Destination: Amsterdam
Now this will be a very short post, purely because I've been 'Dam before and I really did not feel like a tourist or did much of the tourist-y things this time round! I didn't even take much pictures I just kind of went with the flow! Honestly I just needed a break, a breath of fresh air in a place that's not home!
Dam is one of those cities that you just go to have fun and when people ask you what you did you just say, I had fun! No details necessary! Lol if you know then you know!
Some activities are not everyone's cup of tea but hey each to their own!
Accommodation
I flew with British Airways and stayed in Hoofddorp which is very close to Schipol Airport. Normally I like to stay city center and be close to attractions but my return flight was a bit early so I wanted to be close to the airport.
I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express. It was very simple, clean and had the bare necessities. I was not looking for something lavish as I was on a weekend break but I wanted something decent!
The hotel had a free shuttle bus service that picks you up from the airport and drops you at the hotel and vice-versa. You will need to check the timing of it. Saves money rather than booking transfer! You know I'm cheap & cheerful! *wigglesbum*
The hotel provided WiFi in all the rooms and it was fast. My stay was inclusive of continental breakfast. Now this was a slight let down as it was very very very basic, cereal, bread to toast, croissant, ham, cheese and a couple of rolls and hot drink and juice/fruits. So you literally just had to eat large amounts to be filled. However it was pleasant! I love food so I'm not complaining!
Activities
If you've been following me you know I love museums and Amsterdam is like museum Capital. There are museums everywhere, in every corner, (OK major exaggeration) nonetheless there are loads of it. As mentioned prior I've visited Dam before and honestly I was not really in a touristy mood.
The hotel has loads of maps, so collect one it'll help.
So the famous museums there are the Van Gogh, Ann Frank's House, Rijksmuseum and even a sex museum. This is not the exhaustive list, from paintings to artifacts, diamonds and the history of Red light district there's plenty for you to experience.
Now these museums are not free plus I know even if I give you the prices, they are subject to change.
The cheapest was the diamond factory which is free. The sex museum was €4, only go if you're not easily offended and don't mind explicit content because it is explicit.
The Amsterdam museum is €10 and it is pretty cool because it goes through the history and development of the Netherlands. They have these awesome portable speakers that you connect and place by your ear and hear the voice over of a video presentation.
The famous and well known museums start from about €17,50+ Yep!
Transport links in Amsterdam is amazeballs, if I'm to be honest you don't need a transfer from the airport to your hotel or anything like that. There are trams that go everywhere, metros that run until just after midnight. There are night buses regularly running. So the trams will also take you to these museums. When you arrive at Schnipol Airport the train station is literally right there, so I bought a two day travel-card, which literally covered trains, bus and trams and lasted from the Friday that I had arrived to the Sunday morning that I left on. It was about €20 or less.
There are also exhibitions always going on as, we visited the NYC graffiti meets Amsterdam exhibition the art work was amazing! There was the Rome exhibition that we also briefly visited.
Now for the infamous Red light District, there is actually three different locations but the main one is literally by Amsterdam Centraal station. When you get out of the Centraal station you'll see a church in front of you and right behind it is the Red light district strip. There are coffee shops, restaurants, live shows and peepshows starting from as little as €2 to €30/40 plus. It is an extremely busy strip with people celebrating hen & stag dos. You'll see the lads on holidays or couples getting tips. However go at your own peril, if overtly sexual content is not your cup of tea then stay away.
There are several shops where you can pick up tickets to take cruises on the canal and get a tour of such a picturesque city. Right opposite the Centraal station there is the tourist information, where you can get tickets, directions, maps and know pretty much everything you need to know about Amsterdam.
Amsterdam is such a youthful and vibrant city, there are a million and one places to shake a leg. One area that I really liked was Leidspeine. It has bars, restaurants and loads of local high street and luxury shops. So if you're really into your hiphop and Rnb Leidspeine is the area to go to. The tram from Amsterdam Centraal will take you right there. There are free clubs and bars and obviously some that you may have to pay. Nonetheless it is loads of fun!
There are loads of places shops to at. I visited the Magna Plaza shopping centre and it was very basic not really worth it, the only good thing there was that they had a Yankee Candle shop and I loooooove me some Yankee candles. My favourite is Christmas Cookie and I made sure I picked up a jar! Leidspine is also a busy shopping area, just to add, with common high street shops such as H&M!
Amsterdam is a city to definitely visit to have fun in but don't forget to leave some time to learn and explore their history and rapidly changing culture!
Whilst there the city was beyond diverse and everyone were friendly there was no immediate fear or direct discrimination. I had a pleasant time and I would encourage everyone to add it to your bucket list!
Follow moi on:
Instagram: PERFECT_JEMZ
Twitter: Perfect_Jem
Born a legend to leave a legacy.
Posts up every Wednesday evening!
Now this will be a very short post, purely because I've been 'Dam before and I really did not feel like a tourist or did much of the tourist-y things this time round! I didn't even take much pictures I just kind of went with the flow! Honestly I just needed a break, a breath of fresh air in a place that's not home!
