Why is pre-booking so expensive? Help

[Atomt]

Hi there.
We're 3 friends on a eurotrip making our way through Amsterdam this May. We're not low budget but we can't afford to spend more than 25 euros per night per person in Amsterdam. We found several apartments on Airbnb that might suit us, even smoking is allowed in some, but finally came to a conclusion that we'd rather get to a place where we could meet people from all around the world, and therefore- hostels.
Now, when I try to look for places downtown - almost everything booked this month is cheap and suits our budget, even on weekends. but looking at bookings through May, everything gets way more expensive and sometimes reaches 35 euros per night on 22 bed MIXED DORMS!

My question is this-
If I wait till late April to book, will the prices go down? Should we rent the apartment and not take any chances?
Perhaps I should not book at all and just get there and rent beds?
I'm not sure if May is more expensive or if it's just pre-booking that gets into your pocket.

Help!

[KeyMonCha]

Welcome to the forum...

Prices tend to change dramatically in Amsterdam... But the main reason the prices jump in May is because it's the start of the summer season.

What dates do you have in mind for your trip? ...and where are you travelling from?

I know that most hostels will usually charge between E22-E35 per person, per night for a dorm room... I'd say you're looking at around E50 a night pp for a smoking apartment.

[spidergawd]

Welcome to the forum

We're not low budget but we can't afford to spend more than 25 euros per night per person in Amsterdam

For any major city in season I'm afraid that is low budget. Have you thought of the tent and sleeping bag option? Some nice campsites around, camping Zeeburg is one I know of, and plenty of fellow world travellers too.
I haven't stayed there but Stuart has and he thought it was good.

[KeyMonCha]

£118 for 3 nights, 28th-31st May at the Amsterdam Hostel Leidseplein in a dorm room!

...That's total price for three nights, not per person!

[Atomt]

Welcome to the forum...

Prices tend to change dramatically in Amsterdam... But the main reason the prices jump in May is because it's the start of the summer season.

What dates do you have in mind for your trip? ...and where are you travelling from?

I know that most hostels will usually charge between E22-E35 per person, per night for a dorm room... I'd say you're looking at around E50 a night pp for a smoking apartment.

We're coming for a whole week - 14th till the 21st of May. Coming from Berlin. We found good apartments that cost about 27e per night.

Welcome to the forum

We're not low budget but we can't afford to spend more than 25 euros per night per person in Amsterdam

For any major city in season I'm afraid that is low budget. Have you thought of the tent and sleeping bag option? Some nice campsites around, camping Zeeburg is one I know of, and plenty of fellow world travellers too.
I haven't stayed there but Stuart has and he thought it was good.

Yeah, I guess it is low-budget but it's because we're trying to save up cause it's not our only destination. I did check a campsite but it's not that close to central amsterdam and it's not really cheap, from what I've seen.

[Balou]

May is the start of high season here in Amsterdam. And if you wait to book next month your pickings will be even slimmer. Spidergawd offers some good advice with Camping Zeeburg. And they are in the process of rebuilding all of their cabins at the moment. Waiting to get here and then looking is not going to work since most hostels charge more at the weekend, ie over your budget. You have to do your research ahead of time to avoid scenarios like this. http://www.campingzeeburg.nl/index.php? ... eco-cabins

Edit: Just checked Zeeburg and the new eco cabins are over budget. But the wagonette is not so still worth a look. Booking.com didn't show anything under 800 euro and Hostel World shows room in Youth Hostel Meetingpoint 18 bed dorm for 438.

[KeyMonCha]

We found good apartments that cost about 27e per night.

That's an awesome price for an apartment... Nice find... Where did you see it?

Best i can manage is this one:

http://www.amsterdamstay.com/apartments ... 3&guests=3

...But, i'm guessing that's out of your range.

Hope it all goes well anyway... Have fun!

[Atomt]

Hostel World shows room in Youth Hostel Meetingpoint 18 bed dorm for 438.

