Should I go to Europe next week?
April 23, 2018 12:59 PM Subscribe
I have next week off, my plans fell through, flights seem reasonable, I've never been, and...??? Would this work?
I ask this question because I've never been to Europe, and I'm checking to make sure there's nothing important I'm missing, like, the deadly fogs roll in in May, or something.
My plan, if you can call it that, is to grab a reasonable flight to London (those looked cheapest, but Amsterdam and Paris were also reasonable) then use that as a jumping off point and take the trains around. For accommodations I'd be fine staying in hostels, I really don't need anything fancy.
Does this seem at all reasonable or doable? Is there something better I could do?
I'm an experienced solo domestic traveler, but never done anything international. (I do have a passport, yes.) Lady in her 30s. Would be by myself.
Also, where should I go? I live in NYC so not super impressed by big cities or art. Love nature and outdoor activities, though I know Europe may not be the best for that. I was thinking Western Europe instead of Eastern because it seems easier to pull off on the fly. Thanks!
I ask this question because I've never been to Europe, and I'm checking to make sure there's nothing important I'm missing, like, the deadly fogs roll in in May, or something.
My plan, if you can call it that, is to grab a reasonable flight to London (those looked cheapest, but Amsterdam and Paris were also reasonable) then use that as a jumping off point and take the trains around. For accommodations I'd be fine staying in hostels, I really don't need anything fancy.
Does this seem at all reasonable or doable? Is there something better I could do?
I'm an experienced solo domestic traveler, but never done anything international. (I do have a passport, yes.) Lady in her 30s. Would be by myself.
Also, where should I go? I live in NYC so not super impressed by big cities or art. Love nature and outdoor activities, though I know Europe may not be the best for that. I was thinking Western Europe instead of Eastern because it seems easier to pull off on the fly. Thanks!
Yes, you should! And if the flight to London is notably cheaper, you can easily entertain yourself for a week in the UK. Go to Scotland!
posted by something something at 1:04 PM on April 23, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by something something at 1:04 PM on April 23, 2018 [2 favorites]
I would focus on one area and thoroughly experience it because a week isn't long enough to do anything else, in my opinion. If I flew to London I would try to pick a place that suits my interests and spend my entire time there.
I could go to London and go to the same museum/library every day for the entire time - the British Museum, the V&A, or the British Library.
posted by Altomentis at 1:05 PM on April 23, 2018 [5 favorites]
I could go to London and go to the same museum/library every day for the entire time - the British Museum, the V&A, or the British Library.
posted by Altomentis at 1:05 PM on April 23, 2018 [5 favorites]
This sounds like a super fun plan! Seat 61 is a great resource for rail planning, should you need help there.
posted by everybody had matching towels at 1:05 PM on April 23, 2018
posted by everybody had matching towels at 1:05 PM on April 23, 2018
Go for it! I would actually suggest sticking close to one spot, though; Europe is smaller than the Continental US, but it's not, like, tiny. It took me pretty much a whole day to get from Budapest to Berlin by train, which doesn't look that far on a map (and also blew a day for me). Take advantage of the train system, yeah, but maybe do this:
* Pick one city that will be your base for half the week.
* Take lots of day trips in the surrounding outskirts of that city.
* Then switch to one other city, maybe the next country over, and use that as the base for the second half of the week.
* Repeat.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:07 PM on April 23, 2018 [8 favorites]
* Pick one city that will be your base for half the week.
* Take lots of day trips in the surrounding outskirts of that city.
* Then switch to one other city, maybe the next country over, and use that as the base for the second half of the week.
* Repeat.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:07 PM on April 23, 2018 [8 favorites]
Upon reflection - you could just spend the whole week in Scotland and get a buttload of outdoorsy stuff. Or somewhere in the Alps.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:08 PM on April 23, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:08 PM on April 23, 2018 [4 favorites]
Response by poster: Oh yes, just to clarify on my outdoorsy stuff, I love bicycling (but cannot mountain bike), like hiking, cannot ski.
posted by unannihilated at 1:11 PM on April 23, 2018
posted by unannihilated at 1:11 PM on April 23, 2018
Also, where should I go?
Imagine if someone from Europe asked you, "Hey, I have a week to see the U.S. Where should I go?" You can choose from about 4,000 places that you'd enjoy. Grab a guidebook and start flipping.
The good news is that public transport is generally much better in Europe, especially in Switzerland, so it's not hard to fly to Paris or Frankfurt (or even Zurich, if you can find a cheap filght) and take the train and bus to some tiny village in the Alps - or rural England, or one of the other 3,998 places. Enjoy!
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 1:13 PM on April 23, 2018 [2 favorites]
Imagine if someone from Europe asked you, "Hey, I have a week to see the U.S. Where should I go?" You can choose from about 4,000 places that you'd enjoy. Grab a guidebook and start flipping.
The good news is that public transport is generally much better in Europe, especially in Switzerland, so it's not hard to fly to Paris or Frankfurt (or even Zurich, if you can find a cheap filght) and take the train and bus to some tiny village in the Alps - or rural England, or one of the other 3,998 places. Enjoy!
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 1:13 PM on April 23, 2018 [2 favorites]
It will be easier if your first trip is to a place where you speak the language. While it's true that many people all over Europe speak English, you really can't count on it.
posted by FencingGal at 1:15 PM on April 23, 2018
posted by FencingGal at 1:15 PM on April 23, 2018
I recommend against France right now, given rotating train strikes.
If you like to bike, Amsterdam would be a great starting off point for biking around just that city, or around the Netherlands, which is very well connected with safe bicycling infrastructure from city to city.
posted by urbanlenny at 1:17 PM on April 23, 2018 [5 favorites]
If you like to bike, Amsterdam would be a great starting off point for biking around just that city, or around the Netherlands, which is very well connected with safe bicycling infrastructure from city to city.
posted by urbanlenny at 1:17 PM on April 23, 2018 [5 favorites]
With a week to see stuff and no particular goals, I'd either pick a single major city and consider daytrips, or pick a pair of cities and fly open jaw, potentially stopping in the middle somewhere. For single cities your three are good suggestions, for pairs either London/Paris, Paris/Amsterdam or London/Edinburgh make the most sense to me.
I think you'll find if you've not been overseas before that there are a lot of differences, big and small, that make the major cities worthwhile. I wouldn't tell someone who lives in Atlanta or Dallas that they shouldn't bother with NYC since they already live in a big city, and the differences are in many ways greater.
On preview, if you love bicycling, you should already be booking a flight to Amsterdam. That is so obvious it's not even funny. Amsterdam is fascinating, it's as easy as you can get in a non-English destination. You can take a few train day trips within the Benelux countries - Brussels is a 3 hour train trip. The Netherlands is flat cycling heaven; the 14 day weather forecast is not terrible. Just do it!
posted by Homeboy Trouble at 1:18 PM on April 23, 2018 [13 favorites]
I think you'll find if you've not been overseas before that there are a lot of differences, big and small, that make the major cities worthwhile. I wouldn't tell someone who lives in Atlanta or Dallas that they shouldn't bother with NYC since they already live in a big city, and the differences are in many ways greater.
