipads' is one Mr Jerome Yip must use to promote his site.

Just a heads up...

Like I said -- advertising isn't allowed on here. Junk4rp - It is pretty obvious yipads is a bit of a cheat. I'd avoid those websites completely . . .

Hi janisj: How does Fodors handle these kinds of suspect advertising posts?

They remove them.

@ParisAmsterdam: I have a quote 2/3 quotes from Amsterdam vacation rentals for 2 days!Nothing very inexpensive. I have to review them and then post here for feedback. However, I am also thinking of Priceline bid for Amsterdam since it would probably be best. If I can get $120-$150 for two rooms/per night, that would be perfect. BTW, I could not see the whois information for the site yipads provided except it is registered by "enh", a fishy thing!

@janisj: I have not used the website extensively yet. I looked at it for a few things. But nothing impressed me there.

"<i> I have not used the website extensively yet. I looked at it for a few things. </i>"

I'd worry more about spam and viruses instead of bargains/deals on that site. It is obviously a plant and not a site I've ever seen recommended on any travel forum before . . .

@janisj: Did not even think out it. lesson learned now. I should be more careful next time.

Here's a link to the current Priceline thread at Trip Advisor:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic...d_Holland.html

@ParisAmsterdam: I am reading this thread now. It is encouraging to know that I can find 4* hotels in a resonable price through bidding. But I am confused about our 5 people combination. If I bid for 2 rooms will they let one more child in the room stay? Do they provide adjoining rooms? My kids are still not comfortable living separately unless we book rooms side by side with a door in between.

You really cannot use Priceline for most cities in Europe. They only deal in double rooms. You would need 3 rooms via Priceline. PL is a GREAT resource -- just not for your situation.

Not only would there be no guarantee the rooms would hold 3 (probably wouldn't) - you have no way to guarantee adjoining rooms.