I’m so used to travelling to Europe when I head home to visit my parents that I take it for granted I won’t run into any issues along the way. However, my recent trip to Amsterdam proved that I had become just a little too blasé with my travel planning. Mistakes are there to be made and learned from and to ensure that you don’t waste as much time and money as I did, here are five tips I feel obliged to pass on.
1. Before you go
Book a visit to Anne Frank House. I was told three days before I left that I could do this online. No problem, I thought, I’ll wait until I get to the UK and check with my travel companions when they want to go. Big mistake. Online booking open two months in advance of the date you wish to visit and availability, which is between the hours of 9am and 3.30pm is snapped up. For those who don’t book well in advance, queuing time, to which I can attest, is about two to three hours. Well worth the wait but it could have been avoided.
2. From the airport
Amsterdam is well serviced from the airport by train – unfortunately I didn’t think to find out which bus connected to my accommodation once I go t off the train. Since I was travelling with my parents, who are not seasoned, and a totally ridiculous amount of luggage, I opted for a taxi. Expensive mistake. €60 ($88) later, we did indeed arrive safely at our accommodation – a trip that would have cost €21 ($30) by train and bus.
3. Don’t forget your discount offers
Despite being sent an offer to save on many of the tours and attractions that there are around Amsterdam, I opted to go it alone. Expensive mistake number two. My parents love those big red tourist buses that circle the city, however, they’re no fans of hopping on and off, instead choosing to do the one trip to ‘get a feel for the place’. A combined hop on, hop off bus and boat ticket cost me €80 ($118) for the three of us and we only did one circle, with no boat trip. Using my discount would have saved me €21 ($30), but to be honest, I should have given the whole tourist bus a miss. On the plus side, showing my bus ticket did secure me reduced-fee access into other attractions – such as Red Light Secrets – Museum of Prostitution. Instead of paying €11.50 ($17), I only paid €9 ($13) – you can also book this online before you go and get the same savings.
4. Local transport is a must
This sort of follows on from point three – local transport in Amsterdam is connected, convenient and affordable – there’s no need to be taking expensive tourist buses. A one-day ticket is €7.50 ($11) and a two-day ticket €12.50 ($18.25). Tickets can be bought on buses and trams; buses will only accept credit cards as payment, as well as stations, on street vending machines and tourist information. The reception desk at your accommodation may also sell them. They are valid for 24 or 48 hours (longer tickets can also be purchased) from first tap on (don’t fort to tap off) and can be used on GVB transport – trams, buses and metro.
5. Getting to the airport
Trains to the airport are fairly regular early on in the day, but later in the afternoon and evening, they may run only every 20 – 30 minutes. The journey takes about 15 minutes, with only two or three stops between Centraal Station and Schiphol Airport and if you’re travelling with luggage, get to the station early to secure a seat. A one-way trip will cost €4.20 ($6.15). Also, getting through security and passport control at Schiphol Airport takes an inordinate amount of time for such a modern day terminal. Give yourself plenty of time before your flight to avoid any stress and rest assured that if you manage to speed through security, there are plenty of places to relax before your flight departs.
While things may not have gone strictly to plan (given that I didn’t really have one), my parents, the two friends I was travelling with and I all had a ball. My only real regret is that I didn’t stay longer. However, there’s always next time and rest assured, I won’t be making the same mistakes again!
Related articles:
Be awed by Amsterdam
What to do in Amsterdam
Tips from an insider: Amsterdam