Dam is one of those cities that you just go to have fun and when people ask you what you did you just say, I had fun! No details necessary! Lol if you know then you know!
Some activities are not everyone's cup of tea but hey each to their own!
Accommodation
I flew with British Airways and stayed in Hoofddorp which is very close to Schipol Airport. Normally I like to stay city center and be close to attractions but my return flight was a bit early so I wanted to be close to the airport.
I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express. It was very simple, clean and had the bare necessities. I was not looking for something lavish as I was on a weekend break but I wanted something decent!
 |
| The bathroom actually had blue lights, so this is not a filter |
The hotel had a free shuttle bus service that picks you up from the airport and drops you at the hotel and vice-versa. You will need to check the timing of it. Saves money rather than booking transfer! You know I'm cheap & cheerful! *wigglesbum*
The hotel provided WiFi in all the rooms and it was fast. My stay was inclusive of continental breakfast. Now this was a slight let down as it was very very very basic, cereal, bread to toast, croissant, ham, cheese and a couple of rolls and hot drink and juice/fruits. So you literally just had to eat large amounts to be filled. However it was pleasant! I love food so I'm not complaining!
Activities
If you've been following me you know I love museums and Amsterdam is like museum Capital. There are museums everywhere, in every corner, (OK major exaggeration) nonetheless there are loads of it. As mentioned prior I've visited Dam before and honestly I was not really in a touristy mood.
The hotel has loads of maps, so collect one it'll help.
So the famous museums there are the Van Gogh, Ann Frank's House, Rijksmuseum and even a sex museum. This is not the exhaustive list, from paintings to artifacts, diamonds and the history of Red light district there's plenty for you to experience.
Now these museums are not free plus I know even if I give you the prices, they are subject to change.
The cheapest was the diamond factory which is free. The sex museum was €4, only go if you're not easily offended and don't mind explicit content because it is explicit.
 |
| sex museum is for 18+ only |
The Amsterdam museum is €10 and it is pretty cool because it goes through the history and development of the Netherlands. They have these awesome portable speakers that you connect and place by your ear and hear the voice over of a video presentation.
 |
| The speakers |
The famous and well known museums start from about €17,50+ Yep!
Transport links in Amsterdam is amazeballs, if I'm to be honest you don't need a transfer from the airport to your hotel or anything like that. There are trams that go everywhere, metros that run until just after midnight. There are night buses regularly running. So the trams will also take you to these museums. When you arrive at Schnipol Airport the train station is literally right there, so I bought a two day travel-card, which literally covered trains, bus and trams and lasted from the Friday that I had arrived to the Sunday morning that I left on. It was about €20 or less.
There are also exhibitions always going on as, we visited the NYC graffiti meets Amsterdam exhibition the art work was amazing! There was the Rome exhibition that we also briefly visited.
 |
| en route to see the graffiti |
 |
had to darken it, as it is exclusive   |
 |
| outside of Rome exhibition |
Now for the infamous Red light District, there is actually three different locations but the main one is literally by Amsterdam Centraal station. When you get out of the Centraal station you'll see a church in front of you and right behind it is the Red light district strip. There are coffee shops, restaurants, live shows and peepshows starting from as little as €2 to €30/40 plus. It is an extremely busy strip with people celebrating hen & stag dos. You'll see the lads on holidays or couples getting tips. However go at your own peril, if overtly sexual content is not your cup of tea then stay away.
There are several shops where you can pick up tickets to take cruises on the canal and get a tour of such a picturesque city. Right opposite the Centraal station there is the tourist information, where you can get tickets, directions, maps and know pretty much everything you need to know about Amsterdam.
Amsterdam is such a youthful and vibrant city, there are a million and one places to shake a leg. One area that I really liked was Leidspeine. It has bars, restaurants and loads of local high street and luxury shops. So if you're really into your hiphop and Rnb Leidspeine is the area to go to. The tram from Amsterdam Centraal will take you right there. There are free clubs and bars and obviously some that you may have to pay. Nonetheless it is loads of fun!
 |
| Leidspeine |
There are loads of places shops to at. I visited the Magna Plaza shopping centre and it was very basic not really worth it, the only good thing there was that they had a Yankee Candle shop and I loooooove me some Yankee candles. My favourite is Christmas Cookie and I made sure I picked up a jar! Leidspine is also a busy shopping area, just to add, with common high street shops such as H&M!
Amsterdam is a city to definitely visit to have fun in but don't forget to leave some time to learn and explore their history and rapidly changing culture!
Whilst there the city was beyond diverse and everyone were friendly there was no immediate fear or direct discrimination. I had a pleasant time and I would encourage everyone to add it to your bucket list!
Follow moi on:
Instagram: PERFECT_JEMZ
Twitter: Perfect_Jem
Born a legend to leave a legacy.
Posts up every Wednesday evening!
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