I am spending two nights in Amsterdam. I would like some feedback from fellow FTers on the following:
1) Hotel choices: I am Gold on Hilton, PC, and *wood. I have many HH points, about 40k PC points and just 20k *wood points. I am interested on a very nice hotel in the center of the town where I can walk anywhere...getting upgrade is also going to very welcome. The Amsterdam Hilton is a bit away from the action and not worth it in $ or HH points. Any recommendations? I am okay in paying up to $100 or so but I think that may not be feasible for the center of the town. Or should I go the Priceline route, looks like I could get one for under $100...need to look into PL more.
2) Transportation: My flight out of AMS is at 10.30 am. If I get both nights in the town center will I have enough time to make it to AMS in time? How much is a taxi to the airport from the city center? Or should I consider changing hotels and spending the 2nd night at a hotel by the airport. I see some Holiday Inn choices for around $100 per night. Any recommendations? Good night sleep with convenient access to AMS is a priority (either walk or shuttle).
3) Bar/cafe recommendations: I will be there in late December. Is there a local thingstodo guide? Concert list? I hear about those infamous bars/cafes where you can order some of those special cigs...Any recommendations? I am not saying I am going to let one rip but it would be fun to experience being in one
Can't help with hotels... but don't even THINK about taking a taxi from or to the airport. It'll take at least twice as long as the train and cost you a fortune.
The one thing I can say about hotels is that unless you're planning to really go downmarket (as in: hostel-style) you're not going to find a hotel for $100.
I had hotel preferences and stats similar to yours. I ended up going the Priceline route.
I ended up bidding for 5-star hotels in Central Amsterdam. I got the NH Barbizon hotel for $128/night all-in. That's compared to their listed price on Priceline of $208 + taxes.
The NH Barbizon ain't a 5-star hotel. More like 3.5-star. The rooms are quite "tired"-looking.
However, the location couldn't have really been beat. It was a 3-minute walk to the train station, and virtually next door to the red-light district and other sights.
-cmhsieh54
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"To Amsterdam City Centre: Timings: Direct trains run to Amsterdam Centraal Station ~every 15 mins 0541-0026 and every hour through the night 0100-0500; from Amsterdam Centraal services leave 0505-0030 and every hour through the night 0042-0442. See train schedule. Travel Time: Takes 15-20 mins. Tickets can be bought from the machines in the arrivals hall or on the ground floor of the Plaza, but NOT on the platforms. The code for the city centre on these machines is 1000. Cost: €3.80 one way/€6.40 return."
Programs: UA 1.75K, AM, HH Gold, Global Entry Gold
Posts: 1,687
The advice to take the train from the airport is spot on. 20 mins max and Centraal Station lands you right smack in the middle of Amsterdam. You catch the train by taking an escalator down from the airport terminal. Very convenient.
If you want $100/night or less, you'll have to go the Priceline or Hotwire route. I've seen what is probably the Marriott offered for $99/night on Hotiwre (plus taxes and fees). The Hilton is quite nice but you'd need to catch the tram (not difficult) or take a long walk to city center. It's in a nice neighborhood though.
The Bulldog chain is probably the most famous coffeeshop in Amsterdam. There's one in the Red Light District. They also run a hostel type lodging where I think you can also reserve private rooms cheaply. Might be worth your while to google that for cheap(er) lodging.
If you want to use points, I'd suggest staying the last night at the airport Hilton. It is a perfectly acceptable property, and you can roll out of bed and be at the checkin desks after a 10 minute walk. Start doing the math and work backwards from a 10:30 departure. Makes the Hilton look kinda good.
I do this all the time. I check out of my Amsterdam hotel in the morning, have them keep my bags for the day, retrieve them whenever I'm ready to leave and then take the train 20 minutes to Schiphol. The Hilton is then just a quick walk out the front of the airport shopping center (I think the door even says "Hotels".) There's a shuttle, but its hardly worth waiting for, as the walk is short. Trains run frequently and late into the night. I prefer this to having to get up at the crack of dawn and they still having to schlep to the train station, hope the trains are running on time (even though they always do).......
If you do use points at the Hilton, I'd suggest splurging on the single night in Amsterdam. I always recommend the Ambassade, and unlike the past I've recently seen it pop up on discount hotel sites. The Nh hotels are also decent, and all over town. The Nh City Centre on Spuistraat puts you right in the middle of town. Either of these is about a 15 minute walk or quick cab ride from Centraal station, and once you're settle you can walk pretty much anywhere from there or trams are close by.
As to cafes - the ones you're looking for with the "funny" cigarettes, are called Coffee Shops, and you won't have ANY trouble finding one - just follow your nose. You'll probably smell it already outside the airport and certainly in Centraal Station, the smell is everywhere, and actually quite revolting after awhile. There is another thread running about "having the munchies" that gives some recommendations for places to eat after the coffee shops.
For real restaurants. If you look at a map you will see that the ring of canals (grachts) all end at Brouwersgracht just a little to the West and South of Central station. The little streets between the canals between Brouwersgracht and Leidsestraat are packed with cute little places - as well as really fun shops, great window shopping. A great area to just sort of wander around. The restaurants tend to fill up, so if you see one that strikes your fancy I'd stop in and make a reservation for the evening. This is actually my favorite area of Amsterdam, and the hotel I recommended above - the Ambassade - puts you right in the center of it.
