travel 9/1-9/9

HiFolks · Post by **HiFolks** » Fri 24th Aug 2007 02:16 am

Ingo wrote:Your bank will probably give you a better rate than any money exchange in the airports. It's worth getting 100 Euros ahead of time so you have train, tram, and lunch money to get to the hotel. Once in town, get money from ATMs for the best rate, but check yo make sure your ATM card has machines in Amsterdam. Cirrus seems to be hard to find.

You can purchase Amsterdam-Paris tickets at www.ns.nl (look for English link on tippy top of page). There's a non-stop "Thalys" train several times a day which takes a little over 4 hours. Note however that in researching this I clicked on the purchase tix link to see price and got a message "Onze website is tijdelijk onbereikbaar" which seems to mean "Our Website is Severely Fubar".

Probably no real difference in purchasing anyway. I do recall that Dutch commuter type train tix are a bit cheaper when purchased from machines than from the ticket windows, to encourage machine use (if you have a pin number for your credit card). Thalys is a long distance train with reserved seating. There are also cheaper/slower connections which have you changing in Brussels onto a Thalys train for the last leg.

- Ingo

Any advice on tipping? When we see you we will take to you about trains.

geoffk · Post by **geoffk** » Fri 24th Aug 2007 04:16 am

for tipping i round up, depending on cost and service. if i think i'm gonna be back at a shop and the service is good i tip. i always tip the ladies at siberie

travelling high · Post by **travelling high** » Fri 24th Aug 2007 04:23 am

I WILL TIP A BUDTENDER IF I GET GOOD SERVICE AND THIS ACTION WILL ALSO PUT ME IN HIS/HER MIND SO THE NEXT TIME U GO U MIGHT GET A BETTER DEAL..BUT OTHER THAN THAT I DONT TIP..TIPPING IS A BIG THING IN AMERICA BUT IS NOT EXPECTED IN MOST OF EUROPE AS I HAVE SEEN..

HiFolks · Post by **HiFolks** » Fri 24th Aug 2007 11:40 am

Thanks for the info. Ingo, sorry about the spelling," talk about trains when we meet next Saturday."

HiFolks · Post by **HiFolks** » Wed 29th Aug 2007 12:47 am

Starting to pack. I hate overpacking.

Any Advice

geoffk · Post by **geoffk** » Wed 29th Aug 2007 01:20 am

I like to prepack, then see what I can remove to lighten the load.

FlyByNite · Post by **FlyByNite** » Wed 29th Aug 2007 01:36 am

HiFolks wrote:Starting to pack. I hate overpacking. Any Advice

One of my fav tips is pack old socks and underwear, just toss them when dirty.

Just remember, it is a civilized country, you can purchase almost anything you may have forgotten. I found out all about Dutch toothpaste that way. one trip and euro underwear on another.

If you are really in need, give THIS site a try.

Ingo · Post by **Ingo** » Wed 29th Aug 2007 01:54 am

HiFolks wrote:Starting to pack. I hate overpacking. Any Advice

Khakis and low wrinkle shirts. Plan to wear your clothes in a rotation so they stay fresher longer without washing. Shower and change in the evening. Easier to clean you than clothes, and faster

This is really the key, you don't need clean clothes every day, except underwear & socks, and they are easy to wash in the sink. (A buddy of mine wears his into the shower and soaps them up first, then removes them, rinses, and washes himself. He's a bit extreme there.) If you launder in the sink, don't leave them out drying for the maid to see the next day. Most hotels take a dim view of guest self-laundering.

I usually make a pair of pants and a shirt last for 2 days, but wear them 1/2 day at a time.

Bring a light jacket and a light sweater and wear both if it gets too cold. Nobody really cares if you wear the same thing several days in a row. (For many of us, it will be a major accomplishment to notice that you have the same face two days in a row.)

Temps can be in the 50-70 range in Sep. In fact my entire stay is forecast at overcast, 55-68 with 20% chance of rain. (Heh, but I'll be baking

)

Bring a facecloth if you like to wash with one. Hotels in Europe don't supply them. Bring a cheap one that you can leave behind. No fun travelling back to the states with a wet cloth festering in your luggage.

Things you might not think of bringing:
- 2-3 clothespins for closing snack bags
- a few ziplock bags for holding other snacks/stuff
- small scissors or leatherman-type tool etc.
- small flashlight (keychain size)

And Geoffk has the right idea. Pack in advance. Heft the bag, then go through and remove stuff you really don't need.

- Ingo

apz · Post by **apz** » Wed 29th Aug 2007 02:13 am

How easy is it to find a laundry that will do my laundry for me? I'd like to travel very light and do a wash after a few days. I sweat alot and hate to wear clothes more than once.

HiFolks · Post by **HiFolks** » Wed 29th Aug 2007 02:47 am

So far have packed, 6 pair of white socks, 6 underwear, 2 bluejeans and one dress pair, 1 heavy jacket, 1 light jacket, 3 long sleeve shirts, 1 umbrella, 2 tennis shoes, 1 pair of boots, 4 tee shirts, vitamins, camera and film

. Lastly, my toilet paper ( I use to sell Northern

) I plan to wash oneday. Everyone back here wants a gift

Ingo · Post by **Ingo** » Wed 29th Aug 2007 02:59 am

apz wrote:How easy is it to find a laundry that will do my laundry for me? I'd like to travel very light and do a wash after a few days. I sweat alot and hate to wear clothes more than once.

Ask at your hotel/hostel/whatever for directions to the nearest wasserette. they often have wash-dry-fold service for a few euros more than doing it yourself. Bring your clothes in separated into whites and colors (if applicable).

FlyByNite · Post by **FlyByNite** » Wed 29th Aug 2007 04:27 am

Lots of WASSERETTES in Amsterdam.

travelling high · Post by **travelling high** » Wed 29th Aug 2007 05:19 am

If your staying at Rookies there is a laundry on the street behind the hotel..I dont pack any differently going out of country than I would if I were travelling in the states..I just look at the local weather forecast and maybe a bit of the past history..i.e rain,temp and such then I pack accordingly..

HiFolks · Post by **HiFolks** » Thu 30th Aug 2007 03:24 am

Help, 3 pairs of jeans or 2? plus 1 dress pair for the casino. 1 or 2 pair of tennis shoes? plus 1 pair of boots. Last question, should I take 1 meduim jacket for cold weather or just a wind breaker with a sweater?

Can you believe I'm having this debate!

You all have been very helpful. Off to the book store for some coffee. See you @ Abaxas.

geoffk · Post by **geoffk** » Thu 30th Aug 2007 04:55 am

HiFolks wrote:Help, 3 pairs of jeans or 2? plus 1 dress pair for the casino. 1 or 2 pair of tennis shoes? plus 1 pair of boots. Last question, should I take 1 meduim jacket for cold weather or just a wind breaker with a sweater?

Geez, now you want us to dress you?

I spent 10 days in the Dam on my first trip and fit it all carry-on. 1 pair of cargos 1 pair of jeans and 1 pair of shoes, but I like two pairs of shoes now. In order to give my feet a rest. Again, I've never been out anywhere fancy. Next trip, I might go out a few nights with my wife, so a couple of pair of jeans and some nice slacks, nothing too fancy. As for the jacket, I'd take a water proof and the sweater. I live in Colorado, so I'm use to layering. Insulation + gore-tex (or something similar) is what I wear here and it's what I'd take to the Dam. I would just up the insulation to something lofty in the colder weather.