Amsterdam and Bruges Questions - looking for Advice

Sure, it's definitely do-able, you just trade time in Amsterdam for time in Brugges, and factor in the time it takes to get from one to the other. I recall the train being fairly straightforward and just a couple hours. If you've been in Amsterdam recently and want to do Bruges, I'd say go for it.

We stayed at the t'gerwyn B&B in Bruges (in Rick's book) and liked it. Just can never quite figure out how to pronounce it...

You can either go thru Brussels or through Antwerp. The trip through Antwerp (change trains there) is a little shorter, at 3:15 to 3:30, and less expensive. The trip thru Brussels takes about 3:45 and, in many cases, involves the Thalys, which is much more expensive. There's a train that leaves Schipol at 9:12 am with one change in Antwerp, arriving in Bruges at 12:27 (3:15 total) which seems perfect for you. You get about 1:45 to snooze to Antwerp, then another hour or so to nap to Bruges :)

Four days is plenty to do A'dam and Bruges.

I'm not a big A'dam fan but there are some nice walks and a canal tour by boat is worthwhile. Anne Frank's house is popular. Van Gogh museum is a good place to see a lot of works you wouldn't recognize as his. You may also want to take another day trip outside of A'dam but that may be pushing it.

Bruges is compact and one good day is enough to get a good look at the city.

If you go straight to Bruges, plan your first day as a jet lag day. Try to do some walking, eat a nice dinner, force yourself to stay up until 9, then get a good night's sleep. The next day will be more productive but you may find you only want another half day there before returning to A'dam.

A couple of years ago we stayed in the Anselmus Hotel in Bruges. It was located only a couple minutes walk from the main square but on a quiet street. The beds were comfortable and the bathroom looked brand new. I don't think it is a Rick recommendation - we found it on the internet.

My mom likes B&Bs too so we stayed in Blaines B&B At the Park in Amsterdam. It was about 50 feet from Vondelpark and a 10 minute walk through the park to the stuff you want to see. The breakfast was absolutely incredible and Peter (one of the owners) goes over your planned day with you during the meal to offer advice on how to avoid crowds, where the good shops are, how to minimize your cost on public transport, etc. The bathroom was absolutely huge! Warning: the stairs are incredibly steep so not for anyone with mobility problems.

I just spent 4 nights in Bruge. I loved it. I was able to relax and see the sites. I could have cut my stay short a night and still see all I wanted to see. I did the museums I wanted and overall really really enjoyed it. I did not like where I stayed but it really could have been worse. (The place I stayed was not in the RS book, since I was going solo I was trying to save money.)

The train I took went through Antwerp. If you are on the IC train it stops in Antwerp before it gets to Brussels coming from Amsterdam. The one that skips Antwerp is the THA trian. For me it was not worth it since the trip was not faster by taking it.

Two years ago I took the train from Amsterdam to Brugge, walked from the station to Hotel Ensor -- great location and really good breakfast. Enjoyed Brugge immensely.
Took the 9:40 train from Amsterdam to Brugge, with a change in Antwerp. You can check train schedules at www.deutschebahn.com.

I lived in Haarlem for a year, coming back a year ago. We went to Bruges several times and loved it. But, it's not a place to rush in and out of--it's a sweet place to savor. Why not visit some of the other wonderful places in the Netherlands? Delft is wonderful, as are Leiden, Gouda and, of course, Haarlem. Staying and eating in Haarlem is a better value and (I think) a better experience than staying in Amsterdam. Go to the Aalsmeer Flower Auction and Zaanse Schans. Rent a car and drive up and across the enclosing dike and then down the coast on the other side to visit all the beautiful little villages. The Netherlands has so much to offer by itself. If you do go to Bruges, stay at the Hotel Adornes, which Rick recommends. The people are lovely. Linda

When in the country we like to stay in small hotels or B& B's. In the larger cities we like to stay in the Accor.com chain. We have stayed in the Ibis branch in many of the cities including Brugge and Brussels. The price is right. The rooms are plain, clean and neat. They always have a bar and food. Take a look at them on the web. Good luck.