Hello!
Elderly couple from Chicago. We have booked and paid for the Best of Europe tour in April. Please advise on:
1. Once we get off the plane, we were advice to get Euro $ from an ATM. Advise on that please.
2. Advise on how to take the train from Amsterdam airport to Haarlem.
Thank you,
Michael
Tour Hotels
In case you wish to book pre- or post-tour hotel accommodations, the contact information for the tour's first and last hotels is included in your tour confirmation email, as well as in the Itinerary section of your tour account. One month prior to the tour departure, you'll find the directions to your first tour hotel and a complete list of hotels where we'll be staying in the Documents section of your tour account.
https://www.ricksteves.com/tours/europe/europe-21-days
Probably can wait to you get to the hotel and then find a bank affiliated ATM to get some cash. No real need to do that at the airport
hey hey ngobaixan
this question is asked almost everyday about "euros", we all have out own opinions that are liked and hated. not many ATM's at airport, they are euronets that charge a lot to withdraw, depending on how many planes are landing with your flight could be a thousand people if 3 flights, many will be running like cheetas to wait in long lines, one machine is "out of order", how much money is in ATM then runs out. ugly situation for me in rome years ago, 4 planned landed same time, lines were down to baggage claim, borrowed from traveling friend till we got to town, paid her back and said never again. i always go to my bank here in states before, get 100-200E (small bills was about $20 fee) and smile/wave to others waiting at an ATM. you do you i did me, where's your patience/stress level
when does your flight arrive to amsterdam? i would book train ticket when you arrive, never know how long through customs/passport and if delayed flight. how many days ahead of tour, check-in is 3-4pm and check-out 10-11am. check train schedules and what suites your fancy or if another cruise is going same place share a taxi ride. good luck have fun. amsterdam is beautiful, bikes bikes everywhere "watch out", have some yummy desserts, been 2 times loved it
aloha
Either get €100-200 from your bank before leaving home, and/or as recommended wait until you get to your hotel and ask where to find the nearest bank owned ATM.
Read up on European trains on this website: https://www.seat61.com/international-trains/trains-from-Amsterdam.htm
For local trains scroll down to the section "Amsterdam to anywhere in the Netherlands. To get a ticket on the next available train, you have options; none of which require cash. You can download the Dutch Railways app and buy your ticket with it. The QR code opens the station gates. Or buy a ticket from a machine or manned ticket counter at the station. Or use a contactless credit card to tap in and tap out at the station gates.
We found that the best way to get from the airport to Haarlem was the bus. It leaves from right outside the airport. You use your credit card to tap in and tap out for easy payment. I can’t remember which bus line it is but you can look it up and you can also ask at the airport. It was very easy to do we were surprised to find that there was a dedicated bus road that it followed which was really interesting and such a great idea. The bus was not competing with other traffic to get to Haarlem.
As saf indicated the bus is a good option. I think it is a red bus but I could be wrong. Steve's guide book discusses how to find the bus. It makes two stops. One is the town center and the other is the train station. Depending on your hotel's location it could be closer using the town center stop. We always use a hotel on the Grote Markt (the market square just in front of the Kerk or big church.) The very tall spire is a good guide since you can see for almost anywhere in Haarlem. We just get off at the Centrum stop and walk north to the square keeping the spire in sight. Easy enough to do it. If you go to the train station, then walk south towards the spire. It is a couple blocks further than the Centrum stop. And if you take the train it will bring you to the same train station.
After a day of hectic sightseeing in Amsterdam we love returning to the square and having a beer at one of the restaurants that are around the square and relaxing.
The last time we were in the airport there was a three terminal ATM just outside of the TI. No line. But ATMs are everywhere in Haarlem. The ATMs work just like in Chicago.
The #300 bus is the easiest way to get to Haarlem. The bus is better than the train, as the train requires a connection. The bus is direct. Tap pay works well.
Ask your hotel regarding the best stop.
Have a great trip!
