Amsterdam & Paris

If I read into your question that you are expecting to deliver a baby in July and want to travel in mid-April, I would suggest you take a minute to double-check the airline's policy (if there is one) on how far along you can be and still travel on a long flight over the ocean. I seem to recall hearing that there was such a policy and that it was around 7 months, but I'm not at all sure about that. You should ask though, before you nail down any specific plans or start making reservations. Hopefully, it's not an issue.

Hi - for Amsterdam, you might enjoy Heren B & B if you like a modern style. I stayed there several nights in summer 2010 and it was wonderful! Great location on the Singel canal, easy walk from the train station, wonderful hosts Ken and Vlad, lovely breakfast - all within your price range. They have a video on their website which will give you a very accurate depiction. I had a first-class ticket on the Paris-Amsterdam train - I think it was about a 3-hour trip, with WIFI and free food in first-class, a very pleasant experience.

Having you considered flying into Paris and out of Amsterdam? Back tracking eats up a day of travel, minimizing your total experience. Open jaw flying can be way more affordable than one thinks.
When I did A'dam and Paris a few years back, we enjoyed B&B Ij in A'dam. It is a non-RS listing. We had a huge room with garden access and canal/windmill view. It is in the SE part of town, close to the Tropin Museum, so you are a bit away from the heart of A'dam. I believe we paid under 100 euro per night. I enjoyed Hotel Champs du Mars in Paris. Very close to Eiffel tower and in a charming neighborhood.

Thanks for the responses. I've got a 15% coupon for flying, as long as it's a return flight to the same destination. But, if it works, perhaps we can catch a commuter right after arrival, and keep going. As for flying while pregnant, anytime after 28 weeks you require a doctors notes. I will be under that timeline. We will get travel insurance, just in case I will not be able to travel for any reason.
Thanks for the B&B suggestions; I will look into them!

Consider the Chic & Basic small hotel in Amsterdam, or one of the many small/boutique hotels in the Joordan area.

Laura Congratulations on your pregnancy! You mentioned you would be getting travel insurance. Great great idea. I would suggest not doing pre paid accommodations and read the cancellation policies carefully. Then if you had to cancel, you are not out the cost for accommodations. Make sure you get insurance that covers pre-existing conditions. I would call a few travel insurance companies, including Travel Guard, to make sure they cover for pregnancy related problems in the 3rd trimester. Make sure you get someone who sounds knowledgeable, and if not, ask for a supervisor. Or call back. Happy travels! Bobbie

Congratulations. This isn't a maternity board, but I'll say that second trimester is usually the best time to do anything. I would suggest asking your doctor if there are any foods to avoid while traveling, and then try to look up on the web what is advised in each country you'll visit. When I lived in France and was pregnant, I remember being told to eat red meat only well-done, no medium and no rare.

As a pediatric/NICU nurse, definitely get travel insurance. Take along a copy of your d OB record just in case you have any problems...don't worry they'll be able to read English. Walk at least every 2 hours on the plane, and even tho going to the bathroom on the plane can be disgusting, drink a lot too! If you can get booked on an airplane with a handi-capped bathroom (not sure how to do this, maybe call??) they're ever so much bigger. Drink lots while traveling around. I would suggest an extra day in Paris as there's a lot to do there. A great B&B in Amsterdam is B&B Batavia, about 10 min walk from the Anne Frank House, on a canal, but in a residential (mostly) building, with the owners living upstairs. No stairs, both rooms well within your price range but try to get the bigger one as with the smaller one you're only able to get out of the side of the bed on one side. Have fun!

Just a quick note on travel insurance -- I'm not sure if you already made your plans, but I've been researching travel insurance as well, because there is a possibility that I might be pregnant when heading to Europe and it seems like many companies don't cover complications related to pregnancy. You might want to ask specific questions about it, because many of them consider it a pre-existing condition. Bummer :(

Hi Laura,, I see you have changed your plans a bit, which as someone pointed out is great, as the second trimester usually is the time one feels the best. Bummer about travel insurance, hadn't thought of that, I travelled down to States when in my second trimester, but it was so long ago that I can't remember what insurance I got, or perhaps its harder now,, for me it was over 21 yrs ago! I would suggest a 5/3 split myself, but I love Paris so perhaps am biased. A daytrip to Monets Gardens in Giverny would be a lovely day out in the country and its an easy do it yourself trip. In Paris I suggest a hotel, B@Bs are not a popular concept there so they are harder to find. I can recommend the Hotel Eugenie,, its so central you can walk to many sites and are close to several metro stations. I can also suggest the Hotel Saint Pierre( the one by the Sorbonne) the rooms are small, but like the Eugenie the location is great. Ask for a renovated room it possible. The hotel Eugenie is in a noisey area, but i found it fine, the HSP is on a quiet side street off a main street. Both have good cancellation policies, but double check.
Both hotels have small rooms, but that is unfortunately normal for Paris and in that budget range.

Someone mentioned foods you should avoid, most doctors don't care about red meat being not well done anymore, but no raw steak like steak tartar,, I think the raw egg in it is the big issue. Non pasterized cheeses are a big no no, so no soft cheeses! Also no raw seafood,, like oysters .

Pat- this is actually an older post- we have decided to postpone until next year so my husband can get more vacation! Thanks for the responses though :)