One of the touristy things we most enjoy is the bike tours of Amsterdam.

If you are interested in visiting the Anna Frank House you might consider a day trip to Haarlem and visit the Corrie Ten Boom museum. Haarlem is only a 15 minute train ride.

I've been to Amsterdam a # of times, hence my responses to this post, but thanks to the rest of you for your posts as you've given me ideas for other things to do both in Ams & outside on future trips. That's what I love about FT.

Well I certainly found lots to do in 7 days in Amsterdam but it helps that we have a high museum tolerance.

Here is a review I wrote about a day touring Amsterdam's small museums (it's a couple years old so some of the details may be off a bit)
http://www.epinions.com/trvl-review-...3A0769B2-prod5

New here, my first post... :-)

1. Money? Take a small amount in T/C for emergency. Otherwise its the ATM and your favorite debit/credit card. Use the debit for cash, credit for purchases/emergency cash if necessary.

2. Time? A week is not too much time. I've been twice and never want to leave. If you love art, architecture, flowers, boats, adventure, fun, you'll have plenty to do.

3. Places? I recommend the Anne Frank Haus and the Van Gogh Museums as absolute musts. And the open air market is a kick.

4. Other? There are no people friendlier. And they speak English and many other languages as well. Find the University and have some authentic Dutch Pancakes in their restaurant, yummy and economical. While I haven't been, I've been told by friends that Harlem is the perfect day trip.

Have a great time!

BuddyBird

Seven days in Amsterdam is just a nice warm up. But I do 2nd the suggestion for a side trip to Haarlem. Only 20 min away but such a nice, pretty, and low key city. Nice to balance all the hustle and bussle of AMS.

Two things I would do for sure. Take a canal boat ride.I am partial to the ones that leave just befor dusk. You get a great view and insight into the city and can see the house boats come to life as people come home from work. Very pretty. I would take the boat which is in the canal across the street from the Heniken Museum. They have a real person narriating the tour. Much better than the annoying recordings the other boats have.

2nd I would make sure you go to a "coffee shop". Even if you are not a smoker this is an experience not to be missed. Do NOT go to the tourist trap Bulldogs. Crummy service, crummy product (if you do want to sample) and lots of pressure to buy their product. Lots of nice friendly shops where you can get a coffee or juice, listen to some good music and watch the seen unfold. Would recommend the DeKuil off Damrask (big green 4:20 sign out front)...very much like a friendly pub back home...should buy a coffee or other drink but will be no pressur to buy their smoke.

Also you may want to check out the AMS experts at www.channels.nl. A great site on all things Amsterdam.

Doc

Most things have been covered, but if you are interested in the museums and a canal boat tour, I recommend the Museum boat tour. Stops at all the major museum stops, ticket gives you discounts in the museums. You get both a way to move between museums easily (and a rest!) while getting a great canal tour!

I did the windmill tours -- it was great -- and toured Brugges -- also excellent. Enjoy! RB

check out Mike's Bike Tours. English language. Irreverent, fun, but informative. They are on the web. They started in Munich and expanded to AMS.

You guys are AMAZING!!! Can't thank you enough for all the helpful info!!

I have printed all 18 pages of info and it is already packed in the folder to go - highlighted with key points.

Okay one last question: Red Light District ... any tips there?

I am from Utah, and although I consider myself one of the more open-minded people here, I am sure by comparison I am quite naive. We are going to see it because how can you go to Amsterdam and not, but we want to do it safe and smart.

Any last tips?

Thanks again, you'al are FABULOUS!

Vixie

I think the Red Light District was covered in some of the posts already, so read through the posts you printed. It's interesting to see. I think better at night than day, but either is fine.

Don't take pictures of the women in the windows; that's a no-no. If the curtains are closed, they're busy

As w/ any other city, keep your valuables/wallet in a safe spot/your eye on them, etc.

Can't remember the street, but if you go through the Krasnapolsky hotel & 2 canals over, think that's one of the main canals/streets for the RLD. The Old Sailor pub is on it. Wouldn't drink the wine, but the beer is ok there & it's in the heart of the RLD.

If you want to have a somewhat eye-opening experience, go into one of the sex shops - the videos, "tools", etc, are rather interesting. I didn't even know you could do some of those things - guess there's something for everyone!

One very important tip I haven't seen (or missed) for first timers to Europe: your atm pin needs to be 4 digits in Europe. The 5 or 6 digit pins that a lot of people have in the US often won't work. Also, most keypads have only numbers, not letters, so you can't just memorize a word.

Lastly, I've never had to use them, but I always get a couple hundred dollars in travelers checks just in case. I've had times when an atm machine in Europe just wouldn't give me money that day, but did work for my partner (even though we're with the same bank - strange). It's kind of scary to contemplate not being able to access money when you need it, so I always get the traveler's checks as insurance. Then again, I also purposely do not know the pins to my credit cards, so I only have the one card available to get cash. Just do what makes you most comfortable.

Have a great trip!

You can easily fill 7 days in Amsterdam if you wish!

There are lots of canal cruise options, but if want something really special I would suggest a cruise on "The Tourist"...one of the most famous and proudest little ships that sails the canals of Amsterdam. Built in 1909, this small classic wooden launch hosts many of the visiting dignitaries and celebrities. Everyone from Kings and Queens, Presidents and Prime Ministers, Winston Churchill to Sting.

It's got a small outside viewing area at the rear of the ship, and inside is fantastic with inlaid wood and wonderful brass fixtures. It's small but classy and intimate. Full self-serve bar (fee, honor) and even tea service is available (also fee).

