Amsterdam

The Irish Riddler

Myself and 2 friends are heading to Amsterdam in a fortnight.

I'm looking for a decent clean place to stay in a central location and any info on a good coffee shop or two.

Thanks for any recommendations.

triple-M

I-ve stayed in an irish hostel called durty nellys before,just around the corner from everything and was cheap enough too.also the bulldog is a must and so is "the old man"its a shop selling all sorts of cool "hardware"

eimear10

ive been in hotel Abba , they allow you smoke in the rooms too. within walking distance to Leidseplein area and theres one coffee shop accross the road ! very cheap too , minimum 3 night stay tho !!

ANybody else got smoker friendly hotels ? as im planning on heading back before this new law hits Amsterdam

keithclancy

Why not just stay in the Bulldog:

http://www.bulldoghotel.com/

The rooms are really nice too.

ANybody else got smoker friendly hotels ? as im planning on heading back before this new law hits Amsterdam

What new laws are you talking about ?

Stevecw

I stayed in Durty Nelly's place before and its in a great location. Not a bad spot, but it lacked something!
Also stayed in Flying Pig up near the train station. Much preferred that one. Was cleaner, the craic in the bar was better when u went back at night. Much better general atmosphere there.

http://www.hostelworld.com/hosteldetails.php/Flying-Pig-Downtown/Amsterdam/641

eimear10

Bulldog rooms are not smoke friendly !! So the website says anyway ?

eimear10

Bulldog rooms are not smoke friendly !! So the website says anyway ?

keithclancy

eimear10 wrote: »

Bulldog rooms are not smoke friendly !! So the website says anyway ?

You want to smoke in the room when theres a coffeeshop downstairs ...

Theres something wrong with you

Just get a room with a balcony.

Why does everyone go to Amsterdam anyway, Utrecht is way nicer

ollaetta

keithclancy wrote: »

What new laws are you talking about ?

Source: Reuters Via MSNBC November 2011

The Dutch government said on Wednesday it wanted to ban tourists from buying cannabis in "coffee shops," where hash is on sale legally, as part of a national crackdown on drug use.

The Netherlands has one of Europe's most liberal soft drug policies and its coffee shops are a popular tourist attraction, especially in Amsterdam and border cities near Belgium and Germany.

But some cities near the border with Belgium have clamped down on drug tourism, and the Dutch minister for security and justice confirmed on Wednesday a wider crackdown after coalition parties agreed to push for a ban in September.

The government, which took office last month, has agreed to limit the sale of cannabis to Dutch residents to curb crime linked to its production and trading. "No tourist attractions. We don't like that," the minister, Ivo Opstelten, told public broadcaster NOS on Wednesday. "The heart of the problem is crime and disturbances surrounding the sale. We have to go back to what it was meant for: local use for those who would like it."

gavinxxx

The Irish Riddler wrote: »

Myself and 2 friends are heading to Amsterdam in a fortnight.

I'm looking for a decent clean place to stay in a central location and any info on a good coffee shop or two.

Thanks for any recommendations.

hi been 2 amsterdam a few times even worked there, stayed in durty nellys hostel also good irish pub,u'd meet lots of intresting people there , get good infomation & have the crack. its right in the centre of everything, u may book at hostelworld.com. The bulldog hostels are mainly full of english. you can look up durty nellys on www.durtyhellys.nl enjoy!

Rowley Birkin QC

Stevecw wrote: »

I stayed in Durty Nelly's place before and its in a great location. Not a bad spot, but it lacked something!
Also stayed in Flying Pig up near the train station. Much preferred that one. Was cleaner, the craic in the bar was better when u went back at night. Much better general atmosphere there.

http://www.hostelworld.com/hosteldetails.php/Flying-Pig-Downtown/Amsterdam/641

triple-M wrote: »

I-ve stayed in an irish hostel called durty nellys before,just around the corner from everything and was cheap enough too.also the bulldog is a must and so is "the old man"its a shop selling all sorts of cool "hardware"

