Public transit tickets - Leiden inclusion?

You might look at basing in Haarlem, which is within the travel ticket area you are looking at. It is only 15 minutes to Amsterdam Centraal on the iC train every 30 minutes, or 20 minutes on a regional train every 15 minutes. Visit Leiden in the same amount of time with a separate paid ticket. Just scan in and out with your credit card.

Sam, how come google maps tells me it takes 50 minutes to get from Haarlem station to Amsterdam central station?

https://maps.app.goo.gl/h38peyg3wfAmK92GA

I keep on thinking its very far because of this. Leiden according to google maps is closer.

Should I be using a different map application to get a more accurate view of directions by public transport? is it 9292? But even that app tells me it takes 43 mins.

9292 is showing 16 to 19 minutes Haarlem to Amsterdam Centraal, depending if you use an IC train or a regional.

Thats weird. Am i doing something incorrectly? Here are my screenshots

https://imgur.com/a/cS94X3C

Today there is obviously weekend engineering work between Harlem and Sloterdjik hence the 'NS StopBus ipv trein' (rail replacement bus) between those stations but normally it is 15 to 20 minutes. Check a weekday when there is no engineering happening, or even your proposed travel date.

Ah i see it now. Thanks. Haarlem is also a bit pricier than what I'm prepare to spend. How about a bit further out? I'm happy to travel 30-40 min into city centre.

Leiden is actually not too far, I'm surprise there is little coverage in terms of day pass and also the single ticket is rather pricey for such a short distance.

There has been a few mentions of Xo Hotels Park West which seems okay too. It's closer in than Leiden and I think the day pass covers this, but not sure whether the area is a good area to stay in. Is that considered Amsterdam West? But its a bit of a pain to reach from the airport.

Is the Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket a good value ticket for tourists do you think? Will be going to do the tourist stuff in city centre, Keukenhof, Zaanse Schans, maybe De Gooyer, then neigbourhood hop like Joordan, Leiden, Haarlem, and also visit the street art Straat in the NDSM-Wef neighbourhood. Rijksmuseum I'm also interested in visiting.

The Holland Travel Ticket is only 48 EUR as long as you do not use it between 6:30 am and 9 am.

Xo Park West is in Sloterdijk, a built up modern suburb with busy Sloterdijk station nearby. The Holiday Inn Express is closer to the station than the Park West.

Personally I think the Amsterdam Region Ticket is very good value especially the 3 day version- which is just under the cost of 2 x 1 day tickets so essentially the 3rd day is free.
Train prices in the Netherlands are not the cheapest in Europe, especially when bought as singles. Unlike in the UK a day return is twice the price of a single which also makes them look more. My own empirical view is that mile for mile singles are pretty much on a par with full price UK tickets, if not a tiny bit more.

The Holland Travel Ticket is only 48 EUR as long as you do not use it between 6:30 am and 9 am

I'm usually an early riser so thats not going to work lol. But even at 48 EUR, it doesn't seem very good value for a 1 day ticket. For that price I rather get the Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket and just add on a single connection ticket if I'm going to Leiden or somewhere outside the boundaries.

I've only seem to hear about GVB. Are these other companies Connexxion, EBS, NS prevalent in the city? If I'm unlikely to use them, the GVB multiday ticket may work also.

The Holiday Inn Express is closer to the station than the Park West.

The prices for this HI is even more expensive than staying in the city center lol. Must be super nice.

Train prices in the Netherlands are not the cheapest in Europe

With the prices I'm seeing its not as bad as Swtizerland, but it is quite high. I hope they are reliable.

I have stayed near Sloterdijk station, handy to the airport, handy to Centraal, even buses to parts of central Amsterdam. The Holiday Inn has worked well for me since I have IHG points I use from time to time. Prices though vary with demand, so even they can get very high in price.

I have also stayed in Leiden, works well for Amsterdam, plus Leiden is a wonderful town in itself. For train travel, in 3 trips over the last couple years I have just used tap to pay, both for trains and for trams and buses in Amsterdam. I find I really do not use transport constantly, figure one round trip from Leiden (if you stay there) per day, plus maybe only a few tram rides, most of central Amsterdam is easy on foot, and about as quick, or quicker, than transport. Tap to pay is quick, no messing with tickets, just go.

Do download the NS Train app though, helps with choosing train options, Google Maps is helpful for getting around on the ground in Amsterdam, both walking and public transport.