[skastel]

I'm trying to plan a trip out there anyone know cheap airfare and where I should stay?
I'm going to probably stay at the Flying pig<not sure if thats the name> youth hostel. Any other recomendation on what I should do when there, ie speciffic coffee shops.
Also when's the best time to go, I'd prefer fewer tourists but still nice weather.
Thanks everyone!

[kinetic]

Originally posted by skastel
I'm trying to plan a trip out there anyone know cheap airfare and where I should stay?
I'm going to probably stay at the Flying pig<not sure if thats the name> youth hostel. Any other recomendation on what I should do when there, ie speciffic coffee shops.
Also when's the best time to go, I'd prefer fewer tourists but still nice weather.
Thanks everyone!

Heres the hostel http://www.flyingpig.nl/ but you had better get your skates on if you want nice weather, winters round the corner. Theres plenty of nice window shopping, so I've heard.

[skastel]

I'm not worried about winter too much, Boston gives me plenty of that so it's nothing new. I've heard that the winter there is pretty light, not too much snow, mostly rain. Is this true?
Smoothdrive I'm looking your way for the most advice.

[kinetic]

Originally posted by skastel

Smoothdrive I'm looking your way for the most advice.

If you ask really nicely, he might give you a tour of the city in his 'Swift'. Hang on to your hats!

[Ryoko]

recommendation: smoke a joint for me... and even though they don't care... do it just outside the police station. oh, and ship some over to me

[fornicatarachnid]

Originally posted by kinetic
If you ask really nicely, he might give you a tour of the city in his 'Swift'. Hang on to your hats!

[Smoothdrive]

Hehe swift tours at your service

Best advise i can give you is visit a bar called "Boom Chicago" at the Leidseplein. website here BoomChicago, it's a bar/comedy club which is run by Americans, their staff also is mainly American and they can give you all the info you want on food, places to be etc. they also organise some tours themselves. And on their website there's a button called real Amsterdam which gives some info & tips on places to stay etc. packed in a funny story as well i'ld read that bit if I were you...of course i could tell you some as well but i've read their brochure when i was there waiting for the show to start and i think their info is more in line with the American taste & preferences..

[Smoothdrive]

As for the weather..i think you're too late for nice weather already..but even in mid-summer you can't plan on the weather here. summers are between 35C al Sunny and 20C rain all day here..somehow it seems mostly the sun is weekdays and the rain is weekends

I'ld say prepare for rain and temps around 10C to 20C between now and November plan for rain and temps of 0C-15C in December to April..it mostly does not rain all and you might be here a week withour rain if you're lucky......we do get snow and cold sometimes but we never get 2 metres of snow or something like that.

Tourists..well there's always tourists here..but don't worry about it..Residents of Amsterdam come in 30+ different nationalities anyways so you can't tell the tourists from the residents mostly anyway . Finally 95% of the Dutch speak English (100% of the people under 35 or so) and if you wanna get the girls try learning some Dutch words..a lot of girls here are suckers for Americans trying to speak Dutch..something in the accent i guess.

[skastel]

thanks a ton!
Nice to hear someone talk about amsterdam who actually knows what it's like, I've been there once before, but only for three days. It was a good three days though, I saw Queens Day <what a party!> and the amazing clean up the morning after! For refrence, it's definitely the coolest place I've ever been. If only the good ol USA would be as wonderfuly lenient