On preview, if you love bicycling, you should already be booking a flight to Amsterdam. That is so obvious it's not even funny. Amsterdam is fascinating, it's as easy as you can get in a non-English destination. You can take a few train day trips within the Benelux countries - Brussels is a 3 hour train trip. The Netherlands is flat cycling heaven; the 14 day weather forecast is not terrible. Just do it!
posted by Homeboy Trouble at 1:18 PM on April 23, 2018 [13 favorites]
Yeah, if you like biking but you can't mountain bike, the Netherlands is super bike friendly and the opposite of mountainous.
posted by aubilenon at 1:22 PM on April 23, 2018
posted by aubilenon at 1:22 PM on April 23, 2018
Don’t forget the outlet/plug converter thing!
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 1:32 PM on April 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 1:32 PM on April 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
Definitely go. English isn't an issue, at least in cities, but it definitely helps if you know at least a few words in the native language. I'd stick to no more than two major cities in a week, and fewer if you only have five days on the ground. You can definitely find "Three Days In..." guides for the major cities, though they're probably going to be skewed toward art and history and not the outdoors. Rick Steves guides and website are excellent for planning. The Netherlands are amazing for cycling, and it isn't overly difficult to ride bike from Amsterdam to the beach (Zandvoort) and back in a day, though you may want the weather to cooperate.
Note that pretty much all of North Western Europe is going to rain for much of the next 10 days, so plan your activities accordingly.
posted by cnc at 1:38 PM on April 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
Note that pretty much all of North Western Europe is going to rain for much of the next 10 days, so plan your activities accordingly.
posted by cnc at 1:38 PM on April 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
This is a great time of year to visit the Netherlands, as the weather's fairly reasonable (just wet) and Keukenhof is open. Public transportation is easy because you can use an ov-chipkaart pretty much everywhere. Be sure to pack a raincoat.
posted by neushoorn at 1:41 PM on April 23, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by neushoorn at 1:41 PM on April 23, 2018 [6 favorites]
Came here to say Keukenhof as well. Tulip time is a pretty great time to visit the Netherlands.
posted by JoeZydeco at 1:45 PM on April 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by JoeZydeco at 1:45 PM on April 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
English isn't an issue, at least in cities
As an American who has lived in Europe and traveled with mediocre German, I disagree. It might be fine, but you can't count on it. I can't even tell you what a relief it was to get to London, where everyone understood me and I understood everyone.
posted by FencingGal at 1:46 PM on April 23, 2018
As an American who has lived in Europe and traveled with mediocre German, I disagree. It might be fine, but you can't count on it. I can't even tell you what a relief it was to get to London, where everyone understood me and I understood everyone.
posted by FencingGal at 1:46 PM on April 23, 2018
You should totally do this. Is your passport good for 6 months? You're fine. If you're unlikely to go to Europe again, there's no harm in cramming London, Amsterdam, Paris, and/or Madrid into your trip. Go; go now before it gets hot and filled with students. It's a great time to visit.
See: Ryanair and Easy Jet for cheap European flights. I can travel for 10 days with a cabin bag carry on, but you need to be aware that the bag size restrictions for Ryanair are smaller than US cabin bag sizes and that they mean it.
posted by DarlingBri at 1:53 PM on April 23, 2018
See: Ryanair and Easy Jet for cheap European flights. I can travel for 10 days with a cabin bag carry on, but you need to be aware that the bag size restrictions for Ryanair are smaller than US cabin bag sizes and that they mean it.
posted by DarlingBri at 1:53 PM on April 23, 2018
"I love bicycling"
GO TO AMSTERDAM OH MY GOD. GO. TO. AMSTERDAM. You can bike in the city. You can bike from the city out into the country just about everywhere. You don't need mountain biking skills of any kind. You will see tens of thousands of other people on bikes just going about their daily business.
I've been to London and Paris and Amsterdam and they've all got unique things to adore about them, but experiencing the Dutch culture where bicycles are for everyone, everywhere, as common as vacuum cleaners, nobody is a "cyclist" but everybody bikes is utterly intoxicating.
posted by Pandora Kouti at 1:53 PM on April 23, 2018 [11 favorites]
GO TO AMSTERDAM OH MY GOD. GO. TO. AMSTERDAM. You can bike in the city. You can bike from the city out into the country just about everywhere. You don't need mountain biking skills of any kind. You will see tens of thousands of other people on bikes just going about their daily business.
I've been to London and Paris and Amsterdam and they've all got unique things to adore about them, but experiencing the Dutch culture where bicycles are for everyone, everywhere, as common as vacuum cleaners, nobody is a "cyclist" but everybody bikes is utterly intoxicating.
posted by Pandora Kouti at 1:53 PM on April 23, 2018 [11 favorites]
As someone who's travelled around most of Europe and parts of the Middle East with English and Spanish, it comes down to your attitude and willingness to meet people halfway. If you don't go in expecting people to speak English perfectly, if you start from the point that you're the one would doesn't speak their language, you'll be fine.
I've successfully communicated with small children in Greece who spoke precisely 0 words in English and even with Parisians, who do in fact speak (some) English, just refuse to admit this if you get in their face and start yelling in English 'THE EYE-FOOL TOWER, WHERE IS IT???????'. Can you blame them?
You only really need to learn to say 'Excuse me, I don't speak _YOUR_LANGUAGE_. Do you speak English?' in a polite way in the language of wherever you are. People invariably answer 'yes, a little' and you're off.
posted by signal at 1:57 PM on April 23, 2018 [8 favorites]
I've successfully communicated with small children in Greece who spoke precisely 0 words in English and even with Parisians, who do in fact speak (some) English, just refuse to admit this if you get in their face and start yelling in English 'THE EYE-FOOL TOWER, WHERE IS IT???????'. Can you blame them?
You only really need to learn to say 'Excuse me, I don't speak _YOUR_LANGUAGE_. Do you speak English?' in a polite way in the language of wherever you are. People invariably answer 'yes, a little' and you're off.
posted by signal at 1:57 PM on April 23, 2018 [8 favorites]
Oh, and the Dutch speak English, some of them better than you.
posted by signal at 1:59 PM on April 23, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by signal at 1:59 PM on April 23, 2018 [5 favorites]
English isn't an issue, at least in cities
Just to clarify this comment, I spent a full month in Western Europe last September and October and went to seven countries and something like 12 cities with four non-English languages and I have maybe a 150 word French vocabulary, learned maybe 20 words in each of the other languages (including "Do you speak English?" in every language), and not speaking English was minimal or no issue for me. But I was generally where English-speaking tourists go, doing what tourists do.
