We plan to travel first to Amsterdam, thereafter to Brussels, and, finally, by Eurostar from Brussels to London for about ten days before heading home to the west coast (we've taken the Eurostar twice from Paris and it's a pleasant short trip (probably shorter overall than some of the economy airline trips from the Continent to lesser UK airports). Although Bruges is a definite destination and hotel accommodations there are logical, we'd prefer to lodge in Brussels on our arrival from Amsterdam to minimize train changes (even if two days trips to Bruges are entailed). To our question(s). We'd like to plan our number of days to be set aside for Amsterdam and Brussels. We're thinking four or five full days for Amsterdam and we're not necessarily thinking of any day trips from there (is it true that the Anne Frank House is now closed?). We're also thinking of four or five days in Brussels with day trips to Bruges and Ghent. Antwerp seems principally focused on shopping events and we're not so interested in that aspect of our trip (except for perhaps a couple of bottles of Stateside-unobtainable Scotch if a nonstop return Heathrow-home destination works out for us). We'll appreciate any advice re stay times for Amsterdam and Brussels, while we're checking Rick Steve's (his most recent book seems to be from 2007), Fodor's and Frommers for appropriate center-of-city accommodations for both cities. Maybe that question will be a logical one for a future enquiry here.
Posted by
Genesee, ID
1840 posts
If the Frank House is closed a good alternative is the Dutch Resistance Museum which has some information about Anne Frank. Bottles. You will have to put them in checked baggage. We used to bring back two bottles each before liquids in that size bottles were banned from carry-on. I still have a bottle of Black Bottle from those days. It is a blend of all the Islay whiskys.
Posted by
OP
Seattle
149 posts
I may be recalling inaccurately re the returning to the US with bottled alcohol, that it was okay if, for example, the alcohol was purchased at Heathrowwhere the Scotch stores are post-security check-in, secure the alcohol in sealed bags, and one's flight is nonstop to one's destination, e.g., Heathrow by BA direct to Seattle's SeaTac International. Which is the current situation, given the proposed circumstances of purchase and travel?
Posted by
New Paltz, NY
9110 posts
Good choice on the chunnel train, it's definitely the fastest and most comfortable way to travel between Brussels and London. Getting to Bruges or Ghent (they're on the same train line)from Amsterdam just requires just a single change of trains in Antwerp. I'm not a big fan of Brussels so it would be my preference to stay in Bruges or Ghent and day trip it to Brussels. There are direct trains from both places into Brussels for the chunnel into London. According to the Anne Franks site, it is open and there is nothing to indicate that they are planning to close. TO avoid waiting in the long lines purchase your tickets via the site well in advance. For most folks three full days in enough time for Amsterdam. Five days gives you enough time for day trips to places like Haarlem, Delft, and the Hague. Rick's Amsterdam/Bruges/Brussels/Ghent guidebook was last d 2011 click the "books" tab above to order the latest edition. How much are you looking spend per night for hotels; we can give you recommendations.
Posted by
OP
Seattle
149 posts
I think I've received a private message within the last few hours but I may have inadvertently deleted it as it attempted to address my Earthlink spam filter. I've just acquired an iPad Mini and have been trying to reconcile its operation, tricks and traps with my desktop, my router and my wife's laptop. If someone on the forum has sent me a pm quite recently, I'll really appreciate a "re-send." It also occurs to me that, after a quick look at the Frommers site, that lodging in Amsterdam seems much more pricey than that we experienced in Rome and Siena just a year and a half ago, where, I seem to recall, our "3 star" "en suite" double rooms in "sort of historic" elevator buildings were between US $220 and US $250 and included breakfasts in the tariffs. Because of our ages, we'd greatly prefer elevator lodgings to the alternative (although we continue to walk pretty well for distance on the horizontal). Any suggestions for Amsterdam and Brussels lodging (and fit approximately within our general expectations) with which forum members have had either pleasant experience would be most welcome.
Posted by
Huntsville, AL, USA
8319 posts
Check Booking.com for accommodations in Amsterdam. They may have more reasonably priced rooms. Last time we stayed there, we were in a B&B at Amsterdam North, out by the stadium. There are a number of B&B's in the area. We used to stay in a small hotel in the area, but the owners cashed in by converting it to condominiums.
Another source of inexpensive rooms is AirBnB.com. They're really getting large worldwide.
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
7886 posts
Just on the subject of Antwerp, I don't think of it as a shopping town, except for high fashion - the famous designers of men's and women's clothing. It's almost as attractive as Bruges and Gent, but much bigger and much more to do. It has its own UNESCO world heritage museum, the Printing museum, and lots of important easel art - however, the KMSKA museum is closed for renovation. The Rubens House disappoints a lot of people because they have so little art there, but the churches, mansions, and museums have plenty of Rubens (home town painter, along with a lot of others.) The MAS museum is popular with people get tired of paintings, since it includes holdings of the shipping and ethnographic museums, which are excellent, a special collection of pre-Columbian art by the Janssen (pharma...) family, and a rooftop observation deck that is free and with longer hours. Don't sell Antwerp short. Use the search box (upper right) here for more threads on Antwerp.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
Rick's most recent Amsterdam, Brussels and Bruges guide was from 2011, although he made some interim updates when it was reprinted in 2012. The next new edition is due May 28, 2013. Note that unlike in the 2007 edition, he now includes information on Ghent and Antwerp as well as the title cities, so you definitely want to get the latest edition you can. I am not a shopper, but Antwerp was my favorite of the "big 4" Belgian cities. The subject of "which do you like and not like - Brussels, Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp?" is endlessly debated, and of course, there's no one "right" answer, just personal opinions. Just do a search on this Helpline, and you'll quickly come up with threads like these: http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/helpline/index.cfm/rurl/topic/87499 http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/helpline/index.cfm/rurl/topic/84526 http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/helpline/index.cfm/rurl/topic/88057
Posted by
USA
32 posts
Hi Jim. I'm planning my first trip to Amsterdam/Brussels for April; and I recently booked a double room at Hotel Alexander in Amsterdam for 115 euros/night. It's in the West Amsterdam neighborhood, right by Vondelpark. It got good reviews on trip advisor. For Brussels we will be staying at Ibis off Grand Place for 75 euros/night for a double en suite. Since we will be in Brussels for just one night, we were more concerned about location than how nice the hotel is. I found this on trip advisor as well.
I hope some of this helps! Enjoy your trip!