Please help some questions about Amsterdam and Holland travels:-)

[luv2gonow]

Hi,

We are going to Amsterdam after our baltic cruise:D

 

My husband wants to go to Zeeland specifically to the town of Bruiness.

Family from there.

Is it easy to rent a car in Amsterdam. I think there is a train but I thought it would be important to have car to explore there.

 

We are staying at the Hampshire hotel-Amsterdam American.

Has anyone stayed here seems to have good reviews on Trip advisor.

 

Is it easy to get taxi at airport to this hotel?

Approximate cost? Credit cards accepted or Euros?

 

Also....ahem....In my 20's went on a tour that went to Amsterdam and the tour bus took us on an excursion to a Live Sex Show:eek:

Yes I know....it was actually in a nice theatre....seriously crazy.

Well I've told the story to my husband so many times laughing that I wonder if they are still around:o

 

Also Has anyone used Viator to book day tours. They seem to have a few nice ones around Holland and Amsterdam.

 

Canal cruises worth it? we are going in the summer. Are they indoor? Outdoor? Have A/C?

 

Also we have a 10:15 flight on a friday morning to US. I figure I should arrive at airport at 7:15. I would imagine this is rush hour

on a friday morning. What time should I get a taxi to make it to airport for 10:15am safely. I am a lunatic with lateness. I know my life is a hurry up and wait. But unless major catastrophe.....I won't be the one missing the ship or plane;-)

 

Any other info would be great:D

Thanks

Kerri

Edited May 13, 2016 by luv2gonow

[Ine]

Hi,

We are going to Amsterdam after our baltic cruise:D

 

My husband wants to go to Zeeland specifically to the town of Bruiness.

Family from there.

Is it easy to rent a car in Amsterdam. I think there is a train but I thought it would be important to have car to explore there.

 

Yes renting a car is easy, but driving in and around Amsterdam is probably different. Busy traffic, smaller roads etc. then in the USA.

Publuc transport is easy and frequent. Check this site for connections and information.

http://9292.nl/en/contact#

Bruinisse doesnot have a trainstation.

Roughly your connections will be train Amsterdam Centraal to Rotterdam Centraal. From there metro (subway) to Zuidplein. Regional bus from Zuidplein to Bruinisse. Traveltime about 2 1/2 hrs.

We are staying at the Hampshire hotel-Amsterdam American.

Has anyone stayed here seems to have good reviews on Trip advisor.

Which Hampshire Hotel are you staying in?

 

Is it easy to get taxi at airport to this hotel?

Approximate cost? Credit cards accepted or Euros?

Yes plenty of cabs, right outside the terminal. Cost about E. 50,- depending traffic. Also populair and cheaper are tinker cabs: https://tinker.travel/en/

Yes creditcards are accepted as of course are Euros.

Donot take cabs that are offered inside the airport terminal, those are pirate cabs.

Also....ahem....In my 20's went on a tour that went to Amsterdam and the tour bus took us on an excursion to a Live Sex Show:eek:

Yes I know....it was actually in a nice theatre....seriously crazy.

Well I've told the story to my husband so many times laughing that I wonder if they are still around:o

Although the RLD is not that large anymore due to various legal actions, you will still find show like that around Oudezijds Voorburgwal. Known are Casa Rosso, Moulin Rouge. More here and of course you can use google http://www.seektheworld.com/amsterdam-top-things-to-do-red-light-district/

 

Also Has anyone used Viator to book day tours. They seem to have a few nice ones around Holland and Amsterdam.

Again public transport is easy to do, I am not familiar with Viator, but on this site you will find many tours too. http://www.lindbergh.nl/

 

Canal cruises worth it? we are going in the summer. Are they indoor? Outdoor? Have A/C? Yes, one of the nicest ways to see the city. There are inside boats and some of them have an outside terrace. Also hop on/off ships etc. Eveningtours with cheese and wine etc. Big choices in this.

To name just a few

http://www.rederijkooij.nl/en

http://www.lovers.nl/en/

Also we have a 10:15 flight on a friday morning to US. I figure I should arrive at airport at 7:15. I would imagine this is rush hour

on a friday morning. What time should I get a taxi to make it to airport for 10:15am safely. I am a lunatic with lateness. I know my life is a hurry up and wait. But unless major catastrophe.....I won't be the one missing the ship or plane;-)

Depending traffic traveltime to the aiport from the city or the cruise terminal is about 30/40 minutes. Or take a train from Centraal Station to the airport.

Any other info would be great:D

Check the site of the Amstrerdam tourist board:

http://www.iamsterdam.com/en

 

In case you have some more time, visit Zaanse Schans, about 30 minutes north of Amsterdam, You will see still working old windmills, cheese making etc.

http://www.dezaanseschans.nl/en/

Thanks

Kerri

Have a great time.

Edited May 13, 2016 by Ine

[surebeatssailing]

Ine you have given so much helpful information to everyone about Amsterdam. We are so looking forward to visiting in August pre & post cruise.

 

Shirley

[FreestyleNovice]

Bruinisse itself is quite small, no car needed there unless you want to explore the area/locks etc around.