Ha, I used to work in Durty Nellys! It's a pretty good spot and the staff are sound. Very sound bunch of regulars there aswell. Rooms are basic but clean and it's bang smack in the middle of everything.

chrismon

Can definately recommend theflyingpig.
I stayed downtown. Really good hostel.
Generally stay in hotels when I head over now.

gavinxxx

stayed in a good few hostes in amsterdam but allways found durty nellys d best & as you said it's bang smack in the middle of everything.

keithclancy

ollaetta wrote: »

Source: Reuters Via MSNBC November 2011

The Dutch government said on Wednesday it wanted to ban tourists from buying cannabis in "coffee shops," where hash is on sale legally, as part of a national crackdown on drug use.

The Netherlands has one of Europe's most liberal soft drug policies and its coffee shops are a popular tourist attraction, especially in Amsterdam and border cities near Belgium and Germany.

But some cities near the border with Belgium have clamped down on drug tourism, and the Dutch minister for security and justice confirmed on Wednesday a wider crackdown after coalition parties agreed to push for a ban in September.

The government, which took office last month, has agreed to limit the sale of cannabis to Dutch residents to curb crime linked to its production and trading. "No tourist attractions. We don't like that," the minister, Ivo Opstelten, told public broadcaster NOS on Wednesday. "The heart of the problem is crime and disturbances surrounding the sale. We have to go back to what it was meant for: local use for those who would like it."

Will, never, happen, they've been talking about that for years, mainly because of the Border issues at Venlo and Maastricht.

FFS they weren't even able to bring in the smoking ban properly (Pubs under 30m3 can smoke away)

And I'd love to know how you prove to be 'resident' since there is no ID card as such and the only way as a non Dutch National to prove residency is to get a certificate from your Gemeente thats only valid for 3 months.

dMaN24

I'll be heading over in March for the 5daysoff festival.

Staying for 8-9 days.
I stayed at a crap hotel last year (Avoid Quentin Hotels) so i'm going for hostel this year.

Any upsides with changing ho(s)tels in the middle of a week?

eimear10

keithclancy wrote: »

You want to smoke in the room when theres a coffeeshop downstairs ...

Theres something wrong with you

Just get a room with a balcony.

Why does everyone go to Amsterdam anyway, Utrecht is way nicer

are you as rude in person as you are here? I want smoking rooms so i can wake up and have a j first thing in the morning and last thing at night!

hmm Utreact , would be intersted in going there instead , presume it would be cheaper, gonna look it up now. is there an airport there?

dMaN24

Closest airport to Utrecht seems to be Schiphol. If you want to land in NL that is

ArmaniJeanss

ollaetta wrote: »

Source: Reuters Via MSNBC November 2011

The Dutch government said on Wednesday it wanted to ban tourists from buying cannabis in "coffee shops," where hash is on sale legally, as part of a national crackdown on drug use.

The Netherlands has one of Europe's most liberal soft drug policies and its coffee shops are a popular tourist attraction, especially in Amsterdam and border cities near Belgium and Germany.

But some cities near the border with Belgium have clamped down on drug tourism, and the Dutch minister for security and justice confirmed on Wednesday a wider crackdown after coalition parties agreed to push for a ban in September.

The government, which took office last month, has agreed to limit the sale of cannabis to Dutch residents to curb crime linked to its production and trading. "No tourist attractions. We don't like that," the minister, Ivo Opstelten, told public broadcaster NOS on Wednesday. "The heart of the problem is crime and disturbances surrounding the sale. We have to go back to what it was meant for: local use for those who would like it."

It is not a 'law' as we know it, maybe a 'provision' would be the best word.

Each local council now has the right to enact this if they so wish, however there is no compulsion on them to do so.
The current Amstel/Amstersdam council has said they won't enact it during the current electoral period, so its not something to worry about until the next local election in 2014.
Even beyond then its extrememly unlikely the people of Amsterdam would vote for any party who wanted to enact it.

In other words, Amsterdam is business as usual for the forseeable.