"Bicycle" in Dutch is "fiets," which is pronounced "feets!" ;-)
posted by cnc at 2:04 PM on April 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
Just to clarify this comment, I spent a full month in Western Europe last September and October and went to seven countries and something like 12 cities with four non-English languages and I have maybe a 150 word French vocabulary, learned maybe 20 words in each of the other languages (including "Do you speak English?" in every language), and not speaking English was minimal or no issue for me. But I was generally where English-speaking tourists go, doing what tourists do.
"Bicycle" in Dutch is "fiets," which is pronounced "feets!" ;-)
posted by cnc at 2:04 PM on April 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
Copenhagen is also wonderfully bike-friendly, but I also vote for Amsterdam because of the tulips. Enjoy. :)
posted by pinochiette at 2:14 PM on April 23, 2018
posted by pinochiette at 2:14 PM on April 23, 2018
As someone who's traveled a fair bit around Europe, I disagree with those who say you MUST stick to one or two areas for a week. If you don't think you'll get back to Europe for a while, I say cram in a ton of stuff. You're not going to "get a feel for what it's like to live" anywhere in a week. That's not what this trip is for. Go, enjoy!
posted by ImproviseOrDie at 2:18 PM on April 23, 2018
posted by ImproviseOrDie at 2:18 PM on April 23, 2018
A quick note about language: I've been to 5 cities where English was not the predominant language, and I can count the number of times where there was a language barrier on one hand; scratch that, on one finger. And even there it just took about 30 seconds of persistence to fix (I had a cabbie who couldn't speak English, so I couldn't ask him "I don't have cash, so can we stop at an ATM on the way to my destination" directly and had to ask a couple different passersby before I found someone who spoke English and could translate my question). In all other cases, either people understood and spoke English, or were so gosh-darn determined to help that they figured out some way for us to make ourselves understood to each other. And that can be a fantastic memory in and of itself - one of my favorite memories from Rome is when a shopkeeper managed to convey to me the sentence "Hot chocolate is a seasonal beverage in this cafe only and we only serve it in winter" entirely through hand gestures.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 2:31 PM on April 23, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 2:31 PM on April 23, 2018 [2 favorites]
You'll need money. For hard cash, use your ATM card while over there and your bank probably sells Pounds or Euros to start you off with a small amount of usable cash when you land. For Credit or Debit, let your banks know you will be out of the country. Your chip card may not work like the European ones so you may have to use the magnetic stripe. Some machines will not accept the American chips, so be prepared to go to a ticket window. This can vary by location and card and is generally getting easier over time. It is always nice to have cash as a back up, though. If your phone can be used to pay for things, that is another option.
Find out your international plan options from your current cell phone provider. You may not care about having non-wifi internet access in general, but having it to navigate is essential. If the plan costs too much, consider a local sim card if your phone is unlocked.
posted by soelo at 2:37 PM on April 23, 2018
Find out your international plan options from your current cell phone provider. You may not care about having non-wifi internet access in general, but having it to navigate is essential. If the plan costs too much, consider a local sim card if your phone is unlocked.
posted by soelo at 2:37 PM on April 23, 2018
One week is not a lot of time. Take care not to spend too much of it on trains, unless you love trains! Cramming lots of places in might sound attractive but travel always comes with overhead time, usually spent in ways that are annoying or boring and a waste of your perfectly good time.
In other words, don't go to (air quotes) Europe. Go to an European country that appeals to you. Not because it's somehow virtuous or whatever, but because you'll most likely have less stress and more fun that way.
posted by Too-Ticky at 2:51 PM on April 23, 2018 [8 favorites]
In other words, don't go to (air quotes) Europe. Go to an European country that appeals to you. Not because it's somehow virtuous or whatever, but because you'll most likely have less stress and more fun that way.
posted by Too-Ticky at 2:51 PM on April 23, 2018 [8 favorites]
As to sorting-for-where? Any family heritage/history in the region? That could be a fun locale for a meal or to get your bearings for a future trip. Any amazing place (for you) in the US that might have an European option, or other historical context? Tour places with hikes or bikes could be a win & shape some itineraries.
posted by childofTethys at 2:55 PM on April 23, 2018
posted by childofTethys at 2:55 PM on April 23, 2018
And if you can swing one trip with a week, you’ll get a “traveling template” for next time, which might be drop & go, or be more planned based on what you pick up from this trip.
posted by childofTethys at 2:58 PM on April 23, 2018
posted by childofTethys at 2:58 PM on April 23, 2018
If you have one of those smartphone thingies I'd recommend the following:
maps.me: Download very details maps for any region in the world before you go, and use them offline. Essential. (Even finds public toilets!)
Eurail Rail Planner: Compute train schedules offline.
Booking.com Tonight: This worked for my last-minute style of travel. (Need wifi though)
If you don't plan ahead and just wing it you'll have flexibility, but you'll spend a lot of time looking for wifi and train schedules and hotels and what-not :) So it's kind of a tradeoff and depends on your travel preferences.
And oh yeah take as little baggage as feasible.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 4:04 PM on April 23, 2018 [2 favorites]
maps.me: Download very details maps for any region in the world before you go, and use them offline. Essential. (Even finds public toilets!)
Eurail Rail Planner: Compute train schedules offline.
Booking.com Tonight: This worked for my last-minute style of travel. (Need wifi though)
If you don't plan ahead and just wing it you'll have flexibility, but you'll spend a lot of time looking for wifi and train schedules and hotels and what-not :) So it's kind of a tradeoff and depends on your travel preferences.
And oh yeah take as little baggage as feasible.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 4:04 PM on April 23, 2018 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Well, I did the thing, and I'm leaving for Amsterdam on Saturday. :-D
Thanks also for all the random tidbits of travel advice. You're welcome to continue with it. As I said I've never been, so nothing is too basic.
posted by unannihilated at 5:08 PM on April 23, 2018 [29 favorites]
Thanks also for all the random tidbits of travel advice. You're welcome to continue with it. As I said I've never been, so nothing is too basic.
posted by unannihilated at 5:08 PM on April 23, 2018 [29 favorites]
Response by poster: Also, I did WOW, and didn't pay for carry-on, so I'm gonna pack light because I have to. A week in a small backpack seemed feasible to me.
posted by unannihilated at 5:18 PM on April 23, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by unannihilated at 5:18 PM on April 23, 2018 [3 favorites]
Just FYI, if you're packing light, heated towel racks dry underwear overnight.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 5:27 PM on April 23, 2018
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 5:27 PM on April 23, 2018
Re packing light: pack as little as you possibly can, then throw out half of it and take more money. For clothing think layers, have as many combination options as possible with as few pieces of clothing as you can.
For 1 week, I'd take one of most things. It's far more common to regret lugging around an extra pair of pants / shoes / whatever than to actually need them, plus if you actually do need anything, they sell it over there, and it might even make a nice souvenir.
