Amsterdam

xzanti

Hi I'm thinking of booking a weekend in Amsterdam, just wondering if anyone has any helpful tips...

What are the best clubs and pubs, what places to avoid, where to eat etc.. I'm planning to book a place close to Dam Square...

Also how far is the city from the Airport, what sort of taxi fares will I be looking at into the city...

Any other advice anyone can give will be greatly appreciated..

Thanks in advance

BuffyBot

Don't get a taxi from the airport. Fast, comfortable and frequent trains go direct from the airport to Centraal Station on Dam Square for only a couple of €.

Jimmy81

Paradiso is an amazing club, I can defo recommend it. Just check who is playing there before you head over. Its down near Leidsplein, from Centraal Station or Dam Square its tram number 1,2 or 5.

Have you booked anywhere to stay yet?

xzanti

Jimmy81 wrote:

Paradiso is an amazing club, I can defo recommend it. Just check who is playing there before you head over. Its down near Leidsplein, from Centraal Station or Dam Square its tram number 1,2 or 5.

Have you booked anywhere to stay yet?

Cheers lads, I'm looking at the Ramada as a place to stay... It got a few good reviews and the location is supposed to be perfect, close to everything etc.. Do you know it?

BuffyBot

Which Ramada is it?

xzanti

BuffyBot wrote:

Which Ramada is it?

City Centre, its 10 minutes from Dam Square apparently..

BuffyBot

Reviews seem fairly split down the middle..so I'm sure it's neither terrible nor outstanding

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g188590-d229149-Reviews-Ramada_Amsterdam_City_Centre-Amsterdam_Noord_Holland.html

xzanti

That'll do for me tbh.. Some of the Amsterdam hotels I clicked on before I found the Ramada looked pretty disgusting old fashioned looking etc... I stayed at the Ramada Letterkenny not long ago and was quite impressed with the standard for a 3 star.. Cheers

bridget.laitly

Just back from a week in Amsterdam for Queens Day- found a great pub across the bridge from Centraal Station called The Old Nickel.
It's s resident's bar with 14 rooms for rent at 80 euro a night, drinks are cheap and they have a great beer list plus some incredibly colourful residents, a herd of old fellas at the bar and a sweet but haughty ginger tabby who will have a seat next to you.
Hilton/Radisson it's not, but for a more citified experience and to save a bundle I highly reccomend it.
If you stay outside of the city make sure to check the exact location of your hotel- we got an unlucky break with the place we booked, it was a bus and a train from city centre!

Tuesday_Girl

Jimmy81 wrote:

Paradiso is an amazing club, I can defo recommend it. Just check who is playing there before you head over. Its down near Leidsplein, from Centraal Station or Dam Square its tram number 1,2 or 5.

Have you booked anywhere to stay yet?

Paradiso, Melkweg and Escape would be the most popular clubs, you can get more info on their websites:

www.melkweg.nl/voorpagina.jsp
www.paradiso.nl
www.escape.nl

At the weekend most bars in the centre are open till about 5.

There is loads of choice in places to eat, just try to stay away from the really touristy areas, e.g. around Leidseplein, where you don't get good value for money. Stroll a bit further and you'l find good places, Chinatown near the Red Light District has some really good value restaurants too and there are plenty of shoarma and kebab places around too for the late-night munchies.

xzanti

Much appreciated guys... I've booked the Ramada, will check out the places mentioned above.. It's birthday present for himself so fingers crossed he'll like it

sam34

taxi from airport to city centre is about 35 quid

Stabshauptmann

Go on Sandemans walking tour and they point out all the good spots and things to do (the tour is 2hrs long and you pay what ever you feel appropriate)

Jimkel

If it interests you at all I recommend Artis Zoo, Just a tram ride away, its really spectacular,

xzanti

Thanks folks... Escape looks Klass.. I shall have to stop in there for 1 or 2

bushy...

If you fly into schipol there is a train station in the basement , from there you can get straight to central station .

s8n

Anyone recommend good accomodation, very central and reasonable ?

Stabshauptmann

Flighing pig downtown hostel.

Cheap, central, social (it has its own bar complete with happy hour)

mac123

the globe hostel at the bottom of the red light district. also has its own bar etc which is open all night to residents and serves a decent breakfast.
theres no rule against smokin in your room either;)

s8n

Do either of these places have their ownb rooms or is it shared ?
Also, any web links ?

Also, Is Aerlingus the only airline which flies direct from Dublin to the Dam ?

BuffyBot

Also, Is Aerlingus the only airline which flies direct from Dublin to the Dam ?

At the moment, yes.

Jimkel

BuffyBot wrote:

At the moment, yes.

Well actually I've flown both KLM and Airfrance direct from dublin to the dam.

Jimmy81

xzanti wrote:

Thanks folks... Escape looks Klass.. I shall have to stop in there for 1 or 2

Escape is indeed good, but they can be a bit strict on the door. I would say Paradiso or Melkweg are better spots. But check who is playing before you go to make sure the music is to your taste. Either way you will have a ball, tis a great spot for a weekend away.

BuffyBot

Jimkel wrote:

Well actually I've flown both KLM and Airfrance direct from dublin to the dam.

When? KLM have codeshared with Aer Lingus on that route for the last few years, and Air France/Cityjet don't fly it AFAIK.

mac123

as far as i know the globe has private rooms but we stayed in the 20 bed dorm! u can book it through hostelworld.com.