As pat mentioned, it is the 300 bus. Make sure to take the one with Haarlem displayed on the front (otherwise you may go the opposite direction). More information here: https://www.schiphol.nl/en/from-to-schiphol/by-public-transport/bus
Do note the bus station is being renovated and your guide book may not reflect that. The 300 stop has moved to a slightly different location: https://www.schiphol.nl/en/projects/news/bus-stops-at-different-location-to-make-construction-of-new-bus-station-possible it’s temporary stop is B11.
You can buy tickets on the bus with debit or credit card (no AmEx) or tap in/tap out individually with credit card; either each with their own card or a shared card on multiple devices.
There are two stops in downtown Haarlem: Verwulft/Centrum and the Haarlem Station. Do you feel comfortable to share the name of your hotel so I could advise which stop to take?
No need to get cash therefore at the airport so you can use the yellow Geldmaat ATMs (cooperation between the major Dutch banks) in Haarlem at a cheaper rate. Your hotel should be able to point out the closest one.
As others have mentioned, get 100 - 200 euros from your bank at home before you leave. Yes, it will cost a little more, but the extra cost is next to nothing compared to the total cost of the trip. And, it is a small price to pay to avoid the stress involved in getting euros upon landing.
First, you will be tired, sleepy, jet lagged, and on new turf. Second, you will have to locate an ATM and wait with many, many, others trying to get euros. And finally, ATMs do not always work as they should. They malfunction, they run out of cash, and sometimes they will not recognize your card.
Just an additional thought. Be sure to check with your bank(s) and credit card companies to see if a travel alert needs to be put on the account(s). Some do and some don't.
Just offering food for thought.
the 300 is fast and efficient.
I have been to the Netherlands several times in the last 3 years - haven't spent a cash Euro. What do you expect to have to pay cash for there? Even, well I can't think of what, seriously I only used Apple Pay and only had to use the actual card once (debit card in Albert Heijn supermarket).
I see you describing yourself as elderly. We're under 80 and I suppose we're approaching elderly. Perhaps you don't regularly use Apple Pay / Google Pay - - then I guess you would need some Euro,
I agree that there is no need to rush to get cash at the airport, and I would not bother getting some from your bank at home. The bus, Train, and most all transportation take credit card, either buying a ticket, or tap in, tap out. When you get to Haarlem, you will pass a number of Geldmaat, it is a joint network of ATM in the Netherlands, not associated with any one bank, and is the best for use. With a foreign bank card, expect to pay up to 4 euro for use. Do some reading on DCC, basically opt to do the transaction in euros, and decline any conversion offer. This applies to credit card transactions as well.
I would maybe withdraw 100 euro, split it between you and your spouse, you likely will need to use most of it up in the last days of your trip, or save for your next trip.
Barney, thanks so much for the info on the Haarlem bus stop. I'll be needing that info in about six weeks. Am very excited to return!
I have been in the Netherlands several times this and last year. Also have travelled to Germany and Spain. Abroad, as well as at home I never use cash anymore, to the point that I usually do not carry any.
You can do everything by card. Just try to get a Mastercard, as Visa is not accepted everywhere, but Mastercard usually is.
You are not going to need cash immediately, if ever, so I would wait until you are passing by a Bank ATM. I like to carry a little so I would pull out maybe 100 Euro and then see if I use it. If not, well, you were still covered. My guess is that if you do need Euros it will be in Germany. The parts of Germany that I have been to (and I think your tour does the same areas) did requrie cash to eat fairly often. The only other place I have ever been that wanted cash as often was Hallstatt in Austria. If at the end you still have euros left, use them at the airport on the way home.
We only pay euro (cash) , easier to know our daily spending, no surprise c/c at the end.
TIP: do not use any Euro over 100 denomination, you will find it very, very difficult to get change..
Our Hotel, foreign exchanges, post offices, would not even consider changing a 200 Euro.
Stood in a bank line for 40 minutes to change it, with a passport as well.
