budget questions for amsterdam

im leaving for amsterdam in 10 days and i really need to know how much money u need to have for a good time over there. my trip is from the 29th- dec 6th, so i'll have a full 5 days to party it up in amsterdam. so does anybody have a good idea of how much money u need to spend over there to have a good time and how expensive things are?

 

good question, i also really want to know about that money thing.

 

Well.. since we switched to the Euro (instead of the Guilder) everything got pretty expensive so.. if you want to party for 5 straight days without being cheap then bring a LOT of it Especially the touristic spots in Amsterdam are very expensive. If you pay attention though, you can live a little more cheap.. but expect to spend

 

Damn! a lot of people going over to Amsterdam in the same week. Is this turning into a Forums gathering in Amsterdam or something?

 

Ill be there Wednesday November 24 till Monday 22, and I cant freaking wait, it will be my second time.

 

all togather with tickets and hotel being that we got very ripped off the trip came to about five grand for a week. we accutally winded up staying a few extra days being that we missed our flight (oh such a long story i'll get into all that later). I wish someone would have warned me about how the dutch love to "trick" americans out of there money. be very wary around the dutch they try to take advantage of us stoners !!!!

 

LMFAO!
Of course, especially because most of us American idiots think that we're tough enough to smoke a joint of their shit straight, when all it'll do is give us serious munchies and set us on "comatose" for the next 48 hours...


Cheap Shit? Been here for a little bit, had an opportunity to learn how to have fun and economise, so if you plan on coming back, here are some pointers;

Travel; Are you under 26? then you qualify as a youth or student traveller and can pay A LOT LESS than you will pay on even "discount" sites... check out www.sta-travel.com and though you have to pay a $22 fee for the membership, the card hooks you up with even more discounts when you get here (i haven't done much of the touristy thing, but i've heard stories ;-)... I paid (one way) $356 or so in May, so round trip that might be about $700... at the beginning of peak season, that's not too bad. they can also hook you up with cheap (relatively speaking) round-the world flights.

Food; HAHAHA! I've said it before and I'll say it again, DIRK VAN DEN BROEK! lol... some of the cheapest grub available in Amsterdam.... if you're doing the sandwich thing, etc... and especially for munchies... go in there with 10EUROS and come out with two bags of groceries (if you do it right) and also open air markets. If you're here for a week or more, they are definitely worth checking out; To get to Albert Cuyp Market; Trams 16,24,4,5 and 25 (i think) will take you straight past and even let you know when you're there. Good place for vegans and veggies, lots of fresh produce, dried fruit, fresh roasted nuts and lotsa cheese and fishies (wanna try a pickled herring-so typically Dutch-this is the place to do it!!).... not to mention everything from cheap batteries, to greek marinated olives (damn good ones at that!!)....
To get to (my favorite) Dirk, All of the same trams listed above (especially 16 and 24) will drop you off right there... it's just behind the Heineken Brewery, and so not to far from local attractions....
If you're eating out, stay THE HELL AWAY from those goddamned wannabe Argentinian steakhouses... none of them know how to make a steak (or ribs for that matter) and will rip you of (15Euros, about $22) for an overcooked slab of cow, (previously)frozen french fries and an iceberg and tomato salad..... YUMMY!!! hahahaa, yeah right!
Off of the Warmoestraat (all the way to the end, towards Prins Hendrikkade) is a BOMB ASS (and cheap, averaging 6EUROS per plate) Chinese/Surniamese restaurant that doesn't specialise in food poisoning! The Peking Duck is fantastic, and for 7.50EU you get a whole bunch of meat and a whole bunch of noodles (sausage, duck, chicken, pork, goose... haha no goose, but close enough!).... Falafel is also an excellent way to go.... there is a good spot (most of you have seen it) between Centraal Station and the Victoria Hotel called Maoz.... scrumdidilyumptious (daily made) falafel and all-you-can-eat salad bar....

