So why ELSE do you all go to Amsterdam. I see a lot of you are from the UK and do short weekend trips. I went once last year at the end of march. My kid goes on vacation over spring break with his grandparents so I get a chance to do my own thing.
Last year I had fun, spent most of my day vegging at the coffeeshops and then stoned out of my mind trying to avoid speeding bikes finding my way back to the hotel. I remember once jumping to avoid a bike stepped on the mossy edge of a canal and started slipping, very close to going for a swim.
Long story short I went for the coffeeshops, didnt visit any thing else at all. When I got home I had only a dozen or so pictures on my camera and felt like I didnt do much. I got online and found some cheap airfare ($650 USD) and bought my self a ticket for 3/27/10-4/3/10. This is coming up soon and since then I have gone through some bad financial times, I am about to go into a buisness bankruptcy.
Being as I already have the ticket I have that covered but would need spending $, and hotel money. I can get a decent hotel for $800 USD for my trip and figured I would need anouther $700 USD to convert to euros. So its still not cheap, 8 hour flight to get there also.
Also in the past year my sister has moved to california where she was able to get a medical marijuana card. She has been asking me to visit her where I could stay for free at her place and bring little spending money. Also chaning the airline ticket from AMS to Cali would cost me almost nothing so visiting her would be much cheaper, and I could try all the Cali gear. I also wouldnt need to deal with the scunity of the bankruptcy attorneys looking at my books wondering why I took two expensive trips to Amsterdam.
That said I travel alone either way, but Amsterdam all alone can be a bit intimidating. Although I made out fine last year I avoided staying out too late so I wasnt walking in the dark back to my hotel, lost with no cell lol. I still want to visit A'dam though, I loved the architecture, people, and laid back living I seemed to see there. I hated the exchange rate, persitent begging of the junkies I ran into, and having little company. I did meet some people that seemed cool in the coffee shops though. One German guy told me, "All Americans think all germans are nazis." lol.
Anyway what to do, save the money go see my sister and sample the local cali gear, or splurge and go to dam and try to do more things then last year. If I dont go to dam this time I may never have the money to take this type of trip again, but will be in a bad situation when I get back, which might make me less likely to relax and have a good time when I do visit.
Hmm what to do...
Why go to Amsterdam?
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Pauli Wallnuts
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- Location: South London
its a difficult dilema, but if you can get the ticket transfered to cali for next to nothing, then id say go for that, because your gonna have the added bonus of spending time with family, either way each nite your gonna go to bed stoned 
like AzLaker says amsterdam ain't going anywhere & if you put your mind to it you will be able too afford to go again + i bet the weather in cali in march is MUCH better than northern europe
like AzLaker says amsterdam ain't going anywhere & if you put your mind to it you will be able too afford to go again + i bet the weather in cali in march is MUCH better than northern europehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXbNLkNh ... re=related" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I'd go to Cali, I'm seeing some real fire from various dispensaries, check http://www.marijuanareviews.com/ and have a look at some of the videos here as well: http://www.youtube.com/user/mmjbootcamp
Being pedantic and knobbish since 1972
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DazedandConfusedinOR
- Posts: 599
- Joined: Wed 25th Nov 2009 12:34 pm
- Location: Portland, OR
Amsterdam may not be going anywhere, but neither is California. It's much easier to visit the Dam if you live in the UK simply because of the distance. Most of these people on here who have been to the Dam multiple times only stay for 2-3 days, so staying for a week (or 2 weeks like I'm doing this March) is so much more rewarding - you don't have to hurry from shop to shop and you can actually soak up so much more of the culture.
As an American, visiting the Netherlands is about so much more than smoking weed. It's about experiencing another culture, another way of life. Get yourself a good guidebook and explore the city. A good map helps too. As far as the hotel goes, it all depends on what you're comfortable with. I'm spending less in 2 weeks than you plan on spending in one. Budget hotels aren't necessarily a bad thing if you read reviews and choose wisely.
If you think this is the last time you have a chance to go for a while, I say go for it. The last time I was there was 2001 and I regret it, but life throws you a curve-ball sometimes. On the other hand, if you're stressing about money than California may be a wiser choice. Peace.
As an American, visiting the Netherlands is about so much more than smoking weed. It's about experiencing another culture, another way of life. Get yourself a good guidebook and explore the city. A good map helps too. As far as the hotel goes, it all depends on what you're comfortable with. I'm spending less in 2 weeks than you plan on spending in one. Budget hotels aren't necessarily a bad thing if you read reviews and choose wisely.