Do bring a nice camera if that's your thing.
posted by signal at 5:57 PM on April 23, 2018
For 1 week, I'd take one of most things. It's far more common to regret lugging around an extra pair of pants / shoes / whatever than to actually need them, plus if you actually do need anything, they sell it over there, and it might even make a nice souvenir.
Do bring a nice camera if that's your thing.
posted by signal at 5:57 PM on April 23, 2018
My one (personal opinion) note is to book now wherever you're going to stay the first night. Finding a place to stay at the very last second, that may or may not be full, that may or may not have you stumbling around town at 11 PM looking for a place to stay all while fighting weird fog jetlag, is massively suboptimal.
Have fun!
posted by annabear at 6:18 PM on April 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
Have fun!
posted by annabear at 6:18 PM on April 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
Definitely book your first night's accomodation (I'd book them all, but I'm a planner), and then find directions on how to get there and print them out! It's astonishing how dependent we are on smart phones, and there's a pretty high likelihood that you won't be able to access your emails when you land. You may also need that info for immigration.
If you stay in a good hostel when you first get there, they will have lots of tourist info, local info and probably bike hire. If you want to take any long distance trains, I'd look into that now, as they can be much cheaper if bought ahead of time.
Have fun:)
posted by kjs4 at 7:20 PM on April 23, 2018 [2 favorites]
If you stay in a good hostel when you first get there, they will have lots of tourist info, local info and probably bike hire. If you want to take any long distance trains, I'd look into that now, as they can be much cheaper if bought ahead of time.
Have fun:)
posted by kjs4 at 7:20 PM on April 23, 2018 [2 favorites]
Yay! Exciting! Have fun! I have some tips for you!
- If you don't normally carry change, get used to carrying and spending change. If you only buy things with notes, you will wind up with €30 in change in your pocket at the end of your trip courtesy of €1 and €2 coins. Spend them!
- On a similar note, always carry a 50c coin with you for public toilets at stations, etc.
- Patatje oorlog (fries with mayo, peanut satay sauce, and raw onions), kapsalon (what I call Dutch poutine: fries topped with salad and baked with meat and cheese, usually also with garlic sauce and sambal hot sauce), and turkse pizza (generally comes with cheese and you can add chicken or doner) are all delicious, you should eat some.
- If you just want a beer in a café and aren't picky or don't want to choose from a bajillion options, ask for a biertje (beer-cha). It's a half-pint of whatever's on tap, generally Heineken, Grolsch, Hertog Jan, etc. Local beers are Kompaan (The Hague), Gebrouwen door Vrouwen (a women-owned brewery in Amsterdam), Browerij 't IJ (Amsterdam), many more. Speaking of drinks, this is obvious but still never fails to catch people of my acquaintance: cafés are for food or coffee, coffee shops are for weed.
- Like neushoorn says above, if you're going to use public transport much, get an anonymous ov-chipkaart for €7.50 (available at any rail customer service desk). It's valid on all public transport through the country (bus, tram, rail). You check in and out on your trips as the charge is by distance, so don't forget to check out! You can reload it at any yellow NS kiosk in stations or in many local shops (like at the front of an Albert Heijn grocery where they have the ATM) if your card works, or pay cash with a cashier at the service desk. This is an overview of the day tickets/ov-chipkaart options and includes photos of the reload gadgets and in/out-checking gadgets so you can see what you're looking for (smaller stations often don't have barriers and you have to kind of keep your eyes open to spot the cardreader. Also, open barriers doesn't mean "freebie," it means they're keeping traffic flowing, so you still need to swipe). Keep in mind that you need to have at least €20 on an anon ov-chipkaart to board an NS train, which is annoying if you only need to spend like €5 to catch the train back to Schiphol at the end of your trip, so for that leg you can either buy a single ticket or just leave money on your card as an excuse to come back. The card's valid for 5 years.
- For train trips, it's worth inquiring at the NS customer service desk if there are any deals that would save you money on the trip, before you just pay full retail price. They do promotions for day trips to a particular city and day trips anywhere (dagje uit) for including a drink/snack, which saves you if you're just going someplace and back one day. For the Keukenhof they have a €33 deal which includes admission.
- If you're not a smoker, prepare yourself for smokers. It's banned indoors but not outdoors, so patios will be smoky, people will smoke on train platforms (often there's a set aside smoking area at the end of the platform, "rookzone"), etc. Vaping mostly also falls into the "banned indoors" category.
- Bike paths are reddish asphalt (except when they're not), bikes are everywhere, and bikes don't fear you. Look both ways before you step into the bike path. Bikes are going to run red lights. Just don't step in front of one without looking and you'll be okay, but if you're used to people wearing helmets and biking defensively, get prepared for bikers who simply DGAF.
- Outside of busy areas, shops may close at 6pm on weekdays and not open on Sundays. Depends on location, basically. If you shop at Albert Heijn (very very common supermarket), when checking out, if they ask you if you want zegels/stamps before you pay, say "no." (These are savings stamps that cost €0,10.) There are also promotional zegels/stamps they will offer after you pay, those are free. If you look touristy or the shop is busy they probably won't ask you about the zegels, but I just want to warn you anyways because when I first got here, I accumulated like 250 spaarzegels before I realized I was paying actual money for them.
- If you do a boat tour (do a boat tour!), and it's reserved seats, make sure you pick one that's English. Last time I took a friend on a boat tour I accidentally booked a Dutch one and got to spend the whole tour translating in her ear. Good practice for me, but not as nice for her.
And lastly I want to put in a word for The Hague as a side trip! 45 minutes out of Amsterdam by train, and we have great museums (the Gemeente Museum (contemporary), Mauritshuis (classical art), Escher in het Paleis (MC Escher), Fotomuseum Den Haag (photography), The Hague Public Transport Museum (so many old trams! but only open Sunday afternoons)), access to the beach at Scheveningen (skay-va-ning-uh), canal tours, or just sit on the Grote Markt and enjoy beer/food/peoplewatching, all easily accessible by bike or tram, and we're considerably less crowded than Amsterdam. Or, if you want to get out of the Randstad region for a day, Antwerp and Maastricht are just a short hop away by rail.
posted by sldownard at 12:04 AM on April 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
- If you don't normally carry change, get used to carrying and spending change. If you only buy things with notes, you will wind up with €30 in change in your pocket at the end of your trip courtesy of €1 and €2 coins. Spend them!
- On a similar note, always carry a 50c coin with you for public toilets at stations, etc.
- Patatje oorlog (fries with mayo, peanut satay sauce, and raw onions), kapsalon (what I call Dutch poutine: fries topped with salad and baked with meat and cheese, usually also with garlic sauce and sambal hot sauce), and turkse pizza (generally comes with cheese and you can add chicken or doner) are all delicious, you should eat some.