Public transport to it might be a bit of an hassle as Ine said; only half part of the journey can be done by train and the other half with slower transport.

 

Arranging a taxi/car with a driver for the day might be your best option. But don't get ripped off by fetching one on the streets. Pre arrange one like; http://www.dagtoertaxi.nl/services.html

 

With Amsterdam - Bruinisse and vice versa being some 260 Km, 1½ hour journey time single way by car and some driving around you should be looking at (on the safe side) 350 Km. With a total hire of 10 hour it should be 250 Euro according to the fares on his site.

 

The fare for public transport per person single way is about 22-23 Euro, let's say that would add up to 100 Euro in total.

 

Enjoy Holland!

[Ine]

Ine you have given so much helpful information to everyone about Amsterdam. We are so looking forward to visiting in August pre & post cruise.

 

Shirley

 

Glad to help. Have a great time and cruise.

[luv2gonow]

Have a great time.

 

Thanks so much for all of the amazing information!!! :D

 

I am staying at the Hampshire hotel American

Address Leidsekade 97, 1017 Amsterdam?

 

Is this a good location?

 

Also Pirate cabs in airport inside gate?

Would these be the 1st cabs I would see?

How far are "good" cabs?

 

One of the tours I will do is to country side including Zaanse Shans, Eden and Volendam.

 

Now if I can snag Anne Frank Tickets. I am awaiting August tickets. Worse than planning a fastpass at Disney world LOL.

Thanks

Kerri

[luv2gonow]

Bruinisse itself is quite small, no car needed there unless you want to explore the area/locks etc around.

Public transport to it might be a bit of an hassle as Ine said; only half part of the journey can be done by train and the other half with slower transport.

 

Arranging a taxi/car with a driver for the day might be your best option. But don't get ripped off by fetching one on the streets. Pre arrange one like; http://www.dagtoertaxi.nl/services.html

 

With Amsterdam - Bruinisse and vice versa being some 260 Km, 1½ hour journey time single way by car and some driving around you should be looking at (on the safe side) 350 Km. With a total hire of 10 hour it should be 250 Euro according to the fares on his site.

 

The fare for public transport per person single way is about 22-23 Euro, let's say that would add up to 100 Euro in total.

 

Enjoy Holland!

 

I am really liking renting a driver. I was thinking of that last night and here I have a link:)

Thanks so much!

Kerri

[Ine]

Thanks so much for all of the amazing information!!! :D

 

I am staying at the Hampshire hotel American

Address Leidsekade 97, 1017 Amsterdam?

 

Is this a good location?

 

Also Pirate cabs in airport inside gate?

Would these be the 1st cabs I would see?

How far are "good" cabs?

 

One of the tours I will do is to country side including Zaanse Shans, Eden and Volendam.

 

Now if I can snag Anne Frank Tickets. I am awaiting August tickets. Worse than planning a fastpass at Disney world LOL.

Thanks

Kerri

 

American Hotel is right in city centre, nice location. Not nice if you rent/want to park a car however. Indeed a prviate drive would be so much easier.

Keep checking often the AF house website for tickets, difficult to tell when they will be online for August. Recently those for July were available, so August might come soon too. Almost impossible now to get in without tickets due to new regulations. Only in the later afternoon, but lines again might still be long.

Pirate cabs are those people offering their services in the arrival hall. Regular cabs are found outside more or less in front of the building.

Also this shuttleservice might be another option:

http://www.schipholhotelshuttle.nl/

[luv2gonow]

American Hotel is right in city centre, nice location. Not nice if you rent/want to park a car however. Indeed a prviate drive would be so much easier.

Keep checking often the AF house website for tickets, difficult to tell when they will be online for August. Recently those for July were available, so August might come soon too. Almost impossible now to get in without tickets due to new regulations. Only in the later afternoon, but lines again might still be long.

Pirate cabs are those people offering their services in the arrival hall. Regular cabs are found outside more or less in front of the building.

Also this shuttleservice might be another option:

http://www.schipholhotelshuttle.nl/

 

Thanks so if the drivers are in/with their cars they are the

Good taxi? Yes I will keep checking.

I emailed the driver you recommended hopefully he is available sounds perfect!

Thanks

Kerri

[FreestyleNovice]

Schiphol now eve has the floors covered with bright signing/arrows to point passengers to the legit taxi line, don't worry. Just don't accept any rides offered between exiting the arrivals hall's doors and the outdoor exit of the indoor Plaza shopping area (it's all connected).

 

All the yellow/blue is public area, the Plaza shopping area. Taxis are on the grey road, you will immediately see them when you exit Plaza.

[luv2gonow]

Schiphol now eve has the floors covered with bright signing/arrows to point passengers to the legit taxi line, don't worry. Just don't accept any rides offered between exiting the arrivals hall's doors and the outdoor exit of the indoor Plaza shopping area (it's all connected).

 

All the yellow/blue is public area, the Plaza shopping area. Taxis are on the grey road, you will immediately see them when you exit Plaza.

 

Thanks so much!