Going to Amsterdam - hotel near a train station a little way

[Pazuzu]

A few of us are heading for a long weekend to Amsterdam in early April.

We're looking for a reasonable hotel somewhere within 30 minutes or so on the train but near a train station if possible?

We'll be on bikes so the plan is to park them up there and head into Amsterdam for a day, possibly two and we'll also be riding around looking at battlefields etc. depending on the weather.

Any advice welcomed!

Thanks,

Phil

[GreatGranny]

We stayed here a few years ago and it's not far into the centre on the tram which stops directly outside.

Decent rooms and breakfast.

https://goo.gl/maps/WVgUE6nZaCKVx3VV7

[Pazuzu]

GreatGranny said:

We stayed here a few years ago and it's not far into the centre on the tram which stops directly outside.

Decent rooms and breakfast.

https://goo.gl/maps/WVgUE6nZaCKVx3VV7

Thanks, looks good but 25 euros a day parking kills it somewhat!

Cheers though.

P.

[123DWA]

Sloterdijk is a good area for this. The Holiday Inn has secure parking and is opposite the train station & only a 15 minute ride into Centraal station

[Pazuzu]

123DWA said:

Sloterdijk is a good area for this. The Holiday Inn has secure parking and is opposite the train station & only a 15 minute ride into Centraal station

Thanks, 25 euros a day to park again though - wonder if bikes are the same!

Phil

[HappyMidget]

The Zaan and Inntel hotels are pretty good and real easy to get into central Amsterdaam https://www.booking.com/searchresults.en-gb.html?a...

[deckster]

Much of the Amsterdam suburbs are a bit grim, or at least, rather dull. I personally wouldn't be staying out near Sloterdijk or anywhere Zuid/Zuid-Oost.

For my money I'd go way out and stay in Utrecht. 30 minutes on the intercity and approximately a billion times nicer than Amsterdam. And if you're cycling, the cycle route network is excellent and you can do some really nice traffic-free full day rides. It's very much what I would call the 'real' Netherlands, which Amsterdam really isn't (in the same way that London isn't the 'real' UK).

[Pazuzu]

Motorcycling but thanks for the advice - I'll check it out.

P.

[123DWA]

Pazuzu said:

Thanks, 25 euros a day to park again though - wonder if bikes are the same!

Phil

It could be worth asking the question as I know the Motorcycles had their own separate parking area. In my experience you'll be hard pushed to find parking for much less than 20eur per day anywhere close to Amsterdam.

[HappyMidget]

Zaan is 10 euros p/d but might be cheaper for bikes https://www.booking.com/searchresults.en-gb.html?a...

Used to commute out to Zaandam 3 days a week for 18 months and have stayed both here and the Inntel a lot. Inntel is 15 euro per day

[RizzoTheRat]

30 minutes or so on the train from Amsterdam covers a reasonably big area. Haarlem's nice and only 20 minutes out, no idea on hotel/parking prices though
I think they only run the quick service from Amsterdam to Zandfort when there's races on but it might be worth a look.

Or base yourself a bit further out at Leiden and have a longer trip in to Amsterdam but also fast trains to Den Haag (Louwman Museum is worth a visit for any PHer) and Rotterdam if you fancy a look around other places, although if battlefield tours are your plan then Utrecht makes more sense for an a shorter ride to Arnhem and the National Military Museum (not been yet but I hear it's good)

[zb]

Look at Amstelveen, it's only about 25mins on the tram to Centraal. I stay at Ibis budget, its basic but modern and clean. Tram stop around the corner, not noisy like lot closer to the city centre. Decent shops for provisions, without being pricey or touristy. In fact there's a decent whiskey shop about a tram stop away, good offers IIRC . One of the best purveyors of kibbeling in T. Bootsman, up across from Albert Hein.

Edit: just checked some tram times and its saying closer to an hour. Thats not right, it was much less, about 15, from kronenberg to vondelpark, dont see how it would be more than 3x that to Centraal.

Edited by zb on Monday 28th February 22:47

[Pazuzu]

Thanks all - I'm going through it all

[ecsrobin]

HappyMidget said:

The Zaan and Inntel hotels are pretty good and real easy to get into central Amsterdaam https://www.booking.com/searchresults.en-gb.html?a...

I stayed in the inntel Zaandam not long after it opened many years ago, rocked up for a week in Amsterdam area without paying the prices, turned up “we’ve upgraded you” ended up with a sauna in the bathroom which was used daily.

Very convenient as next to the station and a few nice restaurants/bars in Zaandam for a more relaxed evening if you wish.

[MGJ2]

Just wondering: which battlefields do you want to visit?

[Pazuzu]

Depends on time, weather and the route we take back to Calais really. Uncle Vlad may be supplying some more options at this rate!

[madbadger]

Has anyone been to NL since the rules relaxed on the 25th Feb?

I see we are still on the list of countries of very high concern. So need a test to arrive but it looks like no longer needing to isolate for 10 days. Safe list (China, New Zealand etc) and the EU can just turn up.

[RizzoTheRat]

madbadger said:

Has anyone been to NL since the rules relaxed on the 25th Feb?

I see we are still on the list of countries of very high concern. So need a test to arrive but it looks like no longer needing to isolate for 10 days. Safe list (China, New Zealand etc) and the EU can just turn up.

No need to quarantine on arrival now if you're fully vaccinated, but I think you still need a test to travel from the UK. https://www.government.nl/topics/coronavirus-covid...

I recognise that username, you're a parkrunner aren't you? If so Zuiderpark is closed for the Invicus games 16 & 23 April, and possible also the 9th if that's one of your reasons for visiting

[madbadger]

RizzoTheRat said:

madbadger said:

Has anyone been to NL since the rules relaxed on the 25th Feb?

I see we are still on the list of countries of very high concern. So need a test to arrive but it looks like no longer needing to isolate for 10 days. Safe list (China, New Zealand etc) and the EU can just turn up.

No need to quarantine on arrival now if you're fully vaccinated, but I think you still need a test to travel from the UK. https://www.government.nl/topics/coronavirus-covid...

I recognise that username, you're a parkrunner aren't you? If so Zuiderpark is closed for the Invicus games 16 & 23 April, and possible also the 9th if that's one of your reasons for visiting

Thanks Rizzo.

One of them - yes. Thinking about going to Sweden for bonus day on the 6th June and Zuiderpark is an obvious stop off on the way back before the ferry to Hull. However also keen to return to NL for work. Pre pandemic I was over a few times a year, but frustrated that currently it is harder than it would be if I was in China! Especially as the official reason is our rates of a variant of concern. When you (and much of the EU) have higher rates of the same mild variant.

Also going to get more complicated as I'm approaching my 270 days since last jab.

[madbadger]

To help with the OP I would also recommend Zaandam.

Lovely town square with loads of nice bars and an easy 20 minute train ride into the city. The BestWestern has free parking and is slightly out of town but only 5 minutes or do to the station.