- If you just want a beer in a café and aren't picky or don't want to choose from a bajillion options, ask for a biertje (beer-cha). It's a half-pint of whatever's on tap, generally Heineken, Grolsch, Hertog Jan, etc. Local beers are Kompaan (The Hague), Gebrouwen door Vrouwen (a women-owned brewery in Amsterdam), Browerij 't IJ (Amsterdam), many more. Speaking of drinks, this is obvious but still never fails to catch people of my acquaintance: cafés are for food or coffee, coffee shops are for weed.
- Like neushoorn says above, if you're going to use public transport much, get an anonymous ov-chipkaart for €7.50 (available at any rail customer service desk). It's valid on all public transport through the country (bus, tram, rail). You check in and out on your trips as the charge is by distance, so don't forget to check out! You can reload it at any yellow NS kiosk in stations or in many local shops (like at the front of an Albert Heijn grocery where they have the ATM) if your card works, or pay cash with a cashier at the service desk. This is an overview of the day tickets/ov-chipkaart options and includes photos of the reload gadgets and in/out-checking gadgets so you can see what you're looking for (smaller stations often don't have barriers and you have to kind of keep your eyes open to spot the cardreader. Also, open barriers doesn't mean "freebie," it means they're keeping traffic flowing, so you still need to swipe). Keep in mind that you need to have at least €20 on an anon ov-chipkaart to board an NS train, which is annoying if you only need to spend like €5 to catch the train back to Schiphol at the end of your trip, so for that leg you can either buy a single ticket or just leave money on your card as an excuse to come back. The card's valid for 5 years.
- For train trips, it's worth inquiring at the NS customer service desk if there are any deals that would save you money on the trip, before you just pay full retail price. They do promotions for day trips to a particular city and day trips anywhere (dagje uit) for including a drink/snack, which saves you if you're just going someplace and back one day. For the Keukenhof they have a €33 deal which includes admission.
- If you're not a smoker, prepare yourself for smokers. It's banned indoors but not outdoors, so patios will be smoky, people will smoke on train platforms (often there's a set aside smoking area at the end of the platform, "rookzone"), etc. Vaping mostly also falls into the "banned indoors" category.
- Bike paths are reddish asphalt (except when they're not), bikes are everywhere, and bikes don't fear you. Look both ways before you step into the bike path. Bikes are going to run red lights. Just don't step in front of one without looking and you'll be okay, but if you're used to people wearing helmets and biking defensively, get prepared for bikers who simply DGAF.
- Outside of busy areas, shops may close at 6pm on weekdays and not open on Sundays. Depends on location, basically. If you shop at Albert Heijn (very very common supermarket), when checking out, if they ask you if you want zegels/stamps before you pay, say "no." (These are savings stamps that cost €0,10.) There are also promotional zegels/stamps they will offer after you pay, those are free. If you look touristy or the shop is busy they probably won't ask you about the zegels, but I just want to warn you anyways because when I first got here, I accumulated like 250 spaarzegels before I realized I was paying actual money for them.
- If you do a boat tour (do a boat tour!), and it's reserved seats, make sure you pick one that's English. Last time I took a friend on a boat tour I accidentally booked a Dutch one and got to spend the whole tour translating in her ear. Good practice for me, but not as nice for her.
And lastly I want to put in a word for The Hague as a side trip! 45 minutes out of Amsterdam by train, and we have great museums (the Gemeente Museum (contemporary), Mauritshuis (classical art), Escher in het Paleis (MC Escher), Fotomuseum Den Haag (photography), The Hague Public Transport Museum (so many old trams! but only open Sunday afternoons)), access to the beach at Scheveningen (skay-va-ning-uh), canal tours, or just sit on the Grote Markt and enjoy beer/food/peoplewatching, all easily accessible by bike or tram, and we're considerably less crowded than Amsterdam. Or, if you want to get out of the Randstad region for a day, Antwerp and Maastricht are just a short hop away by rail.
posted by sldownard at 12:04 AM on April 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
Response by poster: A few questions about the language, since someone mentioned the Dutch speak English (like I know everyone won't but I guess that means most people do?):
- Should I still learn and use "Hello" and "Do you speak English?" in Dutch?
- Would it be silly or rude in any circumstances to assume that someone doesn't speak English, like the person working at the hostel? (Obviously if I heard them speaking English to someone else, I could assume.)
- What do you do if someone just barks something at you in another language? Do you try to figure it out based on context or just default to "I don't speak ______." (So maybe I should also be sure to know "I don't speak Dutch?")
I'm weirdly anxious that I won't handle the dealing with a foreign language thing "correctly" and everyone will be able to tell that this is my first time traveling alone internationally, and I don't know what I'm doing, and I will do something dumb, and it will be embarrassing. (I don't know why that matters to me or why I'm so afraid of it.)
posted by unannihilated at 4:13 AM on April 24, 2018
- Should I still learn and use "Hello" and "Do you speak English?" in Dutch?
- Would it be silly or rude in any circumstances to assume that someone doesn't speak English, like the person working at the hostel? (Obviously if I heard them speaking English to someone else, I could assume.)
- What do you do if someone just barks something at you in another language? Do you try to figure it out based on context or just default to "I don't speak ______." (So maybe I should also be sure to know "I don't speak Dutch?")
I'm weirdly anxious that I won't handle the dealing with a foreign language thing "correctly" and everyone will be able to tell that this is my first time traveling alone internationally, and I don't know what I'm doing, and I will do something dumb, and it will be embarrassing. (I don't know why that matters to me or why I'm so afraid of it.)
posted by unannihilated at 4:13 AM on April 24, 2018
- Should I still learn and use "Hello" and "Do you speak English?" in Dutch?
Yes, people will love you for it, and then speak English to you.
- Would it be silly or rude in any circumstances to assume that someone doesn't speak English, like the person working at the hostel? (Obviously if I heard them speaking English to someone else, I could assume.)
You can safely assume anybody in a tourist facing position speaks English.
- What do you do if someone just barks something at you in another language? Do you try to figure it out based on context or just default to "I don't speak ______." (So maybe I should also be sure to know "I don't speak Dutch?")
Yes, just smile and say 'sorry, I don't speak Dutch, do you speak English?', hopefully in Dutch, if you can.
I'm weirdly anxious that I won't handle the dealing with a foreign language thing "correctly" and everyone will be able to tell that this is my first time traveling alone internationally, and I don't know what I'm doing, and I will do something dumb, and it will be embarrassing. (I don't know why that matters to me or why I'm so afraid of it.)
Don't worry about it, it's super normal to feel this way. Nobody will judge you or look down on you, just give it your best shot, be friendly and polite and you'll be fine.
posted by signal at 4:40 AM on April 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
Yes, people will love you for it, and then speak English to you.
- Would it be silly or rude in any circumstances to assume that someone doesn't speak English, like the person working at the hostel? (Obviously if I heard them speaking English to someone else, I could assume.)
You can safely assume anybody in a tourist facing position speaks English.
