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I leave on Wed the 18th arrive in Amsterdam at 7:00 A.M on the 19th. As i will be alone for the first day of my travels are there any areas to avoid? Also, where is the best place to keep money, passport etc. I hear pick-pocketing is bad there. Is this true? I plan on hitting PF as it is close to central station, and they serve breakfast, open early. Sorry for the rambling, only five more days then I will relax.

kindbudKB

I don't think you need to stay away from any areas. I've wandered around alone well after midnight without any troubles.

I would never carry your passport with you. Put it in a safe place in your room. You will never need it. Although you might want to carry a driver's license with you. I use a money belt for larger amounts of cash, then put smaller amounts in my pocket. I just don't want to reach into my pants everytime I want to buy a beer or some weed. I never carry a wallet in Europe.

Another good travel tip is to photocopy your passport, license, credit cards, etc. Keep a copy and make sure someone back home has a copy. This will be handy if someone needs to wire you money.

I have hung out a lot in Madison, when I lived in East Lansing. It's a great city. I saw my first Dead shows in '89 in Wisconsin, and went to Weedstock somewhere in Wiscosin in '90.

Welcome to the forum.

geoffk wrote:I would never carry your passport with you. Put it in a safe place in your room. You will never need it.

If you are asked for your ID, by the police, for any reason and you dont carry it with you, it is an on-the-spot €50 fine and some hassle. Dutch law says that you must carry your ID on you *at all times*. This is especially true in Amsterdam. Do you usually go out without proper ID where you live? Then, I wouldnt recommend it in Amsterdam either. Peace.

Yes keep ur passport on ya )

ya lucky sod, im not gettin in till 8.15 a.m

I guess you are required carry a passport. Good thing I never got asked for mine.

For the most accurate info on this for U.S. citizens see the following:

http://amsterdam.usconsulate.gov/id_law_more.html

Quoting from the site: "For US citizens, only a valid passport or residence permit are acceptable forms of identification."

I have to say, that I have never been asked for ID of any kind in all my numerous visits to Amsterdam.
However, I always DO carry some form of ID with me- just in case.
I always carry the card part of my drivers licence with me, but never my passport.

We have never carried our passports with us, preferring to keep them in the hotel safe, but we have never been asked for it, so.......
We also keep money in a safe pocket, but we tend to show the same amount of caution as when we go into any busy city or market.
It was only the thought of pickpockets why we don't carry the passports with us, Like the idea of carrying photocopies tho, good tip

I have been 3 times now and each time i always carry all of my valuables with me whereever i go....

I have a body pouch which can be bought at loads of places i.e matalan (UK) Post office's and various other travel shops and places like that...

Its like an 80's style bum bag that sits flat against your body so that you need not to access it in any public places.

Its a great thing to get and after a while you dont even know you have it on you, and keeps all those valubles safely hidden until (if ever you are asked by the authorities to show.

I would always take passport drivers license and all my money with me, never been asked to produce i.d or had any other issues whilst in the dam.

NEVER WOULD I LEAVE MY VALUBLES IN THE HOTEL ROOM IF YOU HAVE TO LEAVE ANYTHING, DO SO IN THE HOTEL SAFE!

Have a great trip!! and ENJOY!!

Have to say we were quite worried as it was our (just me and the missus) first time last month, but providing you're not an idiot and use zip pockets to keep important things in while you're out and about you will be fine. Use common sense and you'll be totally cool...

Enjoy yer trip!!

Just wanted to thank you all for the info, and insight. Who knows if you are there over 4-20 maybe we will toke up together.

I will post a travelogue when I return, IF i can remember anything.

kindbudKB in the Dam april 19-21-2007

HAPPY 420 everyone

kindbudKB wrote:I will post a travelogue when I return, IF i can remember anything.

Hahahaha, good luck with that!!!!!!!!!

I pretty much read this forum for about 4 months before my first visit and thought to myself how informative and helpful all the reports were and how the first thing I was going to do when I got home was report back on my visit... by the time I landed I could barely remember what I'd done earlier that day.

My advice - take a notepad

Notepad duely noted and packed. Well not packed yet but my pipe will be soon hahahaha