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| Accommodation  Accommodation,
especially low budget accommodation, can be hard to find during summer and
around Easter and Christmas. It pays to think ahead. Not much of the low
budget hotels or hostels have a web presence, so you'll have to contact
them directly by phone or fax; all numbers are listed in the sleep section.
Not all low budget hostels will take reservations, in some cases the vacancies
are filled each morning on a first-come first-served basis. Some of the
budget hotels and most of the more expensive hotels can be booked online.
If you go to the bookings page
you can enter your period of stay, and you will be shown the available options.
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Airport
 Schiphol
Airport is located about 15km from city center, and can be easily reached
by train (20 minutes from Central Station at €4
or taxi (about €45 depending on time of travel).
Several of the major hotels operate a shuttle bus service. For general inquiries
you can call Schiphol Airport at +31 20 601 91 11.
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Amsterdam
Traffic Hazards Just
like in any other busy city traffic in Amsterdam can be hectic. There is
a hazard that needs to be pointed out to first time visitors though: bicycles!
Though cycling around town seems a friendly and relaxed way of transportation,
cyclists are unforgiving when it comes to pedestrians standing in their
way. When you hear a bicycle bell behind you, STEP ASIDE FAST!
To be on the safe side, remember that most of the time trams and taxis are
in a hurry as well. Especially trams have a long braking distance, and during recent
years there have been quite a few accidents involving tourists. The tram's
warning sound is that of a bell ringing urgently; again, if you hear that
sound , GET OUT OF THE WAY! |
| Cars
- Driving Cars are driven on the right-hand side of the road. Newcomers may find driving in town a little disconcerting because of the many cyclists who often ignore traffic lights, make unexpected turns and must be passed at close range. Right-of-way is that of the vehicle entering from the right unless the vehicle is coming out of a driveway. Roads posted with orange diamonds do not have to yield the right-of-way. The speed limit in cities is 30 miles (50 km) per hour and on highways 60 miles (100 km) or 75 miles (120 km) per hour. Tourists are allowed to drive in the Netherlands on a valid state license, preferably in combination with an International Driver's License. In the US this may be obtained through AAA. Cars - Parking  Amsterdam's
historic center wasn't build for the modern means of transportation and
as a result has become quite congested over the years. Due to the municipal
policy to ban cars from city center it is difficult nowadays to reach the
center by car, and even more difficult to find a parking space. If you're
traveling into Amsterdam by car, ask your hotel about parking possibilities.
Don't even think of parking your car in an illegal spot (even for 5 minutes
with your warning lights flashing) and don't forget to buy a parking ticket
or you're sure to get a wheelclamp! Getting the parking police to remove
a wheelclamp is a lengthy and very costly affair. Coffeeshops  A
'coffeeshop' can best be described as a café which does not sell alcoholic
beverages and in which, under certain circumstances, soft drugs may be sold.
Although the sale of soft drugs is an offense, low priority is given to
the prosecution of coffee shop owners, provided they meet the following
conditions:- no more than five grams per person may be sold in any one transaction; - no hard drugs may be sold; - drugs may not be advertised; - the coffee shop must not cause any nuisance; - no drugs may be sold to persons under the age of 18, nor may minors be admitted on the premises. See also: policy on drugs. Cost Of Living  Finding
a way to compare cost of living is the subject of many a graduate thesis.
Since that's not the issue here, we'll keep it simple: in Amsterdam a Big
Mac will currently set you back €2,95.
Take what you would normally spend vacationing in your own country and,
wether you like them or not, correct it for the price difference between
our Big Mac and your Big Mac. Voila! Getting Around  Public
transportation is well organized. The center has a dense tram network, which
will pretty much get you anywhere. Trams are a place to keep a hand on your
money since especially during the tourist season they attract pickpockets.
Another good way to take in the sights is to rent a bike. You
could also take the Canal Bus (sponsored
page), which allows you to explore the city while sampling some great
canal views at the same time.
Amsterdam has a metroline as well, running North-South through the city,
but with only a few stops in the center this has limited value for visitors.
 The
tickets used in public transport are called 'strippenkaart'. They
can be bought in advance at the post office or tobacco shops, or in the
tram itself (slightly more expensive). You first determine through how much
'zones' your trip will take you, using the map on display at every tram/bus
stop. You then want to stamp the strippenkaart the number of zones you're
travelling through PLUS one. Usually a tram ride in Amsterdam center is
within 1 zone, so that means 2 'strips' have to be stamped. You either stamp
the card yourself [metro and some trams], or have it stamped by the bus
driver or tram conductor. Several people can travel on the same card, as
long as the correct number of strips is stamped. Your stamp is valid for
one hour, so you can transfer to other busses and trams as long as you stay
within the zones you originally stamped for. 
more tips (-> page 2 of 2)
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