I see that the first four 21 Day BOE tours are touting "See the Keukenhof Gardens!" For those of you who have been on that tour, what activity does seeing the gardens replace? I'm just curious, but I hope it isn't Arnhem. We took this tour in 2011, and one of my first observations was that we didn't have nearly enough time there.
Of course, I understand the gardens are magnificent, so of course we'll enjoy seeing them on our April tour. But there's nothing listed I want to skip!
I took BOE 21 in 2010, and Keukenhof replaced Arnhem and I think an open-air museum. I was disappointed to find out that that would be the case, but then I was so enchanted by the gardens that I forgave everything! Still haven't been to Arnhem. Some day ...
Arnhem is wonderful - all we got to see was the open air museum, but as I recall we didn't see but about half of that. We could happily have spent the whole day there. It's a wander, relax, and learn kind of place.
Jane, I felt the same about the open air museum! Being more experienced in taking RS tours now, this is a day I would take (or plan to buy) a picnic lunch instead of spending so much time on lunch that day. There was so much to see there!!
Pam, you're right. We were tempted to be a bit - dare I say "grumpy"? - when we had to leave right after the lengthy lunch.
Hahaha...!!! Glad you signed the no grumps clause!
That was the only thing holding us back. We'd hate to be blacklisted!
If you have time ahead of the tour to visit Arnhem on your own, it's pretty easy. Amsterdam-Arnhem train ride is one hour and direct trains depart every half hour. If departing from Haarlem, you would connect trains at Amsterdam Centraal. Then local bus number 8 (or slower bus number 3) run from Arnhem train station to near the Open-Air Museum or Openluchtmuseum. Rick's Amsterdam book has specific directions or see the museum web site.
Thanks, Laura. We are planning to go a few days early; this sounds like a good idea.
Stopped at the RS office today.
Confirmed the Arnhem Open Air Museum is dropped when the Keukenhof Gardens are done
Too bad RS does not let the group vote the 1st night on which they want to do.
I guess it's like being told there is no chocolate cake, instead you have to have apple pie
Laura
Using the traveler planner in the museum link your post, I get a cost of $50+ per person r/t from Haarlem to the Open Air museum .
Does that sound right or did I goof?
Joe, I'd say that price does make sense. www.ns.nl shows the roundtrip Amsterdam-Arnhem train ticket at €33.20 with an OV-Chipcard, or €1 more without, or a couple more if your departure is a German ICE instead of Netherlands IC.
Regarding your idea to vote, voting still tends to leave the losing parties disappointed. I'm pretty sure that both of these attractions require advance reservations for our groups.
Laura
Thanks for the info on the trains
I suppose its better to "blame" the RS office which is 4900 air miles away that the change is made, than your tour mates at the beginning of a 3 week tour. Sometimes democracy is not the best solution... :-)
We took the BOE tour in 2016 picking a date that included the Keukenhof Gardens. They are fabulous. The tour is great--fast paced and good. Regarding the idea of a picnic, when you go to the castle in St. Gohr (sp?), this was a great option and the rhubarb streudel was great. Those who chose to eat at the castle were really pushed for time.
