jdflax

We're looking for a 3 or 4 star hotel in Amsterdam in mid late March. Ideas? What should we not miss on our visit? Unique/insider stops?

eurogals

Whenever I travel to Amsterdam, about every other year, I always stay at the Canalhouse Hotel on Kaizergracht in the Jordaan district. This is more like a B&B with a wonderful buffet breakfast in the most beautiful dining room overlooking the garden and gazebo in the back. Bright and sunny. Go to http://www.canalhouse.nl/ and click on the pictures.

suze

If the weather's nice... Vondelpark.

martytravels

Are you looking for something smaller with European charm or a place with larger, North American-style rooms?

jdflax

Marty, something with a little more charm. Thanks for the help!

laustic

I'm not sure of the star rating, but I loved the Hotel Museumzicht! I stumbled upon it by accident and I was so pleased. After staying in grimey hostels all through out Europe this place was amazing. It is very quaint and charming with very helpful staff. The rooms are small, but nice and quiet. The beds were exceptionally comfortable with down mattress and comforter. The views of the street and the Rijksmuseum are amazing. Breakfast is included in the price and it was great. One draw back is that you do share a bathroom with your floor, but I never had to wait in line and never even saw another soul on my floor and I was there in the absolute peak season. Not sure if they have a web address, but the phone number is 671 29 54. They also give discounts for off season travel. I would definitely stay there again when I go back to Amsterdam.

Have fun!

Chandra

martytravels

The Hotel Toren is a very nice 3.5 star, very nice rooms and quite charming.

rj007

Nobody has mentioned what you should see so I would suggest taking a canal cruise, the Reichsmusuem (undergoing a major renovation, but they have moved major masterpieces into the Phillips wing). IMO a visit to the Anne Frank House is a must. A very sobering reminder of the Holocaust.

I enjoyed my vist to Amsterdam. It is very easy to get around- plenty of things to do. Enjoy your trip.

sprin2

The Museum Amsteldring (Our Lord in the Attic). It is a 17th-century canal house with a chapel in the attic. Really neat.

http://www.museumamstelkring.nl/engels/enindex.html

lyb

Eurogals,

I was interested to see that you always stay at the Canal House, I'm going to Amsterdam in October and have reservations there. I did ask for a room with a view. From your comments, it seems that I won't be dissapointed. Anything else you can tell me about the hotel, would you have some pictures posted anywhere?

It's so long until I go that I'm trying to live vicariously through magazines and others until I go.

richardab

They say that a canal boat cruise is the best way to see amsterdam. i enjoyed it.

richardab

Oh one of the places I love is FEBO, its a fast food place that sells croquettes from little windows, automat style. Very good snack!

http://www.febo.nl/intro.html

They say its "lekkerste", what ever that means.

le-ker-se-te-se

TracyB

I am suddenly craving a greasy croquette..Good thing I will be in Amsterdam next month..And what about those fries and mayonaisse...I can taste them already!!

rj007

TracyB

I had the fries and mayonaise when I was there. Very good! Interesting reactions from people here when you tell them. Also like the jacket potatos in London. Now I'm craving another trip to Europe!

MelissaHI

I don't know why, but the one thing (other than the Anne Frank House) I wanted to see in Amsterdam was a cheese farm. So we did. And I ate & bought. When I brought the cheeses home, everyone said it was the creamiest cheese they'd ever had. mm mm!!

suec1

To richardab - "leker" means it tastes good. I found that one of the main joys in A'dam was just watching the dutch people on their bicycles. If you get some good weather, find an outdoor cafe where you can see a canal and a street and just enjoy the everchanging transportation show. It was amazing to me how they "make do" with their bikes. There are a couple lovely spots/cafes on tne street behind The Canalhouse Hotel. Also stroll a little further over to the Jordan district - lots of nice shops and cafes - not so frantic as over by Dam Square and Leidensplein (sp?). I thought the church "Our Lord in the Attic" was very interesting and on the stroll over there you will get a glimpse of the red light district. I had never planned to go to A'dam but then my daughter was working there for a summer so I went to visit - I just loved it and can't wait to go back.

euroguy

My wife and I went to Amsterdam for the first time in August 2004 and stayed at the Hotel De Munck. Great spot, the room was great with its own large bathroom and little balcony and the hostess (Hanneke-she was about seven months pregnant) was extremely gracious. The breakfast room was a treat - all kinds of 60's memorabilia along with a working Wurlitzer jukebox that they played at mealtime. Web site is www.hoteldemunck.com

artstuff

While in Amsterdam, I would definately recommend the Amsterdam Pass, which is available at the VVV directly across from Central Station, or at the VVV on the Leidesplein. It is good for admission to most museums in Amsterdam (except Anne Frank House), two canal crusies (do one by day, one by night) and transportation on the trams and buses. You can purchase a 2, 3 or 4 day pass.

We utilized the pass two years ago (EUR36.00/2 days) and visited the following sites -
DAY ONE:
Amstelkring
Oude Kerk
Amsterdams Historisch Museum
Houseboat Museum
Theatermuseum (don't bother unless you're into the theatre)
Canal Cruise - evening

DAY TWO:
Rembrandthuis
Resistance Museum
Rijksmuseum
VanGogh Museum
Canal Cruise - afternoon

Just a hint - when you visit the Anne Frank House, schedule it for later in the evening, (they are open 9:00-21:00) to avoid the long lines. We were there at 17:00 and walked right in.

The Amstelkring (Our Lord in the Attic) is a delightful little church that should not be missed (on the Ams. Pass). And walk through the Red Light District by day (and again by night, IMO, to compare the difference).

A visit to the Marijuana/Hash Museum and the Sex Museum can be quite educational and fun. Stop in a coffeeshop for a "smoke", and if you don't "inhale", just order a cup of coffee/tea and take in the atmosphere. And don't forget the Waterlooplein Flea Market during the day. If you're in the Waterlooplein area, stop in and see the Normaal Amsterdam Peil in the Stopera - you'll see how far below sea level you are actually standing!

Stroll through the Bloemen Market on the Singel and pick up a bouquet of flowers for your hotel room. Stop by the Begijnhof for a quiet moment of reflection. And, if you're in Amsterdam on a Thursday evening, be sure to join the rest of the city for the weekly promenade on the Kalverstraat.

Some websites that you can visit on Amsterdam include:

www.channels.nl
www.amsterdamhotspots.nl
www.bmz.amsterdam.nl

Enjoy your travels in Amsterdam (I wish it were me, sigh....) Peace. >-

Robyn

bradentonfla

Amsterdam is one of my favorite cities. I would recommend buying the annual museum pass. You need a picture, and you can purchase it at a kiosk outside of the main train station. Last time I went, the annual pass was the equivelent to about $35 US dollars. Considering you can use the pass for just about every museum you might want to see (The Van Gogh Museum alone is worth multiple return trips!), it is worth it to buy the pass if you think you want to visit more than 3 or so museums.

Know what else I love about Amsterdam? The coffee. Those little funky coffee machines everywhere...damn, that's good brew!

MGB

There is so much to do it really is a neat city. A canal tour is great for the overview and Anne Frank house is the other must. From there it is just what you are interested in from Casinos, museums, or diamond house tours. Our 21 year old daughter was with us and insisted we do the Heineken Brewery tour (when we went I think it was about $2, got the ticket early and be the first group through because then you drink free beer until the other groups are done). We went on my husbands, birthday which they had a special mug to keep for birthday people. Have a great trip.