Erica: Loved your post! We're headed to Amsterdam/Brugge/Paris from 3/1-15, so it's all such valuable info for us. I too, am wondering about your train ticket purchase - make it in the U.S. or over there? I'd heard about a Benelux pass, but haven't yet managed to get details on that. Your Paris hotel--what was the price range? <BR> <BR>Mention of the Gare du Nord sends a shiver down my spine. Two years ago, we taxi'd from our hotel in the 6th to that station, and we're still wondering whether there really was such bad traffic, or if we were being 'taken.' I had to have the driver stop along the way so we could tap an ATM for more francs - and the total tab wound up to be more than $30 (US).

Hi Erica- <BR> <BR>We had talked about your trip on another post, but I wanted to ask you for more details about the Julia Browne tour. I think I may do it and I looked up her site - it really seems quite interesting. Is it a strenuous walk, not that I'm wimpy, just wondering. She does give the tour in English, right (my French is atrocious although I'm researching how to take a French class as we speak). You said you met a couple from DC, so the tour is kept to a small group? Is the dinner at Percy's included in the walk price or is that separate? Sounds like you had a great time. <BR> <BR>Best, <BR>TCC

Erica, <BR>Thanks for the GREAT comments. Our family is going to Amsterdam, Brussels & Paris (staying @ Queen Mary). Your insight was wonderful. I've tried to e:mail you but address is no good. Should you come up with anything else to add, please post message or e:mail me direct.

Hi, I did the exact opposite of Erica's trip- Paris to Brussels to Amsterdam, just 3 weeks ago. If anyone has any questions, let me know. <BR> <BR>PS- I did not notice poop in either city as I had been warned-- and also, IMHO, people smoked cigarettes WAY more in Amsterdam than they did in Paris. I am a smoker and the smoke bothered me a lot in restaurants in Amsterdam.

Erica, what a great post and responses, I particularly appreciated your sharing your impressions, *all* of them. It is good to meet someone who understands that travelling with an open mind does not mean travelling with an empty one!

OK, so I revived this thread for the most selfish reasons: 1)I wanted to see if the Fodorites who participated on this thread still participate and 2) I wanted to compare and contrast my experiences since 12/2000 -- which seems to be ages older than the 2 and 1/2 years ago when it was published. I'm actually about to visit Amsterdam for the 3rd time in a/b 2 weeks (yes!) and it was a kick to find this again. Anyone else re-discover a long-lost post like this?