Ganja and/or Alcohol; ganja first, again staying as far from the Damrak as possible will save you from spending 7.50EU on a gram of white widow when you can find it elsewhere for 5.... and don't smoke it straight for fucks sake! you'll learn quickly that you won't want to do a goddamn thing half hour after a pure joint of any of it... I know you purists out there hate to add tobacco to your shit, but that's the best way to stretch it out and to keep you lucid to actually ENJOY your trip (no pun intended!!)..... If you can't roll, check out headshops (Baba is my favorite) as they have these very cool, very convenient pre-rolled papers that are a bit extra than the regular ones, but will save you some time and lost weed if you aren't staying for long.
and by the way, forget the damned White Widow.... it's good shit, but if you stick to that (it being an indica if i'm not mistaken) your damned to spend a bunch of cash on overpriced sodas and candy waltzing down the damrak.
Northern Lights is tasty (sativa, i think), with a nicely pronounced, though relatively mellow high (Funny People Coffeshop has some of the nicest buds in town), AK47 is another indica that leaves you with a good buzz and not such intense munchies.... Orange is cool as well, but anything with "Haze" at the end is likely worth it's weight in gold (in my opinion ;-)

Alcohol; Buy it at a slijterij and get wasted BEFORE you go to the club, or you'll easily spend 3 EU for a kiddie cup of heini!

hahaaa..... I hope that was thourough enough, as i am running out of time....

:::Blessings:::
Sweet Sangre

 

yes, the White Widow is very potent. I learned this the hard way. Ended up buying a small glass pipe around Waterlooplein and just loaded it up there. I'm not one to add tobacco to my weed. it changes the way you smoke it. Not my cup o' tea. But yeah, it got me and tamsyn nice and fuckered up before we tried wandering the streets looking for food. As for the steakhouses, we ended up at an "American" themed steakhouse, complete with cowhides on all of the walls. Ugh! It was the best piece of meat I have ever had. Seriously. Her steak was bloody and perfect. My lamb couldn't have been better. Yay carnivores on dope!!!


How much did I spend? Well, I think I stayed within $1500 american, including the cost of the plane ticket. But I did sleep at the homes of some lovely Dutch folks, one of whom is in these forums. That did help with lodging prices. I also shared a houseboat with another forumer and got by kinda cheap that way. There are ways of cutting corners and saving a bit without missing out on anything. Don't feel you have to buy everything in sight. In fact, if you're bringing back souveniers or gifts for anyone back home, wait until the last day or two to do your shopping. And stick to a budget. I can't comprehend spending $5000 on one week. What on earth did you buy? a $40 toothbrush? A gas powered turtleneck sweater? Damn! That's spending like the US government!

It also helped that I did have some locals to show me around and help translate when necessary. Overall, a relatively affordable trip that I'll do again when I have the chance/money.

 

$5000 in one week is alot of hookers... ALOT of hookers

 

Thanks for the money saving tips, which we will use during our mid-April trip. We have reserved a nice apartment for a week, and plan on using the markets and shops to help reduce the food and drink cost.

Monosphere, you mentioned a steakhouse, but didn't mention the name or location. Could you? I sure don't want to have to cook every night while there, and it would be a shame to miss out on "the best piece of meat" you have ever had!

Chillski, you mentioned tricks used to part us tourists from our Euros. Can you give some examples so that we can benefit from your experience?

Sweet Sangria, the money saving tips are most appreciated, but I'd rather not poison myself with the thousands of chemicals and hundreds of known poisons in tobacco to reduce the cost of my buzz. :sunglasse And frankly, some of us have built up quite a tolerance with over 35 years of enjoying Mother Nature's finest!

 

How long is a piece of string.?

 

One of the following:

Long enough.

Not long enough.

Too long.

 

Unfortunately, we were sooooo stoned that I don't remember the name nor the location. I think it was somewhere southwest of Rembrantplein. That and I'm sure part of the reason why it was so good was that we were stoned and starved. When ya got the munchies, just about anything tastes good.

 

A good way to save in to camp there are 4 campgrounds near Adam. They run about 9 to 13 Euro per nite E4 per person extra. This is in a tent.

 

Might be good during the summer, but at this time of year? I'm thinking it would be too cold to camp.

 

Ok, I was there for 9 days over the new year and had a wonderful time!!!!! I spent 900 euro while I was there and I partied my ass off! I brougth 1500 and didn't spend near that much. Word of advise: STAY IN A HOSTEL!!!! you will save so much more money this way. The flying pig is nice, bob's youth hostel is cheep; not the nicest, but cheep.
Good luck and I hope you have enough money to party hard!!!!!!

 

That sounds like the New York steakhouse at Rembrantplein #17 I believe.

 

careful what a tell this guy for he will try to use it against u .....he has broken the stoner's golden rule!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Ok wow.. that's pretty weird. Why is he calling you right wing? If you were molesting children or unfit for your job, ok.. but because you want to go to Amsterdam and smoke pot and visit the RLD? Sheesh..

Nasty, good thing you didn't get fired..

 

questions: how would he know where you work? How did he figure out who you are? And why is he taking such an interest in you and trying to fuck up your life?