MOH

eimear10 wrote: »

are you as rude in person as you are here? I want smoking rooms so i can wake up and have a j first thing in the morning and last thing at night!

hmm Utreact , would be intersted in going there instead , presume it would be cheaper, gonna look it up now. is there an airport there?

Utrecht's pretty nice, big uni town. Only just over 30 mins by train from Schiphol.
Amsterdam-Utrecht is only about 25 mins by train, they run 24 hours (though only hourly after about 1am), so you easily stay in one and head out for the night in the other.

dMaN24

It doesn't seem to differ much in price though? :O
Or is that me doing a poor search..

dudara

Utrecht is quite charming, but it won't have the same nightlife as the Dam. Prices won't vary much either. But it is worth a visit, as the canals are different to Amsterdam (and I think prettier, though not as extensive).

I lived in Amsterdam for 13 months, so I never really stayed in hotels, other than the Marriott, but I used to frequently drink in the White Tulip (near Oude Kerk) which also had a hostel. Somewhere like that would put you bang in the middle of town.

Smoking has been mostly banned in pubs in NL, with the exception of smaller locations. Those proposed restrictions for cannabis have been mooted around for a while now, but are mainly focussed on border areas, and haven't hit Amsterdam yet.

The Irish Riddler

Thanks for all the info folks, nellys seems to be a good spot but I would prefer to have my own room.

dMaN24

Anything above €500/week single-room would work, i'd say. Depending on how high you set the standards.

I've got 8 nights in a sngleroom at Hotel Galerij this year for 390. Shared bathroom, no smoking, no internet (i missed out on that when i booked)

I'm not expecting rose-petals and a mini bottle of bubbly when i arrive, though. :P

And travel light. Staircases in those hotel-ranges might at time require grade A rock-climbing skills.

keithclancy

eimear10 wrote: »

are you as rude in person as you are here? I want smoking rooms so i can wake up and have a j first thing in the morning and last thing at night!

hmm Utreact , would be intersted in going there instead , presume it would be cheaper, gonna look it up now. is there an airport there?

Rude ? If your that sensitive don't ever live in Amsterdam

If you need a joint that badly in the morning and before you go to sleep just get a room someplace that has a balcony.

Utrecht is prettier and less hectic, theres not really much of a price difference anywhere in NL.

Coffee shops exist all over the Netherlands, There was 3 within 100 meters of my Apartment in the Hague.

Largest Coffee Shop in the country was down in Zeeland.

You can also fly into Eindhoven, Direct train Takes 1hr 35mins, bus from Eindhoven Airport to the station is around 18 minutes.

Mike 1972

Personally Id avoid the centre of Amsterdam and head out a few Km into the 'burbs or even to a nearby town/city with good rail links back into the city.

Many places in/near the city centre tend to be pricey and (to be diplomatic about it) pretty basic in terms of quality. And if its near a bar you can forget about getting a good nights sleep since all the smokers were driven into the street.

And if go for a single room it will be probably be on the top floor. That may not sound like a big deal until you see the steep narrow staircases in many Dutch buildings :eek: Now Imagine trying to climb that ****er when youre wasted :eek::eek::eek:

On the plus side Its a brilliant place full of facinating museums, Wierd and wonderful buildings/architecture, an excellent transport sysytem, friendly people and cool stuff to do besides all the more (ahem) more widely advertised attractions.

keithclancy wrote: »

Coffee shops exist all over the Netherlands, There was 3 within 100 meters of my Apartment in the Hague.

In some places (e.g. Hilversum) Theyre a bit thin on the ground but if one looks hard enough theyll find them (failing that just hop on a train to a bigger city) although if one steers away from the more touristy ones the quality/prices on offer will probably be better.

Unfortunately theyre not allowed to publish their menus online (it counts as "advertising") so unless one can find a independent decent review/listing site one has to do a bit of legwork to find the best places.

jay phelan

St. Christopher's, The Bulldog or Flying Pig hostel are all savage. If you are looking to get a decent night sleep then forget them though!

The Irish Riddler

What about priceline, zone 2, 4*?