I'm flying into Amsterdam... spending a day there... then hopping on the overnight train to Munich... spending 6 nights in Munich... another night train back to Amsteram where I'll finish the trip there for three days.
This will be my first trip to Amsterdam... and I'm not a smoker. I smoked a bit in college, but was never a wake-and-bake person. I plan on tasting the herb... but will stick to the mild to moderate stuff and only try the stronger strains in the comfort of my hotel room.
Any tips or recommendations of coffeeshops for a knowledgable, but only occasional smoker who is making their first trip to Amsterdam?
Oktoberfest '06
places like Greenhouse, Barneys, Amnesia and Dampkring/Tweede Kamer all have extensive menus and very knowledgeable dealers that are used to dealing with customers in your situation. Some of the smaller shops also have great staff but you might find it harder to find something milder (never thought that could be a prob but..... 
). Whereever you end up just tell the dealer exactly what it is you are looking for and they SHOULD help you ...if not take your business elsewhere.
). Whereever you end up just tell the dealer exactly what it is you are looking for and they SHOULD help you ...if not take your business elsewhere.It's going to be awesome. I've wanted to go to Germany for the longest time. Originally I was going to fly into London... but Amsterdam made much more sense considering I'm only going to be in Europe for 2 weeks. I can take an overnight train from Amsterdam to Munich and lose minimal fun time.Doog wrote:WOW. Combining a trip to Amsterdam with a few days at Oktoberfest.
That sounds amazing. I like a beer probably more than a smoke (more experienced with beer) and Oktoberfest must be to drinkers what Amsterdam is to smokers.
Might just do that myself.
I'm going to be staying at the Amsterdam Hilton and the Munich City Hilton.
Should be a blast for sure After getting bitten by the bavarian beer bug last night, I decided to check out the Oktoberfest wage pages just to see how it all worked.
Looks like a really busy time of the year and knowing where to go and when to go there will obviously improve the enjoyment of any trip. if you haven't already been, then may i suggest
http://www.oktoberfest.de/en
Plenty of info for anyone planning to be there. Funny how most of the fun takes place in September!!!!!
Thanks Doog... I really appreciate the link. I've got family just south of Munich. I've never been there, so things will be very new to me. I've started doing my research... I've got satellite maps (gotta love Google Earth!) and have started refreshing my german skills. I'm not going to bother learning Dutch... except maybe for a few key phrases.Doog wrote:
After getting bitten by the bavarian beer bug last night, I decided to check out the Oktoberfest wage pages just to see how it all worked.
if you haven't already been, then may i suggest
http://www.oktoberfest.de/en
Plenty of info for anyone planning to be there. Funny how most of the fun takes place in September!!!!!
This trip is still 8 months away... but the anxiety is already building.
Amsterdam certainly keeps peeps coming back for more. I think Oktoberfest could be just as popular for many a thirsty traveller but obviously the once a year thing means that Amsterdam seriously kicks Munich's ass when it comes to tourist numbers.
Combining the two sounds like such a superb idea.
Expensive maybe, worthwhile definitely.
Combining the two sounds like such a superb idea.
Expensive maybe, worthwhile definitely.
I've got a question for anyone here who has traveled between European countries.
I'm planning on taking a train from Amsterdam to Munich. Do I need to go through customs when I arrive in Munich? Also, anyone know what the policy is with bringing food onto a train? I'm taking an overnight train from the 'dam to Munich, so I was thinking of packing a nice space cake as a night cap.
I'm planning on taking a train from Amsterdam to Munich. Do I need to go through customs when I arrive in Munich? Also, anyone know what the policy is with bringing food onto a train? I'm taking an overnight train from the 'dam to Munich, so I was thinking of packing a nice space cake as a night cap.
No problems with the food but I would be careful about the customs issue as you are not a resident of the European Union.brewmeone wrote:I'm planning on taking a train from Amsterdam to Munich. Do I need to go through customs when I arrive in Munich? Also, anyone know what the policy is with bringing food onto a train? I'm taking an overnight train from the 'dam to Munich, so I was thinking of packing a nice space cake as a night cap.
There will surely be some sort of check when you arrive by plane/train or whatever and the fact that you are not a resident of the European Union means that your passage through customs will probably be a little longer than the rest of them.
The ball is rolling...
I haven't posted in a little while... been mostly lurking. I read this board almost every day.
I think I've nailed down the final plans for my Amsterdam and Oktoberfest trip.
My flight arrives in Amsterdam on Sept. 18th. I'll be meeting up with a friend from Atlanta (she'll be on the tail end of a three month trip that includes South America, Africa, and most of Europe). We're going to hang out in Amsterdam for three days... sometime during those days another friend is supposed to fly over and meet us in Amsterdam. We've all three smoked... but aren't frequent or heavy users. I'll use this part of the trip to do more smoking than sight seeing.
The night of Sept. 20th, we're taking an overnight train to Munich. I figured since I'll only be in Europe for two weeks, if I need to travel... might as well knock it out during the evening. Hopefully we'll be able to bring a space cake or brownie onto the train as a nightcap. I am definitely not going to bring anything into Germany.