- What do you do if someone just barks something at you in another language? Do you try to figure it out based on context or just default to "I don't speak ______." (So maybe I should also be sure to know "I don't speak Dutch?")
Yes, just smile and say 'sorry, I don't speak Dutch, do you speak English?', hopefully in Dutch, if you can.
I'm weirdly anxious that I won't handle the dealing with a foreign language thing "correctly" and everyone will be able to tell that this is my first time traveling alone internationally, and I don't know what I'm doing, and I will do something dumb, and it will be embarrassing. (I don't know why that matters to me or why I'm so afraid of it.)
Don't worry about it, it's super normal to feel this way. Nobody will judge you or look down on you, just give it your best shot, be friendly and polite and you'll be fine.
posted by signal at 4:40 AM on April 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
I live part-time in Amsterdam, and I'm here right now.
I'm going to against the grain and recommend you DON'T bike in Amsterdam. It's not for the casual tourist. You won't know the ins and outs and you'll only get in the way of everyone who's trying to simply get from one place to another.
"Hello" is "Hallo" or "Hoi" (as in a-hoy) is "Hi". You don't need to learn "Do you speak English?" for two reasons. One, yes they speak English. And Two, they'll already be speaking English to you. They can tell a non-Dutch speaker on sight.
Not rude to assume someone doesn't speak English, but, yes, a bit silly. Be prepared for them to not hold back at all and tell they think that's silly. If you're addressed in Dutch, you can simply say "Sorry?" which is Dutch for "Excuse me?" Your accent will give you away, and they will switch to English. I often say "Sorry, my Dutch isn't very good". That always works.
One of the major reasons we live in Amsterdam (and the Netherlands) is because it's so easy to get by using English. I wouldn't worry one iota. No cares about those things you're worried about. They will, however, yell "Klootzak" or "kanker" at you if you're walking or standing in the bike path. That they care about.
Have you booked accommodations? Amsterdam is very expensive and it's peak tulip season right now. The center is absolutely crazy crowded.
posted by humboldt32 at 4:43 AM on April 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
I'm going to against the grain and recommend you DON'T bike in Amsterdam. It's not for the casual tourist. You won't know the ins and outs and you'll only get in the way of everyone who's trying to simply get from one place to another.
"Hello" is "Hallo" or "Hoi" (as in a-hoy) is "Hi". You don't need to learn "Do you speak English?" for two reasons. One, yes they speak English. And Two, they'll already be speaking English to you. They can tell a non-Dutch speaker on sight.
Not rude to assume someone doesn't speak English, but, yes, a bit silly. Be prepared for them to not hold back at all and tell they think that's silly. If you're addressed in Dutch, you can simply say "Sorry?" which is Dutch for "Excuse me?" Your accent will give you away, and they will switch to English. I often say "Sorry, my Dutch isn't very good". That always works.
One of the major reasons we live in Amsterdam (and the Netherlands) is because it's so easy to get by using English. I wouldn't worry one iota. No cares about those things you're worried about. They will, however, yell "Klootzak" or "kanker" at you if you're walking or standing in the bike path. That they care about.
Have you booked accommodations? Amsterdam is very expensive and it's peak tulip season right now. The center is absolutely crazy crowded.
posted by humboldt32 at 4:43 AM on April 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
I'm going to against the grain and recommend you DON'T bike in Amsterdam yt . It's not for the casual tourist. You won't know the ins and outs and you'll only get in the way of everyone who's trying to simply get from one place to another.
I live in Amsterdam and I want to amend that to 'Don't bike in the center of Amsterdam." This might be roughly from Centraal out towards Prinsengracht. But there's a lot more to Amsterdam than that.
For example, I live in De Pijp and just yesterday rode West along Stadhouderskade, past the Rijksmuseum, into the Vondelpark and over to FoodHallen. Just because I was in the mood for a snack. It was a pleasant city ride on dedicated bike lanes and it would not suffer from having more tourists on it.
Once you get out of the center rings, it is much, much more pleasant. Rent a bike and bike out along the Amstel river for example. It is a beautiful ride that takes you out to Amstel park and then very quickly into the countryside after that. Or take the ferry near Centraal and head North, taking in the rustic scene along the coast toward Durgerdam. These routes are all dedicated bike paths. You can also just bike from Amsterdam to other towns such as Haarlem in the West or Utrecht in the South. As mentioned before, the whole country is made for cycling.
There appears to be a lot of Amsterdam residents here so feel free to post followup questions for us.
posted by vacapinta at 5:34 AM on April 24, 2018 [6 favorites]
I live in Amsterdam and I want to amend that to 'Don't bike in the center of Amsterdam." This might be roughly from Centraal out towards Prinsengracht. But there's a lot more to Amsterdam than that.
For example, I live in De Pijp and just yesterday rode West along Stadhouderskade, past the Rijksmuseum, into the Vondelpark and over to FoodHallen. Just because I was in the mood for a snack. It was a pleasant city ride on dedicated bike lanes and it would not suffer from having more tourists on it.
Once you get out of the center rings, it is much, much more pleasant. Rent a bike and bike out along the Amstel river for example. It is a beautiful ride that takes you out to Amstel park and then very quickly into the countryside after that. Or take the ferry near Centraal and head North, taking in the rustic scene along the coast toward Durgerdam. These routes are all dedicated bike paths. You can also just bike from Amsterdam to other towns such as Haarlem in the West or Utrecht in the South. As mentioned before, the whole country is made for cycling.
There appears to be a lot of Amsterdam residents here so feel free to post followup questions for us.
posted by vacapinta at 5:34 AM on April 24, 2018 [6 favorites]
Inderdaad. I certainly concur with that amendment.
posted by humboldt32 at 5:42 AM on April 24, 2018
posted by humboldt32 at 5:42 AM on April 24, 2018
For day trips, or even a stayover, I recommend both Delft and Antwerp. Antwerp is in Belgium, so you get to go to another country. Delft is just very charming. Both cities have lots and lots to see.
posted by mumimor at 5:47 AM on April 24, 2018
posted by mumimor at 5:47 AM on April 24, 2018
In many countries, people will tell you that "Everyone speaks English," but they really are describing only the "everyone" who's well-educated, or who works in the tourist industry, or who's below a certain age. But in the Netherlands, everyone speaks English.
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 5:58 AM on April 24, 2018
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 5:58 AM on April 24, 2018
Skip France right now due to rolling transit strikes every three days until late June. Quel headache!
One week isn't really enough time to do more than one country since each location change means packing up, checking out, getting to train station, travel time, getting to next hotel, checking in, unpacking, etc. etc. essentially a day and half lost to logistics. Better to choose one base and take day trips from there.
Since you like biking, go to Amsterdam then take day trips where you can also bicycle. It's a semi-English speaking country that's designed for bicycling. It truly looks and feels European and is gorgeous right now. See what Meetups are going on the week you'll be in Europe or whether there are any bike tours you can join. Bon voyage!
posted by Elsie at 6:07 AM on April 24, 2018
One week isn't really enough time to do more than one country since each location change means packing up, checking out, getting to train station, travel time, getting to next hotel, checking in, unpacking, etc. etc. essentially a day and half lost to logistics. Better to choose one base and take day trips from there.
