I love Amsterdam, and to make up for not living in Goa is is very nice to chill in the 'dam. My Grandad came from Rotterdam, so I always feel like I am returning home.

My wife and I go in Feburary as the Hortus rate is cut by half during off-peak. Which makes for a great budget holiday in Amsterdam

Getting there is now very much easyer with the low cost airlines. We are near Norwich and Flybe have opened up a route there. The agony we used to suffer on the overnight ferrys and with the plane you can get there in under an hour and for cheaper than the ferry! I have been on the overnight ferry a few times going by train from Bury St Edmunds to Felexstowe and then the long night on the ferry. It used to be a very long haul and it was hard to believe the speed of the plane, I mean: to arrive the same day! Then with the ferry you still have to get from the port to the 'dam, on the plane you only need a short train trip to the city.

However missing your plane on the return trip in not recomended! (Bitter experience talking here!)

If you want to "smoke" in your hotel the best for the central area is the Hotel Brian and if you want somewhere quieter try the Hotel Hortus out by the horticultural gardens (Hortus Botanicus). It it bigger and owned by the same people as the Brian.

A good coffee shop is nearby the Hortus: the Green House near the Waterlooplein market.

Also the Hortus is in a good place: one way you go into the back of the Red Light District, another leads to central and another to the dockside area, so it is in a and handy. Also nearby is the Zoo. Hoping on a tram near the Hortus you can get to the ice skating rink, which is great fun and very popular in Holland.

Not far from the Hortus is a supermarket, and Dutch food is yummy, if not that healthy. Although the food seems a lot better than it used to be health wise. The Hortus has a kitchen for use of the guests, this makes it possible to stay for a lot better price!

Hotel Hortus

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