[spikeyjac]

Hi there,
Me and a couple of friends ( all age 20 ) are going to amsterdam in July.
Couple of questions, if someone wouldn't mind answering them
This is probably going to be our main holiday, so we don't mind paying the extra for a nice hotel.
However,
1) Where's the best place to stay where there are attractions nearby, in terms of nightlife/coffee shops?
2) Is it best to go for 2 nights or 3?
Thanks,
Jack

[king blaze]

Hey there been Amsterdam a handful times and can give you a few tips. I cant help you with hotels as we have always stayed in cheapish hostels. If your looking to go out at night and not just get stoned make sure your there Friday and Saturday, as the last 3 times i have been there come 1am sunday nothing is open and the place is like a ghost town (3 times have been November may be different in summer!?).
As for coffee shops avoid the ones around the red light district as these tend to sell overpriced and poorer quality weed, the better coffee shops are found to the west side of centrral station.

hope this helps

[spikeyjac]

Originally Posted by king blaze

Hey there been Amsterdam a handful times and can give you a few tips. I cant help you with hotels as we have always stayed in cheapish hostels. If your looking to go out at night and not just get stoned make sure your there Friday and Saturday, as the last 3 times i have been there come 1am sunday nothing is open and the place is like a ghost town (3 times have been November may be different in summer!?).
As for coffee shops avoid the ones around the red light district as these tend to sell overpriced and poorer quality weed, the better coffee shops are found to the west side of centrral station.

hope this helps

We'll be going Thursday, Friday Saturday!
Thanks for the advice

[spikeyjac]

Found a secret hotel on Lastminute.com, near vondelpark, is that any good?

[Joellypops]

Originally Posted by spikeyjac

Found a secret hotel on Lastminute.com, near vondelpark, is that any good?

Vondelpark itself is nice but a bit of a walk from RLD if memory serves well. I've been last two years, once in a best western quite a way out of centre, really nice but a pricey taxi was needed twice a day. And last year at the Delta Hotel on Damrak right in the centre, terrible hotel and service but it was great being so close to everything.

This Sept I'm staying in a hotel in RLD, good price but I'm wagering it won't be nice. To be honest though, if your going with mates and plan on going coffeeshops and bars etc the room might be the least of your concerns, we spent so little time in the hotel, the only thing that mattered was that it had clean beds and a shower! I'd say go for locality, and for coffeeshops I'd recommend the greenhouse.

[BB3Lions]

The high class hookers, the ones the pro footballers go to see are up North in a small town called Alkmaar.

Rating of 1 - 10? ------ 99+

[aerodynamic18]

we stayed in a hotel called the green house effect. Had apartments for the group of us both times and that was so much better than a hotel. Was clean not to expensive and right in the centre of everything :D

[internetuser]

Take lots of money. At least 5-6euro a pint. 12 euro for 3 joints in coffee shop, 9 euro for vodka and coke. 26 euro bottle of wine.

Oh .25 or .50 cent to use toilet in some bars.

This was in and out side red light area.

[spikeyjac]

Yeah we'd guessed it was going to be expensive! Cheers

[WildeKarde]

Been a couple of times and stayed in the victoria last time (just across from the station). Pretty decent but was pricey for breakfast in the hotel, ended up going to barney's (I think) for a decent breakfast. It had a coffee shop as part of it as well Was a bit of a hike from the hotel right enough

I'd also agree the weekend is far better, been during the week and it wasn't the same at all. Meals were pricey last time we were there as well but there is a McD's in the town

[bearman3784]

Don't bother with hotels, rent a private apartment. Cheaper when there is a few of you and a much nicer basecamp to go back to and 'chill'
Cant beat going back to a central Dam apartment with a keg of Heinieken in the fridge waiting and a pocket of your leftover herbal remedies

[spikeyjac]

There's only 3 of us now
We've narrowed it down to a couple of the following:
Marriot Hotel Amsterdam
Rembrant Classic
Holiday Inn Amsterdam
Renaissance Amsterdam
Albus hotel city centre Amsterdam

Or

Amsterdam City Center apartment. Top location for your stay.

Can anyone recommend any of these for location etc?
Thanks!

[markymark34]

Have a look at a map of Amsterdam. Make sure wherever you stay is either in or right beside the red light district. If your looking at a map the rld is up from central station and to the left. No point in staying anywhere else. I've been 3 times. Do not waste money on a hotel as you will not be in it except to sleep.
When you get there scan the whole area, you can quickly work out where the cheap and expensive bars are. Hill st blues cafe looks like a dump but the beer is cheap and it's actually a really nice place.

The most important thing is the location of your hotel.

Mark

[XA10]

Amsterdam hotel standards are not as good as the UK for what you pay.

A group of lads going to Amsterdam should stay in the Centrum. I would recommend bang in the centre of the RLD (Red Light District). Do not stay in a cheap hotel on Damrak just outside central station and opposite Grasshopper coffeeshop. The noise will do your head in as the city wakes up early and stays up late.

Some tips -
Don't stand or walk in bike lanes. Look and look again before stepping out into bike lanes. The cloggies hate tourists who are unaware of bike lanes.
Don't wave a camera around in the RLD.
Make sure your weed is weighed and bagged in front of you, getting exactly what you ordered and not substituted for inferior weed.
Don't smoke weed in the street, only in coffeeshops.
Don't bring weed home. (you will be properly scanned at Schiphol airport)
Expect grumpy unfriendly and rude bar/cafe service.....EVERYWHERE!
Their Heineken draught beer is **** and avoid it! (personal taste)
Try a FEBO (you'll know what that is when you see it....lol)
Carry ID if you look young, you'll be asked for it in all coffeeshops.
Get a good map or have a good smartphone app or map.


lastly, the biggest tip I'll give anyone visiting Amsterdam is pack good walking shoes. You'll be walking everywhere and by the second day you'll be walking at a snails pace.......believe me........and believe me you'll remember me saying this.....lol

Have a good trip and it's easy as hell getting the 20min train from Schiphol airport to central station so don't get a taxi. The first trip is always good and the one you'll remember most when walking out of central station onto the streets and seeing it all for the first time.

[Ste7en]

We usually stay around Jordaan, not too far from the centre and nice and quiet. We have stayed down from Dam Square (near one of the flower markets) which was also nice.

For drinking it's usually busy until quite late around Leidseplein, mostly due to Boom Chicago.

Best tip I have is rent a bike and get lost. We always do that. Great way to see more of the city.

Never heard anyone recommend a FEBO

[andyparksy]

Sorry, I know you said you have nailed down a hotel place, but have you heard of the Botel?

It's a big boat turrned into a hotel - not bad standard (not great though but ok), cheap and pretty central. Been on there a few times now (although not for a few years), both with girlfriends and mates and was always spot on......

[Ste7en]

But it looks like that Rikers Island barge