Since you like biking, go to Amsterdam then take day trips where you can also bicycle. It's a semi-English speaking country that's designed for bicycling. It truly looks and feels European and is gorgeous right now. See what Meetups are going on the week you'll be in Europe or whether there are any bike tours you can join. Bon voyage!
posted by Elsie at 6:07 AM on April 24, 2018
You'll have a great time!
My anecdote about the language barrier in Amsterdam: my friend and I were booking a rail ticket with a very nice agent at the station and said, apologetically, "We're sorry we don't speak Dutch." And the agent, in flawless English, replied, "Don't worry, nobody does." Which is to say I'm nthing that if you're polite/mildly apologetic about using English, you'll find people who are happy to communicate with you.
Important: make sure your ATM card will work. For example, I bank with a small credit union and the only downside is that my card is useless outside of the country. I always load up on local currency and bring two credit cards. You might be able to get Euros in time for the trip at a local AAA if you're a member. Call your credit card companies so they know you're traveling and won't shut down your card thinking it's fraud (this happened to me once and was a giant PITA).
posted by TwoStride at 6:37 AM on April 24, 2018
My anecdote about the language barrier in Amsterdam: my friend and I were booking a rail ticket with a very nice agent at the station and said, apologetically, "We're sorry we don't speak Dutch." And the agent, in flawless English, replied, "Don't worry, nobody does." Which is to say I'm nthing that if you're polite/mildly apologetic about using English, you'll find people who are happy to communicate with you.
Important: make sure your ATM card will work. For example, I bank with a small credit union and the only downside is that my card is useless outside of the country. I always load up on local currency and bring two credit cards. You might be able to get Euros in time for the trip at a local AAA if you're a member. Call your credit card companies so they know you're traveling and won't shut down your card thinking it's fraud (this happened to me once and was a giant PITA).
posted by TwoStride at 6:37 AM on April 24, 2018
I'm weirdly anxious that I won't handle the dealing with a foreign language thing "correctly" and everyone will be able to tell that this is my first time traveling alone internationally, and I don't know what I'm doing, and I will do something dumb, and it will be embarrassing. (I don't know why that matters to me or why I'm so afraid of it.)
Again, see my story of the lady who did a pantomine about hot chocolate. That is one thing I've learned from traveling - the overwhelming majority of people will want to help you. They won't necessarily take you by the hand and walk you through things, it's more like - if you are just the bare minimum of nice and courteous, they will do a little extra for you because the majority of people are decent and nice and also want you to be okay. And you will also find yourself picking up like one or two things or catching one or two words despite yourself, and you actually may find yourself excited about the people who assume you do speak the language when that happens.
Or you may also find people who want to test their English on you. I was at a shop in Paris near New Year's Eve one year, and had a whole conversation with two other customers and the shopkeeper, speaking entirely in French; when the clerk found out I was from the US, she summoned up what sounded like the sum total of English she knew to painstakingly tell me "Happy New Year!" ....Then asked me in French if she'd said it right.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:57 AM on April 24, 2018
Again, see my story of the lady who did a pantomine about hot chocolate. That is one thing I've learned from traveling - the overwhelming majority of people will want to help you. They won't necessarily take you by the hand and walk you through things, it's more like - if you are just the bare minimum of nice and courteous, they will do a little extra for you because the majority of people are decent and nice and also want you to be okay. And you will also find yourself picking up like one or two things or catching one or two words despite yourself, and you actually may find yourself excited about the people who assume you do speak the language when that happens.
Or you may also find people who want to test their English on you. I was at a shop in Paris near New Year's Eve one year, and had a whole conversation with two other customers and the shopkeeper, speaking entirely in French; when the clerk found out I was from the US, she summoned up what sounded like the sum total of English she knew to painstakingly tell me "Happy New Year!" ....Then asked me in French if she'd said it right.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:57 AM on April 24, 2018
I'm weirdly anxious that I won't handle the dealing with a foreign language thing "correctly" and everyone will be able to tell that this is my first time traveling alone internationally, and I don't know what I'm doing, and I will do something dumb, and it will be embarrassing. (I don't know why that matters to me or why I'm so afraid of it.)
Use your senses of humour and humility and you'll be fine. As long as you aren't the stereotype thinking that you just need to speak louder, and as long as you don't act like the people in the Netherlands are wrong for speaking Dutch, you'll be fine. People want to communicate, and particularly in touristy areas doing touristy things, they're used to the challenge. More specific tips: the first thing I learn is how to say "thank you". There are lots of means of communications, if you find the rare person who doesn't speak English, there are body language, gestures, context clues, emotions and so on to help. And call it a toilet; not everybody knows every English euphemism for it and it's better to find it than confuse someone with restroom or bathroom or the facilities or what have you.
Also remind yourself that nobody within 3000 miles knows you, so a little mixup will just make a good story when you get home!
posted by Homeboy Trouble at 8:18 AM on April 24, 2018
Use your senses of humour and humility and you'll be fine. As long as you aren't the stereotype thinking that you just need to speak louder, and as long as you don't act like the people in the Netherlands are wrong for speaking Dutch, you'll be fine. People want to communicate, and particularly in touristy areas doing touristy things, they're used to the challenge. More specific tips: the first thing I learn is how to say "thank you". There are lots of means of communications, if you find the rare person who doesn't speak English, there are body language, gestures, context clues, emotions and so on to help. And call it a toilet; not everybody knows every English euphemism for it and it's better to find it than confuse someone with restroom or bathroom or the facilities or what have you.
Also remind yourself that nobody within 3000 miles knows you, so a little mixup will just make a good story when you get home!
posted by Homeboy Trouble at 8:18 AM on April 24, 2018
Just to echo everyone, dealing with the foreign language correctly in this case is just asking nicely if they speak English. The very first time I came here I went to the NS at Schiphol to get a ticket to the station closest my hostel, and I apologized and said I didn't know how to pronounce the name of where I was going, and slipped her a note with "Muiderpoort" written on it. She told me how to pronounce it, sold me a ticket, and wished me a nice day. It's totally fine. If you want to pick up some words, maybe try a couple days of Duolingo -- you won't get super far with it in four days, but you'll at least have heard/seen a few words and phrases. And if you know how to say 'hallo', 'dank u wel' (danhk you vehl/thank you) and 'tot ziens' (toat zeens/see you later) you'll be doing better than me the first time I showed up!
BTW, Google Maps will be really useful for public transport but you might want to download the app 9292 as well, it's the official travel planner, trams/trains/buses, available in English, and super handy (it will tell you about canceled trains and stuff, too).
