We are heading to Amsterdam for a wedding at the end of July. We will be there from 7/26-7/30.
We are then traveling to Bruges until 8/2. We depart Amsterdam Schiphol at 10am on 8/3.
Would it be worth it to have a late afternoon/evening in Haarlem 8/2, then travel by train to the airport Saturday morning? Better to stay in Amsterdam? Or near the airport itself?
Thanks!
Camille
Another alternative - travel from Bruges to airport hotel on 8/2, then go into either Amsterdam or Haarlem for the evening.
Schipol Airport is very easy to reach from nearly every town or city in that area.
You know, while getting to Bruges, you will be passing several dozen equally-spectacular Dutch cities. I only mention that so if you ever decide to make your circle a little smaller it is very easily done.
From Delft, for instance, it's a very easy 30-minute train ride directly to Schipol. Same with Hague, Leiden, Hoorn, and on and on.
Another alternative is to fly home from BRU.
An international departure to the USA at 10AM calls for arrival at the check-in desk at 7:00AM. You'll be making at least one change in train, on your way back to the AMS area, and it could be more. I consider it a long trip, but that's a matter of opinion.
I am not a "fan" of airport hotels, but I also try to avoid 10AM departures. Direct airport trains are pretty reliable, but it's public transportation, after all. How far will your potential Haarlem hotel be from the train station? Do you have a lot of luggage? Note also that August is vacation month in most of Europe.
We can't change our flights, unfortunately. We decided to stay in Haarlem and think we'll take a taxi to the airport Saturday morning to cut out any potential train/bus issues. We aren't checking bags.
I would be back on 8/2 to the Amsterdam area. Haarlem works, Leiden is actually an easier trek to the airport 20 minutes on a direct train, vs 40 to 50 from Haarlem with one change. There are also direct buses for both. You will have seen Amsterdam, but if you wanted to spend more time, then look at the Sloterdijk train station area, about 15 minutes to the airport, maybe 10 into Amsterdam Centraal.
The Hague, Utrecht, and Delft also work, but a longer trip to the airport.
No need to stay at the airport, unless your flight is before 8 AM.
