Can anyone recommend a Taxi service for our pickup at Schiphol to take us to our city center hotel? Would like to pre-book & pre-pay on-line if possible. We have been to Europe many times in the past 15 years and are avid Rick Steves' travelers. So, husband and I will be arriving in Amsterdam @ Shiphol Airport on a Monday morning around 8am. This is our first time to Amsterdam. Yes, we are aware of the inexpensive ways to get into the City Center (tram, Connexxion shuttle, etc.) but after what we know will be a sleepless 8 hours in Economy Plus on KLM, we generally prefer to have a driver waiting for us after baggage collection in the arrival area, with our name on a placard and just take us to our hotel! Not a lot of thinking or brain power required! Also, wondering if anyone has any remarks about The Times Hotel? We wanted a place to stay near Dam Square, with an elevator and air conditioning since we arrive late July and this hotel has some pretty good reviews on TA & booking.com. Thanks fellow travelers!
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
Sorry, I don't have any particular shuttle company to recommend. (That hotel is the same distance from the train station that I walked with my backpack to a different hotel last year; train ticket 5 euros per person.)
Posted by
OP
Arlington, VA, USA
123 posts
Thanks Laura...How far was your walk to your hotel from the train station? Although we travel light, we're in our mid 60's and will be attempting to save all our walking time & energy for more fun activities in Amsterdam!!! Hoping someone will chime in. I've heard about a taxi service called "Trip Filler" and they sent me an email & quoted me about 30Euros from the airport to our hotel. Hopefully they're on the up & up!
Posted by
Springfield, IL
58 posts
I know the temptation of a taxi or car service to the hotel but Amsterdam is really easy. To be a little thrfty, take the train from the airport to Centraal station. Then take the tram or a taxi to Dam square. If walking can be an issue for you (it is for us), buy a transportation pass for however long you will be in Amsterdam and use the trams for even short trips to museums ans such.
Posted by
Boston, MA, United States
1806 posts
I stayed at The Times Hotel last year. Nice hotel, terrific location - easy walking distance to Jordaan, Nine Streets, Dam Square and sights like Anne Frank House - multiple tram line stops just a few blocks from hotel to get further out. Good selection of restaurants nearby in all price ranges as well as a couple of Albert Heijn supermarkets if you need to stock up on snacks or drinks (there is a small bar in the hotel lobby and they sell bottled water and soda as well as alcohol, but it's cheaper at the supermarket). There are also a few self-service laundromats and drop-off laundry services nearby if you are staying for an extended amount of time.
A few other things to note: I did not book a canal facing room. Some of the people who did complain on TA and Booking.com about The Times mostly griped about the room size of some of the rooms that have canal views and I saw their photos and, yes, their rooms were considerably smaller than mine - but they had a nice view and my view was nothing to write home about - but I don't travel to Europe to sit in my hotel for hours looking out the window, so I was fine with not booking a canal view. A few others complained that there was a coffeeshop (Amnesia) next door. I can tell you that you would hardly know it was a coffeeshop. Amnesia seemed to attract the older locals (30+) who are pretty quiet and it's a far cry from some of the coffeshops over in the Red Light District that attract more of a frat boy crowd. I stayed at The Times in the Spring, so did not need A/C - can't comment on the strength of the A/C, but the heat was working great (it was very cold and damp outside during my visit). Elevator was handy to have with the luggage and reliable, but the stairs at The Times aren't really too steep like other canal hotels in Amsterdam.
Can't comment on a taxi service. I will say, I can never sleep on a plane and I flew Economy on KLM and even operating on no sleep, it was incredibly easy to get from Schiphol to Centraal by train and required very little waiting as trains are frequent. Once at Centraal, there are plenty of taxis to take you to The Times. I travel with one backpack, so I chose to walk from Centraal to The Times which took about 15 minutes and the hotel is very easy to find. If you aren't traveling light, or have mobility issues, take the taxi from Centraal. Do note that the sidewalks in some spots are incredibly narrow and there is a lot of cobblestone and brick, so I was glad to have a backpack and not be dragging along a roller bag. As it's your 1st visit to Amsterdam, do pay attention when you are walking and have to step off the sidewalks as there are many trams, cars, motorcycles and bicycles in various lanes adjoining the narrow sidewalks.
Otherwise, email the hotel directly and ask them for a recommendation for service from the airport. I had to email them about something before my trip and they were very quick to respond back (less than 24 hours).
Posted by
OP
Arlington, VA, USA
123 posts
Thanks all. We went ahead and booked a Taxi (they quoted us a 30Euro fare) with Taxi Van Dalfsen.
which I think is really reasonable. Also booked The Times Hotel since it receives good reviews, is in a great area, not far from tram stops, has A/C & an elevator! Thank you all so much for your comments & help.