On the 21st... we'll wake up in Munich. We'll head off to the hotel... freshen up... then start exploring. I've got family just outside of Munich, and they're making reservations in one of the beer tents for a table. I imagine the week in Munich will be loaded with whatever Oktoberfest activities there are. I'll probably go to Andechs... a monastery where the monks brew beer. If I feel like it... I may also take a day trip down to Austria. I have a list of things I'd like to do... but I don't want to plan every day... some days I just want to drink in the beergardens and party.
On the 27th... it's back to Amsterdam via the overnight train. There will only be two of us returning to Amsterdam. We'll be staying at the Amsterdam Hilton... so it'll be a bit away from the RLD and Centraal station. There will be two days and two nights to check out more of the coffeeshops and maybe hit some museums. There's three things I'd really like to see... Anne Frank House, Heineken brewery, and the Van Gogh museum.
As for coffeeshops... I've been reading all of the ACD reviews and the forum posts on the different shops. Here's the list of coffeeshops I'm going to make sure I see:
1. Pink Floyd - from all I've read... the service, music, and bud are great.
2. Nes - Must sign the guest book.
3. Barney's - Wake and bake? I'm in.
4. Dampkring - Good reviews... and looks like a cool place.
5. Anything else... I plan on stopping by other places that are suggested or just swinging by random coffeeshops.
I can't wait. I still have a little ways to go... but it will be here before you know it.
I think I've nailed down the final plans for my Amsterdam and Oktoberfest trip.
My flight arrives in Amsterdam on Sept. 18th. I'll be meeting up with a friend from Atlanta (she'll be on the tail end of a three month trip that includes South America, Africa, and most of Europe). We're going to hang out in Amsterdam for three days... sometime during those days another friend is supposed to fly over and meet us in Amsterdam. We've all three smoked... but aren't frequent or heavy users. I'll use this part of the trip to do more smoking than sight seeing.
The night of Sept. 20th, we're taking an overnight train to Munich. I figured since I'll only be in Europe for two weeks, if I need to travel... might as well knock it out during the evening. Hopefully we'll be able to bring a space cake or brownie onto the train as a nightcap. I am definitely not going to bring anything into Germany.
On the 21st... we'll wake up in Munich. We'll head off to the hotel... freshen up... then start exploring. I've got family just outside of Munich, and they're making reservations in one of the beer tents for a table. I imagine the week in Munich will be loaded with whatever Oktoberfest activities there are. I'll probably go to Andechs... a monastery where the monks brew beer. If I feel like it... I may also take a day trip down to Austria. I have a list of things I'd like to do... but I don't want to plan every day... some days I just want to drink in the beergardens and party.
On the 27th... it's back to Amsterdam via the overnight train. There will only be two of us returning to Amsterdam. We'll be staying at the Amsterdam Hilton... so it'll be a bit away from the RLD and Centraal station. There will be two days and two nights to check out more of the coffeeshops and maybe hit some museums. There's three things I'd really like to see... Anne Frank House, Heineken brewery, and the Van Gogh museum.
As for coffeeshops... I've been reading all of the ACD reviews and the forum posts on the different shops. Here's the list of coffeeshops I'm going to make sure I see:
1. Pink Floyd - from all I've read... the service, music, and bud are great.
2. Nes - Must sign the guest book.
3. Barney's - Wake and bake? I'm in.
4. Dampkring - Good reviews... and looks like a cool place.
5. Anything else... I plan on stopping by other places that are suggested or just swinging by random coffeeshops.
I can't wait. I still have a little ways to go... but it will be here before you know it.
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Analog_bear
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Sun 25th Jun 2006 02:42 pm
- Location: NYC, NY, USA
Re: The ball is rolling...
My brother and I are going to do something similar, please see an earlier post, and would love to meet up on the 27/28 for a beer and a toke. We have an apartment over the Bulldog Palace (the apt is not affiliated w/the Bulldog). We opted to close down Oktoberfest, after starting in the 'Dam.brewmeone wrote:
I think I've nailed down the final plans for my Amsterdam and Oktoberfest trip.
On the 27th... it's back to Amsterdam...There's three things I'd really like to see... Anne Frank House, Heineken brewery, and the Van Gogh museum.
I can't wait. I still have a little ways to go... but it will be here before you know it.
From Munich, you really have two main southerly destinations: East to Berchtesgaden/Salzburg, Austria/the Eagles Nest; and West to the Garmish area with the Zugspitze. Having lived in Germany for a few years, and going down to the 'Fest every year, I can honestly say that Oktoberfest is really too busy; but for a day it can be fun to experience.
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"What's labrador?"
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Analog_bear
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Sun 25th Jun 2006 02:42 pm
- Location: NYC, NY, USA
Why are you not driving? For around 300 euros (less than the train for one person) you can rent a C-class 'Benz/Audi A-4 with unlimited mileage for a week, get around on your own, go like a bat out of hell on the Autobahn, and rock a 'Benz. Plus, not every car rental agency requires an over-23 y/o renter.
My brother an I have rented a 5-Series BMW for the week, except for our trip to the Eagle's Nest and Salzburg...For that, through Sixt, we got a MB SL-350...Nice. The BMW was $450 for the week, unlimited mileage, and the SL was $650 for the day, with 250KM included.
My brother an I have rented a 5-Series BMW for the week, except for our trip to the Eagle's Nest and Salzburg...For that, through Sixt, we got a MB SL-350...Nice. The BMW was $450 for the week, unlimited mileage, and the SL was $650 for the day, with 250KM included.
"What's labrador?"