Lastly, I don't know what day you're leaving, but you should be aware that Friday, May 4 is Dodenherdenking, and there will be a nationwide two minutes' silence at 8PM. Public transport and traffic will stop, people will dismount their bikes, etc. They will ring the church bells beforehand to signal it. There is a wreath laying in Dam Square, but you should probably keep clear because there's a protest being planned to disrupt the two minutes' silence with loud noise. [Google Translated article] May or may not happen. If you want to watch the ceremony, local TV broadcaster NOS will have it on from 7PM.
posted by sldownard at 10:55 AM on April 24, 2018
BTW, Google Maps will be really useful for public transport but you might want to download the app 9292 as well, it's the official travel planner, trams/trains/buses, available in English, and super handy (it will tell you about canceled trains and stuff, too).
Lastly, I don't know what day you're leaving, but you should be aware that Friday, May 4 is Dodenherdenking, and there will be a nationwide two minutes' silence at 8PM. Public transport and traffic will stop, people will dismount their bikes, etc. They will ring the church bells beforehand to signal it. There is a wreath laying in Dam Square, but you should probably keep clear because there's a protest being planned to disrupt the two minutes' silence with loud noise. [Google Translated article] May or may not happen. If you want to watch the ceremony, local TV broadcaster NOS will have it on from 7PM.
posted by sldownard at 10:55 AM on April 24, 2018
Response by poster: My trip is here! A few last-minute questions on current conditions:
- I read that it's better to see the tulips in April because at the end of April some of the flowers get snipped or trimmed off. Is that true? I would like to go on May 2nd or 3rd because the weather will be much nicer, and I'm hoping it will be less crowded because it is during the week as opposed to a weekend.
-I read that credit cards are not widely accepted in the Netherlands, even in big cities and even in large stores. Is that true? I am taking 71 Euros with me, and I was hoping I could get by mostly on credit card for the rest, just for convenience (my card does not have a foreign transaction fee).
-Can I really bike...everywhere? Like could I bike from Amsterdam to Keukenhof to see the tulips? These day trips I'm seeing that are 20 minutes on the train...could I bike there? I know my physical limitations (~50 miles a day), I'm talking more about like infrastructure (like the only road between places is usually an expressway), maybe the bikes they rent are crappy, I'm going to get mugged on the road if I get a flat, some other thing I can't even anticipate.
Thank you!!
posted by unannihilated at 8:06 AM on April 27, 2018
- I read that it's better to see the tulips in April because at the end of April some of the flowers get snipped or trimmed off. Is that true? I would like to go on May 2nd or 3rd because the weather will be much nicer, and I'm hoping it will be less crowded because it is during the week as opposed to a weekend.
-I read that credit cards are not widely accepted in the Netherlands, even in big cities and even in large stores. Is that true? I am taking 71 Euros with me, and I was hoping I could get by mostly on credit card for the rest, just for convenience (my card does not have a foreign transaction fee).
-Can I really bike...everywhere? Like could I bike from Amsterdam to Keukenhof to see the tulips? These day trips I'm seeing that are 20 minutes on the train...could I bike there? I know my physical limitations (~50 miles a day), I'm talking more about like infrastructure (like the only road between places is usually an expressway), maybe the bikes they rent are crappy, I'm going to get mugged on the road if I get a flat, some other thing I can't even anticipate.
Thank you!!
posted by unannihilated at 8:06 AM on April 27, 2018
Can I really bike...everywhere? Like could I bike from Amsterdam to Keukenhof to see the tulips?
Yes, pretty much. There is a national network of signed cycle routes. You can see them here and use them to plan your own route. English explanation here.
posted by vacapinta at 8:17 AM on April 27, 2018 [1 favorite]
Yes, pretty much. There is a national network of signed cycle routes. You can see them here and use them to plan your own route. English explanation here.
posted by vacapinta at 8:17 AM on April 27, 2018 [1 favorite]
We had no particular problem with credit cards not being accepted, but it's always a good idea to have cash on you too, especially if you want to tip because you can't add that to a credit card transaction like you can in North America.
Yup, you can totally bike everywhere on safe, flat, separated pathways with lots of other people using them (many of whom would probably stop to help you if you got a flat!) - and, if it's farther than your daily limit, you can combine the train and biking by biking to the train station, bringing your bike with you on board the train, then biking from the train station to your destination.
Have a super fun trip!
posted by urbanlenny at 9:56 AM on April 27, 2018
Yup, you can totally bike everywhere on safe, flat, separated pathways with lots of other people using them (many of whom would probably stop to help you if you got a flat!) - and, if it's farther than your daily limit, you can combine the train and biking by biking to the train station, bringing your bike with you on board the train, then biking from the train station to your destination.
Have a super fun trip!
posted by urbanlenny at 9:56 AM on April 27, 2018
You can easily add the tip you your credit charge. If the bill was €45, you simply tell the server "Make it €50".
posted by humboldt32 at 3:47 AM on April 28, 2018
posted by humboldt32 at 3:47 AM on April 28, 2018
The Keukenhof will be lovely. We were just there on Thursday. The fields are completely different, and yes, the farmers are actively heading the tulips right now. You'll still see some on the 2nd or 3rd. You might consider riding from Haarlem instead. You can rent bikes at the Haarlem station. Or just rent bikes at Keukenhof.
€71 is enough until you need it. You can use ATMs for more cash.
You're not going to get mugged.
posted by humboldt32 at 3:57 AM on April 28, 2018
€71 is enough until you need it. You can use ATMs for more cash.
You're not going to get mugged.
posted by humboldt32 at 3:57 AM on April 28, 2018
Response by poster: It was wonderful! I'm so glad I made something awesome happen instead of sitting at home moping that no one wants to do anything cool with me. Thanks for all your encouragement and advice. And yes, everyone - like, really everyone - in the Netherlands speaks English to some degree, at least enough to get our transaction completed. Plenty of people tried to speak Dutch to me, but my involuntary deer-in-the-headlights look was enough to get me English.
Can I really bike...everywhere? ...maybe the bikes they rent are crappy, I'm going to get mugged on the road if I get a flat, some other thing I can't even anticipate.
To be fair, I don't think even a lifelong local could have foreseen my coming upon three enormous silent and unblinking cows in the middle of the dark forest path I was biking on the way back from Keukenhof.
posted by unannihilated at 8:23 AM on May 28, 2018 [14 favorites]
Can I really bike...everywhere? ...maybe the bikes they rent are crappy, I'm going to get mugged on the road if I get a flat, some other thing I can't even anticipate.
To be fair, I don't think even a lifelong local could have foreseen my coming upon three enormous silent and unblinking cows in the middle of the dark forest path I was biking on the way back from Keukenhof.
posted by unannihilated at 8:23 AM on May 28, 2018 [14 favorites]
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However, yeah this is easy and you should do it. These days with a smart phone the learning curve for 'Yurp is super gentle.
posted by JPD at 1:02 PM on April 23, 2018 [8 favorites]