That price is great, but I'm not sure about the hostel and the location. I understand that it's located on the edge of Red Light District... Could that mean something else? Like prostitutes rent rooms or a bad neighborhood? Never been there so I can't judge.

[billyriz]

We found good apartments that cost about 27e per night.

That's an awesome price for an apartment... Nice find... Where did you see it?

Best i can manage is this one:

http://www.amsterdamstay.com/apartments ... 3&guests=3

...But, i'm guessing that's out of your range.

Hope it all goes well anyway... Have fun!

I stayed there during cannabis cup, 22 bus from central stops literally on your doorstep, 2 fly n buys very close aswell
You Cant smoke weed there but the windows open right up so wasnt really a problem

[Balou]

Hostel World shows room in Youth Hostel Meetingpoint 18 bed dorm for 438.

That price is great, but I'm not sure about the hostel and the location. I understand that it's located on the edge of Red Light District... Could that mean something else? Like prostitutes rent rooms or a bad neighborhood? Never been there so I can't judge.

Prostitution is confined to the windows of the RLD and brothels. So you don't have to worry about that in a hostel. When they say edge it means not directly near any of the windows but there are plenty of sex shops on the street.

[Not_the_monk]

May is the start of high season here in Amsterdam. And if you wait to book next month your pickings will be even slimmer. Spidergawd offers some good advice with Camping Zeeburg. And they are in the process of rebuilding all of their cabins at the moment. Waiting to get here and then looking is not going to work since most hostels charge more at the weekend, ie over your budget. You have to do your research ahead of time to avoid scenarios like this. http://www.campingzeeburg.nl/index.php? ... eco-cabins

Vilegenbos is less of a trek and their 4 person cabins are about €70/night total - http://www.vliegenbos.com/uk/trekkers-cabin/

Stayed there 3 times in total, though not for a few years, always found it to be completely fine and quite a nice environment to chill in, There's a bus stop outside which takes you to central station in less than 5 minutes, or you can take a 10-15 min walk and get a little ferry to central station (again only a couple of min journey). There's a local CS nearby on that side of the water too, forget what its called though.

[KeyMonCha]

You Cant smoke weed there but the windows open right up so wasnt really a problem

Bugger... Only just noticed that on the extra info bit... What a shame... I really don't see how hash is any worse than tobacco... It's not like it stinks the place out... I'll stick to the apartments that have their own bongs!

[billyriz]

You Cant smoke weed there but the windows open right up so wasnt really a problem

Bugger... Only just noticed that on the extra info bit... What a shame... I really don't see how hash is any worse than tobacco... It's not like it stinks the place out... I'll stick to the apartments that have their own bongs!

We put a towell at the bottom of front door after neighbor knocked and complained but never had a problem once towell was down and window was open a little, still paranoid about them knocking again though, thing is i emailed before and they said it was fine for weed then when we turned up they said no would of gone some where else but cause of the Cup we thought better not cause all sold out

[sensismiler]

May is the start of high season here in Amsterdam. And if you wait to book next month your pickings will be even slimmer. Spidergawd offers some good advice with Camping Zeeburg. And they are in the process of rebuilding all of their cabins at the moment. Waiting to get here and then looking is not going to work since most hostels charge more at the weekend, ie over your budget. You have to do your research ahead of time to avoid scenarios like this. http://www.campingzeeburg.nl/index.php? ... eco-cabins

Vilegenbos is less of a trek and their 4 person cabins are about €70/night total - http://www.vliegenbos.com/uk/trekkers-cabin/

Stayed there 3 times in total, though not for a few years, always found it to be completely fine and quite a nice environment to chill in, There's a bus stop outside which takes you to central station in less than 5 minutes, or you can take a 10-15 min walk and get a little ferry to central station (again only a couple of min journey). There's a local CS nearby on that side of the water too, forget what its called though.

I heard that vilengbos were very anti weed. Was this wrong? I have stayed at zeeburg and would recommend it. Staff were very friendly. The cabins are overpriced for what they are imo.

[matty223]

just did a search on easytobook,

stayok vondelpark, for a dorm bed comes to about 34 euro a night per person