I stayed in Amsterdam from 23rd-26th September 2016 and flew from Birmingham airport. I chose to fly with KLM city hopper and the return flight cost me £120. I flew on a small aircraft but the flight was only 50 minutes so it was bearable. To be honest I was sold when they handed out free food and drinks! I chose to stay in The Meininger West Hotel which is around 15 minutes west of the City centre on a tram. I stayed in a twin room which cost me £40 per night.
THE DOS AND DON'TS!
So, a lot of people have always wanted to go to Amsterdam but avoid it because they think its far too expensive. Well that's not always the case. Here's how to get the best out of Amsterdam on a tight budget! 1. Find accommodation outside of the City Centre. I would recommend staying outside of the City centre if you are on a tight budget. The Meininger West Hotel was a perfect choice for me as it was cheap and cheerful, but had everything I needed. They are happy to help with anything including booking all tours at a discounted rate. Prices start from 14 euros per night which is a bed in a shared dormitory, but they also have private rooms with private bathrooms. This hotel is right next to a train station and tram terminus. Tram number 12 goes straight to the city centre and takes around 15 minutes. (You can pick up a 72 hour tram pass for 17 euros). You can also get a direct train from Schiphol Airport for less than 5 euros, this takes around 10 minutes and is a lot cheaper than a private transfer! 2. Book all of your tours together! By booking all of your tours together, you will get a discount. It may only be a few euros, but when you're on a budget, every cent counts! I chose to take a trip to the Heineken Experience and The Xtracold Ice Bar experience. By booking both of these together in advance at my hotel, I paid 32 euros. However, if I had booked them both separately and paid on the door it would have cost me 44 euros. 3. Explore, don't tour. Instead of booking a city tour, explore Amsterdam yourself! I find your Amsterdam experience will be more fun and personal if you explore for yourself rather than joining a pre-planned tour. That way you can visit wherever you want, whenever you want. Also tours of Amsterdam can be a bit pricey. However Amsterdam is quite big and it is easy to get lost as it is like a maze! So if you want to book a short tour to help you get your bearings, I would recommend booking the hour long canal cruise through Tours and Tickets. This costs 10 euros and will help you to find your way around Amsterdam. 4. Do your research. Before you book anything, research it first! I planned to go to Zaanse Schans and noticed a tour there which cost 39 euros, this included return transport, all attractions and a 45 minute boat trip. However when I looked in to it myself I found out that a return train ticket was just 6 euros, the boat trip was also 6 euros, and most of the attractions are free! So I chose to travel there independently and saved myself 27 euros! Not bad for 10 minutes work! 5. Don't settle for the first thing you see, look around. This goes for pretty much everything in Amsterdam, from eating out, to buying souvenirs. Amsterdam has something for everyone in all aspects, so don't just settle for the first price you see, look around a bit. There are many upmarket restaurants and steak houses, but there are also equally as many cheaper restaurants which I found were just as nice. 6. Pre-drink! If you're planning nights out or having a few drinks with your meal, I would suggest having a good old, typical British pre-drink! Alcohol prices in Amsterdam are pretty high, to give you an example, I paid 9 euros for a cocktail in a mid-range bar. So stock up from a local shop and arrive fashionably tipsy!
GO SEES!
So now you know how to make the most of a weekend in Amsterdam, I have a few must sees and dos whilst you're there! 1. Visit The Anne Frank House. Even if you're not a typical tourist and you're not into history, I would still recommend visiting this eye opener. It costs 9 euros and there is no time limit. You get to see where the family actually lived and hid during the war and there is an interactive exhibition which helps you to put yourself in the shoes of Anne Frank. The queues do get pretty long, but it is well worth the wait! I waited for about 30 minutes in the pouring rain, but I can assure you I was not disappointed! 2. Visit the Heineken Experience. I am not a lover of beer, but it was still well worth the 16 euros I payed. There is a museum and interactive exhibitions here, and if that is not enough for you, there's horses! I don't want to give too much away, so go and check it out for yourself. PS there's free beer! I would recommend booking your ticket in advance as its slightly cheaper and you get to skip the queue. 3. Visit The ice bar. This is brilliant value for money and a great alternative start to your night out! It costs 16 euros if you book a package deal in advance, and this price includes 30 minutes entry in to the ice bar (which yes it is freezing!), gloves and a coat to keep you warm, 2 drinks in the ice bar, served in a glass made of ice, (either beer, orange juice or shots, I would highly recommend the whipped cream flavoured vodka), and a free beer or cocktail in the other bar afterwards to help you warm up. Just bare in mind that it would cost you more than 16 euros to buy all of these drinks in a normal bar in the centre of Amsterdam. Be aware if you pay on the door it will cost you 25 euros and you don't get anything extra for this price. 4. Take a trip to Zaanse Schans. Wow! I don't know how else to describe this stunning place! It's only 10-15 minutes North-West of Amsterdam on a direct train and well worth the trip. It's like entering a whole new place. When I try to picture what the Netherlands looks like, I imagine windmills, canals and cheese, That's exactly what Zaanse Schans is! It's a small tourist village which has windmills and little huts to visit which include cheese making, chocolate making, clog making and many other things. It has something for everyone here and is perfect for photographers as its just so pretty. I spent around 3 hours here but could have easily stayed longer. I would recommend sampling the free cheese and pastries! There is a boat trip here which takes you around Zaanse Schans and lasts for 45 minutes, it's 6 euros and gives you the opportunity to take in the natural beauty of Zaanse Schans and capture some amazing photos! I don't think my description of this beautiful place is doing it any justice, so check it out for yourself and you'll see what I mean! I remember my friend saying "The only thing that could possibly make this place any better is a petting zoo" and 5 minutes later we found a place where you can feed chickens or goats for 50 cents. That was the best 50 cents I have ever spent! 5. Go and see the iAmsterdam sign. Well, A trip to Amsterdam isn't complete without getting a cheeky photo featuring the iAmsterdam sign is it? The sign is in front of the Rijksmuseum in Museumplein (or Museum square in English)
So I've done my bit by helping you achieve one of the most memorable city breaks as cheaply as possible, now it's time for you to do your bit by visiting Amsterdam for yourself, trust me you will not be disappointed and you'll come home with many stories and amazing memories that will last you a lifetime! (Please note all prices were correct as of September 2016)
