Cost Cutting In Europe – Continued – Part 2

I hope you enjoyed my Paris tips in part one.  In part two – here are some great ways to save when visiting Amsterdam!

I love the Old Centre, which is home to budget lodgings housed in old buildings.  The rooms are small and basic – but will save you some cash.  For example, The France Hotel sits along a quiet canal and is available from around $155 per night.

A great way to save is to look for bars that serve a hearty dish of the day (dagschotel), which typically run around $10.  Another alternative is to find an Indonesian restaurant as they offer rijsttafel, an assortment of 15 to 20 small plates priced at about $20 per person.  A local delicacy is a thick pea and smoked sausage soup called erwtensoep, which you can find at many bars for approximately $6.

A good investment is the Iamsterdam Card from $44, which includes museum fees, free food and other discounts.  Another tip is that most museums are free or discounted April 14-15 for National Museum Weekend.

If you are a music lover, enjoy free concerts on Wednesdays from September to June at the Concertgebouw and Tuesdays from October to June at the Muziektheater.

For transportation, it is important to note that ‘strip tickets’ are cheaper than regular transit tickets.  For example, a 15 strip pass runs $8.68 virus $15 (using exchange rates at time of writing).  These strip tickets are good for the buses, trams and metros and you can share them!  Purchase your strip tickets at rail stations, newspaper stands and post offices.

Another free idea is to take the Java Island ferry across the IJ – the body of water separating downtown from Amsterdam North.  To experience stellar city views – hop on at Jetty 8.

Finally – to get from the Schiphol International Airport to downtown, you can take the 24-hour rail line for $4.14 one way – quite a bargain!

For the ultimate in savings – book one of Virgin Vacations great Netherlands packages.  I like the Amsterdam Escape from $779 per person; it features round trip air, four nights’ hotel accommodations, continental breakfast daily, hotel taxes and service charges!  A great way to see the capital of Holland- Amsterdam features an interesting mix of old world charm and modern attitude!

* Sources: European Travel Commission, Netherlands Tourist Bureau, About.com.

Posted by on 04/23 at 11:47 AM

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