If you think this is the last time you have a chance to go for a while, I say go for it. The last time I was there was 2001 and I regret it, but life throws you a curve-ball sometimes. On the other hand, if you're stressing about money than California may be a wiser choice. Peace.
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Con-er-sir
- Posts: 67
- Joined: Wed 2nd Dec 2009 01:22 pm
- Location: London
You can't really compare Amsterdam & Cali as places. Amsterdam has history and it's own attractions, where Cali, especially OC was one of the nicest places i've ever been to. Even with buying smoke, in Dam you can just walk into a coffee shop and buy, where in Cali you still need a medical card (which are easy to get I know, but another 100 + dollar cost)
The smoke is very different in all areas, including the price!! I must admit the quality of the smoke in Cali was better than Dam in general but I still prefer the choice of strains in Dam. In Cali, if it wasn't Kush or a Kush strain then I didn't find it great. I had SSH there and it had no taste whatsoever, couldn't find the haze!!
After visiting Cali I would 100% move there, nice weather, clean, woman are amazing, shopping is cheap, In & Out Burger!!
and the best Kush in the world... but hey, if I lived there I would still wanna visit Dam at least once a year. There is officially no other place in the world like it, the people, the buildings, the way you always manage to avoid being run over by a bike... love it 
I would decide what type of break you want. If it's nice weather, killer Kush and having to get everywhere by car then Cali, but if you just wanna chill who cares about the weather, it's Dam!
The smoke is very different in all areas, including the price!! I must admit the quality of the smoke in Cali was better than Dam in general but I still prefer the choice of strains in Dam. In Cali, if it wasn't Kush or a Kush strain then I didn't find it great. I had SSH there and it had no taste whatsoever, couldn't find the haze!!
After visiting Cali I would 100% move there, nice weather, clean, woman are amazing, shopping is cheap, In & Out Burger!!
and the best Kush in the world... but hey, if I lived there I would still wanna visit Dam at least once a year. There is officially no other place in the world like it, the people, the buildings, the way you always manage to avoid being run over by a bike... love it I would decide what type of break you want. If it's nice weather, killer Kush and having to get everywhere by car then Cali, but if you just wanna chill who cares about the weather, it's Dam!
I completely agree, but I got to admit that having my SO with me for our first trip last spring made it much more fun. I don't know if I'd want to do it alone, but that's just how I roll.DazedandConfusedinOR wrote:As an American, visiting the Netherlands is about so much more than smoking weed. It's about experiencing another culture, another way of life. Get yourself a good guidebook and explore the city.
I don't know, it sounds like visiting your sis is a no brainer. Good weed, nice weather (we just got back from San Diego last week and the weather was amazing) and if you're going through a tough time, spending time with family can make things easier. That said, I'm in the process of booking a trip for next April as we speak. I've *got* to get back to Amsterdam!
Reefer Ben ,i think you know already where you gonna go,right?! 
Well, here: in your situation, if you going to Cali you practical,wise,normal ,businessman like person,if you going to Amsterdam you crazy ,romantic,adventurous person.Please tell us what you choise gonna be after all,very interesting,since i am in somewhat the same situation.I am going to the Dam,my man! 
Well, here: in your situation, if you going to Cali you practical,wise,normal ,businessman like person,if you going to Amsterdam you crazy ,romantic,adventurous person.Please tell us what you choise gonna be after all,very interesting,since i am in somewhat the same situation.I am going to the Dam,my man! H
Ill defiantly let you all know what I decide to do. I got a call from the regional manager of the franchise I own saying he may have found someone to buy me out, which if that works out will allow me to avoid bankruptcy both personally and business. Of course then Im still in the situation that I need to find a job lol.
My last trip to Dam I had it all planned, get off the tram use my gps and cell phone maps to get me around. Got off the plane and no signal, got off the train at central and still had no signal. Left the station turned right wondering along after spending all night awake on the plane run right into Barneys. I saw the guy opening up and figured hey get some smoke. I had been dry for a few weeks before the trip so had no tolerance built up. I got a gram of quasar haze sat down rolled up a jay and stumbled out into Dam stoned as all heck and kept wondering along. I realized I came into a more business area and the locals didnt look as friendly on my 9am dazed walk lol. I ended up finding the hotel fine since the city layout is easy to figure out and I had the little coffeeshop directory map folded in my back pocket.
