Amsterdam

I'm with Mike from LA. The question asked is exactly what pages and pages of good information in guidebooks provides answers to. I don't know why people don't want to do basic research. Sorry, Tom from behind, now you have two to condemn.

I can recommend the Quentin Arrive Hotel (about 90 euros per night for a room with 2 people) and Frederic Rent-A-Bike (about 70 euros per night for a room with 2 people). Both are in the Jordaan neighborhood, which is in the northwest part of the city. As for things to do, take a look at some guidebooks and see what looks good. The Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, Jewish Museum and Anne Frankhuis are excellent; a canal-boat tour is a unique way to see the city; the Begijnhof (medieval nuns' quarter; now a small and quiet neighborhood) is off the beaten path; of course the red-light district (go during the day and at night for two completely different experiences); and Chinatown for some international flavor (there's a Buddhist temple you can go into).

Once you know the dates you will be in Amsterdam order your tickets for the Ann Frank house and the museums in advance and this will save you hours of time. You can look in the RS guide book for the websites. Amsterdam is a great town to visit and now with the high speed train to Paris plan on going back in the near future.
They have a variety of restaurants and my favorite was the Indonesian rice tables restaurants of which there are many to chose from. This is one of the safest large cities I have been to in europe. There are a lot of side trips you can take and the RS guidebook gives detailed advice on getting to your destination. For me the 2 best things were the Kerkernof gardens and then the VG museum.

What price range are you looking to pay for lodging? For a first time visit 3 days is the perfect amount of time for Amsterdam. The guidebooks will give you a listing of things to do and see. Here are some other online resources: http://wikitravel.org/en/Amsterdam http://www.iamsterdam.com/en/whats-on Apart from the must sees like the Rijks Museum/Van Gough/Anne Franks House, I also like the Hermitage (currently the city's largest art museum), Tropical museum, WWII Resistance Museum, and the Zoo. Also be sure to check out the Boom Chicago improv comedy club.

I'd try to stay in a place on or near the canals, like the Herengracht, Prinsengracht, etc. - those areas are really picturesque - or near Leidseplein. Amsterdam is walkable. If the canals aren't frozen and the canal boat tours are running, that would be a must, as would be the museums. Restaurants abound, it's not that hard to eat well on a reasonable budget. You probably know that most European tourist areas have websites in English. In Amsterdam, in my experience, just about everybody speaks English (and French, and German.) I'd check the library or a bookstore for a guidebook and rough out a three-day plan and buy or print out a city map (your hotel will probably have give-aways, too).
Dress warmly!

Looks like Michael gave you some good links and there is not much else I can add other than ignore the people like Mike on here. Most on RS site are great people but like everywhere in the world you have the lower types. Have a great trip. Amsterdam is a great place to experience.

Hi Micheal, When I was planning my trip to Amsterdam I was surprised at the cost of accommodations. More expensive than Paris! We ended up staying at Hotel Van Onna www.hotelvanonna.nl which was a decent budget hotel in a nice location. Nice and quiet but walking distance to Anne Frank Huis and restaurants, shops, etc. If you stay in a budget hotel or canal house beware that the staircases are VERY narrow. We walked pretty much every where in Amsterdam, but took the tram once or twice.
We loved Amsterdam. I recommend renting bicycles. Anne Frank Huis and the Van Gogh museum have large line ups so make sure to get there early! Lots of quirky little shops, too. Have so much fun, I can't wait to go back.

we are going april 1st for 4 nights and i also was surprised at the price of lodging. we are staying near the hermitage museum renting a room from hanna penso for 100 euros/night which includes a breakfast. had good reviews on trip advisor. we plan hitting the main attractions plus a a couple of day trips to delft, the hague, haarlem and hopefully the kuekenhof gardens. . hope you have a great trip!! good luck :):)

I don't know. The OP asks for recommendations for lodging/meals and asks for people's thoughts on what highlights he should include in his3 day itinerary. Sounds like a routine, normal, regular question here on the HelpLine to me. I stayed at the Hotel Rho is Dam Square - within walking distance to the train station and practically everything we wanted to see, altho we did take the tram to the Rijksmuesum.

Hi Michael, Check out City Mundo at: http://amsterdam.citymundo.com/ I've used them several times and have also been happy with the apartments. I think they have a three day minimum stay and for the price of a room you'll get an apartment in the city center (I'd recommend staying near the Rembrandtplein). Enjoy your trip.

Highlights: Hermitage Museum, Anne Frank Museum, Rijks Museum, Van Gogh Museum, Heineken Museum, Amsterdam History Museum, Rembrandt's House, Dutch Resistance Museum, Canal Cruise
Don't waste your time on the Tropic Museum. Willet-Holthuysen Museum was kinda boring. I stayed at a non rick steves listing, a B&B in the SE part of Amsterdam called BB IJ. We stayed in the garden suite, with full on view of a windmill and a canal. It was nice.

We really enjoyed the Resistance Museum and the church hidden in the canal house (link below). If you are at the Resistance Museum the zoo across the street is nice (though pricey). Favorite Hotel was Hotel Brouwer - small central and charming. http://www.sacred-destinations.com/netherlands/amsterdam-museum-amstelkring-hidden-church.htm

If you are at the Resistance Museum, then you also really need to go see the Jewish Theater War Memorial (Hollandse Schouwburg) about 1.5 blocks south, takes maybe 30 minutes, very moving, and thematic with the Resistance Museum, no charge, works on donations.