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Amsterdam on a budget
Fred Mawer's excellent series in the Daily Telegraph on how to enjoy a city break for less than £200 has now featured Amsterdam. With the UK's currency decling against the Euro, his advice is all the more welcome.
Top tips included alternative ways to Amsterdam to flying - both sea and train offer competitive routes - and getting around on foot or by tram. Buy a 15-unit strippenkaart, good enough for seven city centre tram rides will be sufficient and it only costs £5.70, or less than a pound a trip.
Renting a bike is also economical and is far less daunting than in most cities with hundreds of miles of cycle lanes. A one-day rental of a pedal-brake, no gears bike from MacBike costs ££8 a day plus £2.50 insurance.
He suggest a number of value hotels including hostels. Check on travelsavvy-amsterdam for an even wider selection of hostels and budget hotels bookable through hostelbookers.com
Eating out tips include briny herring sandwiches at stalls costing around £2.50 while the cinnamon-flavoured apple pies from the Winkel cafe on the Noordermarkt gets a recommendation as did Bagel & Beans. Good value lunches are also available at La Place at Kalverstraat 203.
The I amsterdam Card is a hefty £35 for 48-hours but is ideal for a busy city break as it includes entry to 30 museums and attractions, including the Van Gogh and Rijksmuseum plus use of the city's public transport.
This article was written for TravelSavvy Europe by Bob Cartwright. If you know of an interesting European travel related news story, please get in contact.