There is also a nice bunch of OK places on the Spuistraat, just to the North of Heisteeg. This is also a good area to grab a morning coffee or afternoon beer, although in December the outdoor cafes will pretty much to kaput. Of this bunch, I like Luden for a casual meal when I'm alone. when you walk in there is a real restaurant straight ahead, but a more casual place if you turn toward the right. Good casual food - soups, simple mail courses, sandwiches, etc.
It makes sense to spend the 2nd night at an airport hotel and the Hilton sounds ideal. But it requires a lot of points and I am not sure it is worth it. Any other airport hotels that are recommended, especially in Priority Club so I can get some mega points? Any other hotels within walking distance like the Hilton?
Bulldog it is Do they provide lighters with the merchandise?
Any websites for European concert guides? I know of websites that list concerts for the US but not for Europe.
Programs: UA 1.75K, AM, HH Gold, Global Entry Gold
Posts: 1,687
Quote:
Originally Posted by gpapadop
Thanks again for the comments!
It makes sense to spend the 2nd night at an airport hotel and the Hilton sounds ideal. But it requires a lot of points and I am not sure it is worth it. Any other airport hotels that are recommended, especially in Priority Club so I can get some mega points? Any other hotels within walking distance like the Hilton?
Bulldog it is Do they provide lighters with the merchandise?
Any websites for European concert guides? I know of websites that list concerts for the US but not for Europe.
Staying at the airport the 2nd night when your flight the following morning isn't until 10:30 doesn't make much sense to me. As mentioned, it's only a 20 minute train ride to the airport and the trains leave often and are reliable.
Or, as a compromise, stay somewhere in the south of Amsterdam. Short tram ride from the city centre, some nice neighbourhood restaurants and markets, and only 5 minutes to Schiphol from Amsterdam-Zuid station. If you want somewhere quite cheap, modern and quirky, the QBic has rooms from €69, citizenM for €99, and there are plenty other small hotels a 5-10 minute walk away. There's some good places to eat on Beethovenstraat, and tram 5 or a bike will take you to the centre in 10-15 minutes.
Bulldog, I never really liked, to be honest. It's quite chainy and tacky. Do a search for reviews - there's so much choice in Amsterdam, there's always something to suit your taste.
Staying at the airport the 2nd night when your flight the following morning isn't until 10:30 doesn't make much sense to me. As mentioned, it's only a 20 minute train ride to the airport and the trains leave often and are reliable.
I guess its a matter of personal preference. I like being able to just roll out of bed in the morning without having to worry about something going wrong - like the unexpected (to me) closure of the line between Centraal and AMS a couple weekends ago that meant an extended trip involving a shuttle bus for part of the journey. But, I agree that AMS is one of the easiest airports to get to quickly and without much fuss.
To the OPs question - the only other hotel that is right on site is the Sheraton, but there are many others that have shuttle buses. By the time you'd deal with a hotel shuttle, it certainly makes more sense to just stay in town the night before.
If you do decide to stay at the Hilton it town, I believe that is actually closer to the RAI station, which also has direct service to Schiphol.
How early would one advise being at AMS for a 7:15 LH departure to FRA, connecting to the US? Trying to figure out how early I need to wake up that final day. I'll be catching a train from Amsterdam Centraal, naturally.
Arizona Guy, I am the OP If I were you, if there is one city to not sleep at night, it is probably Amsterdam I always like to allow plenty of time to get to the airport, get there minimum 2 hrs at 5.15, allow 1/2 hr for train ride so 4.45, & time to get ready and catch the train...so we are talking for a VERY early rise...Maybe an airport hotel is better for you? Hilton & Sheraton are within walking distance fellow posters have said.
I still have not pulled the trigger yet. It looks like I am going the Priceline route. I could probably get the NH Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky (maybe the NH Barbizon Palace) but the two nights are very differently priced...so I am thinking of bidding separately for each night. Both of these hotels are very conveniently located...I know I run the risk of getting my bid accepted at another 5* hotel like the Hilton which is not as conveniently located. Plenty of free rebids allowed for that city and I have plenty of time. If the 2nd (more expensive) night gets up there I may just get one night with points at the airport Hilton or pay around $100 or less than a Holiday Inn at the airport.
Yea. It'll be an early morning either way. I should probably clarify that the wife and I will be traveling LH C and I am *G so I would hope check-in would be relatively quickly.
Apparently LH late-night check-in isn't an option at AMS. I wonder if the kiosks would work for checking in (heading home to US) at AMS. I'd then book the Mercure inside the terminal and simply roll out of bed from there and head to the gate!
ArizonaGuy - as you are on a Schengen flight (= no outbound Immigration control), AND your are travelling in C (= fast track for Security) you can probably get away with being at the airport not much more than an hour before. I don't have any experience of LH check-in at AMS as I usually travel KLM, but I'm fairly certain I've seen kiosks. How about online check-in? (I appreciate access to printers can be a problem...)
...Any recommendations? I am not saying I am going to let one rip but it would be fun to experience being in one