It's really a first class sailing and a nice little secret that most visitors never even know about. It is docked in front of the Hotel Pulitzer, and I think most that wander by it think you have to be a hotel guest to book it, but you do not. Just go inside and book with the front desk.

There is only one sailing a day weekdays and 2 on weekends, but almost every time we've been on it we were the only passengers! You'll see the jealous look of hundreds of other tourists as they pass by packed in their aluminum mega cruisers, and you actually become a tourist attraction yourself as folks on the banks wave, and take pictures of you and the ship, as it passes through the locks and canals.

The skipper, a young man named Scotty, is a great tour guide and loves history.

Here are a few snapshots (ignore the ugly faces of those 2 FlyerTalk guys) we took which shows some of the ship and interior:

http://members.aol.com/premexfiles/thetourist.jpg

Price is approx US$35 per person for a 75 minute cruise, and you'll think it was worth every penny and then some. You'll really feel like a VIP.

The Hotel Pulitzer is located just a short block down from Anne Frank House on the same street/canal...the Prinsengracht.

On Anne Frank House, I tend to agree with Factotum's post on page one of this thread. I've always been non-plussed by the experience. If the rooms had furniture set up exactly how it looked then, you might get a better feel of what it was like. But they are just empty rooms with a couple of displays and TV clips. But since you're there 7 days, might as well do the "obligatory" deal.

And don't forget about Vondel Park in Amsterdam. You could easily spend a half-day here alone just strolling, visiting the Film Museum (and the great Hitchcock indoor/outdoor Caf� Vertigo), and there is even a funky Spiritual Center that borders the park that offers all sorts of strange and crazy "life is a column of air" zen, crystal, alien stuff, with an interesting gift shop and a very nice snack bar/tea room in an nice old Solarium up top. Visit a Coffee Shop and then here, and you'll soon be right back in the tie-died 60's!

Jet Lag?

We leave SLC at 10:00 am, and arrive in AMS what would be 11:00 pm our time ... but as you know it is only 8:00 am there.

If we don't sleep at all til that night, we would have to be awake 48 hours, and try as I may, I don't think that will happen.

So ... someone suggested that we try and sleep as much as possible on the plane ride over (already checked the movies and they aren't worth watching), and then force to stay awake until nighttime there and no nap (as a previous poster said), they suggested a sleeping pill would help on the plane.

Anyone have better insight or is this a good plan?

Thanks again,
Vixie

Thanks for all the tips and we just talked about this on the phone and have it on the agenda!!

I am getting so excited,
Vixie

It seems to be accepted wisdom that forcing yourself to stay awake until night time is the best thing to do, and it usually works for me when I return home from North America. But what works for some people doesn't necessarily work for everyone - a friend tells me that what works best for him is to have a brief nap late morning and then get up again and carry on as normal. I'd say that if you feel the urge to go to sleep half-way through the day you shouldn't fight it but have a nap for an hour or two.

As for sleeping pills - I normally use herbal ones (valerian) which help me sleep without making me feel too drowsy in the morning.

Since your trip destination city in Europe is AMS, I assume you did some research before your trip and are into either A) museums or B)coffeeshops or C) something else compelling and abundant there.

My reasons for going to AMS were two of the above and, as such, the few days I spent there were not enough. You are so lucky to be going for 7 days!

Here are my tips:

In the Canal area, on Spuistraat, the Caprese Ristorante Italiano. I recommend the Tortelli Carbonara, although they call it something different there. It had the usual white cream sauce, ham and peas, but the sauce, as with most cream sauces in Europe, was so fresh and out of this world, I practically died from endorphin overload. Also, the Tartufo there ... oh my god!

NOTE ABOUT RESTAURANTS: Except in McDonalds, taking food to go is considered very rude and is not done.

Conveniently next door was Kadinsky Coffeeshop. If wanting to experience a coffeeshop, but remain lowkey about it, this is a very small, quaint, friendly, free internet place to go.

NOTE ABOUT COFFEESHOPS:

If wanting to sample product, there isn't like a hash menu on the wall or anything. Everyone speaks English and a simple, "may I see a smoking menu, please" will get you handed a list of what is available.

You will find that the minimum amount of product available for purchase may be too much to handle at once for one person, so you may want to bring friends with you if you are going to sample. While you may take product with you "to go", most hotels discourage, via placards and such, smoking the stuff in your room. Finally, I remember the water at these places being expensive, and yet in the smallest of bottles, so you may want to work the cost of having drymouth into your coffeeshop sampling costs.

Discount transportation tickets for both the buses and canal boats can be had at the tourist center just outside of the main train station, where you'll be let off is you take the train from the airport, which is the usual way to go. Before you are tempted to grab a cab just outside of the station, look over to your left and the little building is over there. It is worth it to stop in and get a pkg which allows you, for example, unlimited canal boat usage, which you will need for museum hopping and such all over the city - walking will only get you so far when it comes to moving back and forth between the different areas.

NOTE ABOUT THE TRAIN FROM THE AIRPORT:

It is crowded, crowded and did I mention it is crowded. Expect to be pushed and rubbed against i.e. it is a pickpocket's dream zone. Keep your purse and valuables hidden under layers and under velcro, etc.

NOTE ABOUT THE CABBIES:

Yehah! Had one of the best cabdrivers of my life here. It was like a movie the way he darted and sped his way back to the airport from my hotel. As is usual in other countries, I noticed the lines in the road were used more as a guide than as an absolute rule. Sitting in the front was like the best ride at Disneyland. If I had thought about it, I would have got his phone number and used him everytime - it was awesome!