<p>The amstelbotel has triple rooms. It is a boat hotel. I looked at it when I was planning the girl scout trip. From what I recall it had good reviews and was a reasonable price. It was near the top of my list - can’t remember why I changed my mind (it was 2 years ago). I think maybe there was a comment about people ‘smoking’ there and as we were a girl scout group I decided to avoid the issue. Or now I think of it I liked that the Hotel Brouwer did not have televisions in the rooms after reading some comments about porn on the televisions. Did not think that was the kind of culture I wanted the girls exposed to. Anyway - amstelbotel - google it and check tripadvisor for reviews.</p>
<p>Wow, thanks for all of the great links and info!
I started asking for travel advice on CC for a college visit and found such a wealth of information that it’s now a must for all of my travel. There is such a diverse, well-traveled group of people here that are so generous with info, it is wonderful!
LOL 07DAD - I will report back in the fall. We are making the trip so my husband can compete in a race, so I should have some interesting tales!
Thanks again for all of the advice.</p>
<p>^^ Is he racing at Zandvoort (Grand Prix racetrack) - not too far from Amsterdam? :)</p>
<p>Haha…noooo. Completely different kind of racing. He’ll be in Almere for the ITU World Long Course Championships ( triathlon). It’s similar to an Ironman with a little different distances. His races give me a chance to travel though so I enjoy it. LOL
I was really psyched about the amstelbotel but I found out yesterday that they moved the location this month and apparently it is not as convenient as it was and a little difficult to get around at night. Bummer.
There were some other suggestions here that will work out though ( with triples offered) so I just have to make a decision.
Thanks again to all who offered insight!</p>
<p>Get your tickets to the Anne Frank House on line and the same with the Van Gogh Museum. You need to put in a specific time but it beats the long lines outside these places. Also, eat at the Pancake Bakery about a block from the Anne Frank House. You’ll really enjoy it.</p>
<p>Anybody needing any Amsterdam advice just pm me… i’m a local.</p>
<p>another suggestion besides the many notorious tourist attractions such as the Rijksmuseum and Anne Frank House is Zaanse Schans, only short drive north of the city. I would really encourage people to visit this if they need a break from the sites in urban Amsterdam. Look at the site for more info.
[Zaanse</a> Schans - All weather experience](<a href=“http://www.zaanseschans.nl/]Zaanse”>http://www.zaanseschans.nl/)</p>
<p>we used vrbo–vacation rental by owner–when we wanted more room to include our daughter.
it was cheaper than 2 rooms, well appointed, and inspired the feeling that you lived there.
we do it in the states, as well.
good luck</p>
<p>Im keeping track of this thread- because my D has a one night layover in Amsterdam next month both going to and coming back from Ghana. Not sure where they will be staying- but they are eager to cram as much in as they can I’m sure. ( high school age)
I want to ask her to bring me some bulbs on the way back- do they have any at the airport?</p>
<p>WE went last summer for our 25th anniversary. IT rained a lot. Many museums were completely or partly closed. WE had a great time. Highlights:</p>
<p>Banks Mansion: great hotel, great location, great breakfasts and living room with snacks and wine and beer free all day, tiny but functional room.
Concertgebuow: spelled wrong I am sure. If you love classical music plan your entire trip around the concert schedule there and you will not regret it.
Tiny obscure museums: film museum, handbag museum and others…so fun.
Staying on the canal: great walks.
The flower auction: a tram and a bus ride early one morning were well rewarded.
Yummy food: everywhere.
Sissy Boy: a fun store with functional fun gifts.
Grocery Store: fun to shop in. Everyone got souveniers from Sissy Boy or the Grocery store…
Cheap organ concerts:Neuw Church (I think)- at lunch time.
Location: is important for your hotel. We were ideally situated as we walked everywhere. Not one cent paid on taxis except in the pouring rain one night when we going to the concert and a bit dressed up. Otherwise, we walked…
We got the museum pass. This way we could go back and see things again, come and go as the weather permitted. It was a very good deal…We reserved tickets for some things (Anne Frank) and this paid off.
The museums in the Jewish area are very interesting and well done. </p>
<p>Have fun!</p>
<p>I’ve really appreciated this thread – my dd will probably be spending the summer in Amsterdam doing an internship.</p>
<p>One further question – how does one find summer housing? She will be there ten weeks – too long for a hotel and too short for much else.</p>
<p>Any thoughts?</p>
<p>A few things which have not been mentioned in Amsterdam:
Rembrandthuis Museum (where he lived and worked), Nieuwe Metropolis Museum (this is the science museum mentioned–it’s great),the Amsterdam Historische Museum (don’t forget to peek at the Begijnhof nearby–sanctuary residences for nuns–peaceful), Heineken brewery tour. There are so many wonderful places to visit–you don’t say how much time you have, but here are a few out of the way ideas–only you know whether or not they appeal to you! One of the closest castles is Muiderslot in nearby Muiden–very different than others you will see in Europe–if you take the time to go there, visit Naarden, which is a lovely restored Medieval town nearby.
Zaanse Schans is the place where you go to see the klompen (wooden shoes) made–it’s OK, but very touristy. If that appeals, and you have the time, I prefer the Zuiderzee Museum in Enkhuizen–a really well-done interactive open-air museum which also has the benefit of being near the Ijsselmeer (inland sea) so you can see a different sort of landscape.</p>
<p>If you take a couple of days to go to Brugges, cool towns on the way are Middelburg and Veere, and if you have any engineering types in the family, the Delta Expo is a must (Zierikzee–I think) where they explain how the Dutch keep the water out–the North Sea storm barrier is here.</p>
<p>If you go to Den Haag (the Hague) you will see the most in one day if you head toward the Binnenhof (inner court) where you can take a tour of the Ridderzaal (Knight’s Hall) and also see the Mauritshuis, which is a tiny jewel of a museum. If you go to Madurodam (nearby) then you definitely have to stop in Scheveningen–the beachside resort–which will be hopping in late summer. Other unusual sites nearby are the Panorama Mesdag which is a huge (building-sized) panoramic painting of the beach circa 1880’s or the International Peace Palace–interesting to see all the gifts given from different countries. </p>
<p>I could go on… but I have a feeling you’ve already run out of time:)</p>
<p>Try the Marriott - it’s your typical Marriott but it will definitely take three people in one decent-sized room. We liked it and the location is great. We also stayed at the Hotel Pulitzer (overlooking a canal) and while they accomodated all three of us in one room, it was pretty cramped. Hotel Pulitzer used to be a canal house, so it has quite an interesting layout and the view of the canal at night was lovely.</p>