Anyhow if I get this guy to buy me out and can avoid bankruptcy Ill probably go back to Dam. If not Ill probably end up in Cali. I have a friend in cali that turns out some nice genetics outdoors in the summer and indoors in the winter. When I was growing she hooked me up with some nice seeds pimpslap, The White x pimpslap, Low Ryder #2 (not so great), and a few others. So I know if I end up in cali I can sample her private gear as well as whats going on at the dispensary's. I bought home some Jack Flash seeds, Alaskan Ice seeds, as well as Super Lemon Haze seeds last trip. I never had the chance to get any super lemon haze when I was in dam but after growing it, I loved it. I had a security scare 6 months back and tore down and have been growing since. With my financial situation getting worse I never got back into it. I'd love to live some where I could turn a crop with out the fear of my government.
Anyhow I am rambling. I appreciate all the replies. I haven't posted her much at all and didn't realize the board was this active.
Thanks all for the tips, like I said Ill let everyone know what I end up doing and try to do some smoke reports either way. [/img]
My last trip to Dam I had it all planned, get off the tram use my gps and cell phone maps to get me around. Got off the plane and no signal, got off the train at central and still had no signal. Left the station turned right wondering along after spending all night awake on the plane run right into Barneys. I saw the guy opening up and figured hey get some smoke. I had been dry for a few weeks before the trip so had no tolerance built up. I got a gram of quasar haze sat down rolled up a jay and stumbled out into Dam stoned as all heck and kept wondering along. I realized I came into a more business area and the locals didnt look as friendly on my 9am dazed walk lol. I ended up finding the hotel fine since the city layout is easy to figure out and I had the little coffeeshop directory map folded in my back pocket.
Anyhow if I get this guy to buy me out and can avoid bankruptcy Ill probably go back to Dam. If not Ill probably end up in Cali. I have a friend in cali that turns out some nice genetics outdoors in the summer and indoors in the winter. When I was growing she hooked me up with some nice seeds pimpslap, The White x pimpslap, Low Ryder #2 (not so great), and a few others. So I know if I end up in cali I can sample her private gear as well as whats going on at the dispensary's. I bought home some Jack Flash seeds, Alaskan Ice seeds, as well as Super Lemon Haze seeds last trip. I never had the chance to get any super lemon haze when I was in dam but after growing it, I loved it. I had a security scare 6 months back and tore down and have been growing since. With my financial situation getting worse I never got back into it. I'd love to live some where I could turn a crop with out the fear of my government.
Anyhow I am rambling. I appreciate all the replies. I haven't posted her much at all and didn't realize the board was this active.
Thanks all for the tips, like I said Ill let everyone know what I end up doing and try to do some smoke reports either way. [/img]
I agree as well. When I lost my job in 2008 the first thing I did was go to Mexico for some sun, to London to visit friends and finished with a week in Amsterdam all by myself. It was the first time I had been to A'dam alone and actually don't mind the solitude. I have found that folks in the coffeeshops are willing and ready to talk, just open your gab! Whatever you decide, I hope you enjoy your trip. And why not write us a report of your travels.Dimon wrote:I am agree with that ! You only live once,good expressionflemflam wrote:Dude you only live once. Go to Amsterdam balls out and deal with shit later.
I'm rolling solo this time and I can't wait.
Good luck
Peace,
Balou
Are you stoned? Like a gravel road bitch, like a gravel road!
I can relate to your feelings on being stoned and/or a bit scared in Amsterdam...I felt that my first few times here. Now that I live here, this never happens. At least if I am scared now, I know why (in the wrong part of town, too late, lost, etc.). Plus you are right, at 9AM, most locals (me included) are going about our real lives and having to deal with drugged out tourists is a bit annoying
I think your mistake last time was two-fold, making it a weed vacation only, and not being prepared. Get some guidebooks on Ams and read them before you get here, make a plan for stuff you want to see. And wait to smoke up until you have settled in, taken a shower/nap and walked around a bit.
Also, get out of the pure center....especially the Red Light District, that part of town still makes me uncomfortable.
The whole deal with your business and fiances is for you to decide of course.
Good luck
I think your mistake last time was two-fold, making it a weed vacation only, and not being prepared. Get some guidebooks on Ams and read them before you get here, make a plan for stuff you want to see. And wait to smoke up until you have settled in, taken a shower/nap and walked around a bit.
Also, get out of the pure center....especially the Red Light District, that part of town still makes me uncomfortable.
The whole deal with your business and fiances is for you to decide of course.
Good luck