Hey -<BR><BR>I'm a student planning on visiting Amsterdam next month. Being a student (aka limited finances and no idea when I'll get to take a trip like this again), I'd like spend at least two of the five days I'm there exploring the surrounding area. <BR><BR>So I know the travel guides say Rotterdam, the Hague, etc., but for those who have actually been, which are the best side trips? Are there a couple that can be done in a day (morning/afternoon)? I was thinking maybe Brussels, but I'm not sure if that's stretching it . . .<BR><BR>Stacie

PS - staying at the Marriott in the Museum district. Got a great deal ($100 US/night for four people) on a room, and wanted to stay with a name I knew. Was this a bad call?

Amsterdam is expensive to eat and drink in, so I would use the trams system very efficient and walk. You can eat at bakeries little sandwich places and of course there are grocery stores. The tourist office at the main train station sell museum passes that will allow you enter many of the museums and a substantially discounted price. Also, the tram sells day tickets that are good thru out the day for various rides. Amesterdam is my favorite city in the whole world but it is expensive, the quality of the hotels is questionable I would not expect alot for a hundred bucks. Also the red light district is sleezy and expensive to visit or even have a drink in, I would bypass that there are hoookers everywhere in america the dutch ones pretty much look the same tired and used. I live in Germany and like to visit amsterdam as it is a city of neighborhoods and reminds me of Boston where I went to college. One more thing beware of pickpockets they love the tourists and it happens everywhere in broad daylight and with lots of folks around. Have fun...

Amsterdam expensive to eat and drink? Not so in my experience. If you avoid the tourist belt (Damrak, Leidseplein area) you can find perfectly acceptable sit-down restaurants where you can have a good meal for NLG 20 or sometimes less. (euro 9, USD 8) <BR>Try the Albert Cuyp market area, or Amsterdam Oost around Dapper Market, or De Pijp neighbourhood. drinks in bars in these areas are about 4 guilders for a beer or soft drink. (1.80 euro, 1.60 USD)

While in Amsterdam for 7 days last May we took a couple of days to tour the countryside. On one we went to Haarlem and on the other to Den Haage. Both were interesting and a nice slowed down pace from Amsterdam. Everything I've read about Rotterdam suggests that it would be a fascinating place to visit. Another possibility is Antwerp, doable within a day and also interesting looking. Trains are fast and relatively inexpensive so you might as well take advantage of the opportunity to see more than just one city.

If you are on a tight budget, you could buy a return train ticket to Rotterdam, and spend time in Haarlem, Leiden, Den Haag, Delft and/or Rotterdam. All these cities are on the main Amsterdam to Rotterdam train line and you may leave and re-enter the train as often as you like. Amsterdam ---&gt; Haarlem is 15 minutes, Haarlem ---&gt; Leiden is 15 minutes, Leiden ---&gt; Den Haag is 10 minutes, Den Haag ---&gt; Delft is 10 minutes, Delft ---&gt; Rotterdam is 10 minutes.

I took day trips to Delft and Alkmaar from Amsterdam by train and liked both very much, and both are fairly close. Alkmaar has this famous cheese market that is interesting, but I think it closes for the year in October, so that wouldn't work.

I went to Brussels for the day and had a great time. By train it's about 3 1/2 hours. It's doable.

If you can make it to Brussels by all means do that. If you can also do Brugges in Belgium. I also suggest Maastricht.

I enjoyed Haarlem (have stayed there a couple times) and Delft. Did not enjoy Den Haag. From Haarlem we went to the ocean for a few hours (about a 15 minute train trip). Too cold to get in the water, but it was nice for a couple midwesterners to be near the ocean. And there are a number of clubs along the shore.

My one and only trip to Amsterdam was many years ago. When I do return, the Kroller/Museum museum will definitely be one of our destinations. I've topped a thread for you in case you are interested in Van Gogh and the park.

If you are an art person, you'd want to go to the Hague to see the two Vermeers at the Mauritshuis Museum, View of Delft & Girl with a Pearl Earringm possibly the most beautiful two of all, on display in one room of a lovely 17th century mansion. Otherwise I'm not sure you'd want to go there.

I just spent the summer backpacking through Europe, and spent 3 days in Amsterdam...well actually we stayed in a quiet town called Utrecht. The train ride into Amsterdam was about 10-15 minutes. This way, we spent the day in Amsterdam...and still saved money staying elsewhere. We had a eurail pass, that was VERY useful...I would avoid Rotterdam...an industrial city, and nothing spectacular. Consider visiting smaller towns, like Utrech, Haarlem, Edam, and Leiden (where you get the REAL feel of the Netherlands~ the windmills, tulips et al!)

Any other suggestions?

try: Haarlem, utrecht, naarden vesting if you like history, delft, or leiden. all nice towns...