good rates boston--amsterdam 2/16--2/20

I keep seeing a non stop flight leaving boston at 6:15 packaged with
hotels 10 or 15 miles outside the city....

the ? is, do we book that one at 515 a person, just not use the hotel
and book a hotel seperately?

We are interested in a direct flight because it minimizes the chances
opf snow delays, etc, and dont mind paying a little extra. BUT, doing
the flight as a package on most of the major sites becomes rediculously
expensive.

Any suggestions on a good hotel booking sight "bookings.nl" and
"hotels.nl" have both proven to be excellent, but am wondering if
anyone has any places to look!!

Chuck

the ? is, do we book that one at 515 a person, just not use the hotel
and book a hotel seperately?

If you go to the Northwest website, they have fares for as little as $380
but they have you travelling all over the U.S. before flying to AMS. The
nonstops without the package that you found are $704.

But depending on the hotel location, it might actually be worth using it.
To get a nice place in the city you are really paying $120 or more. If the
package options include a nice place that is right at a train or tram stop
15 minutes from Amsterdam Centraal, then you might have a really worthwhile
deal. I have no problem staying at the Golden Tulip in Zaandam (which is
directly at the train station, with trains running constantly to Centraal),
and staying in Haarlem can be even more pleasant than staying in Amsterdam.
The Golden Tulip in Leiden, or the Best Western Lion D'or in Haarlem are
also completely easy and practical hotels, given their train station
locations--in some ways better, with all sorts of different dimensions, than
staying in Amsterdam.

To be honest, I do not envy you flying from BOS nonstop. The 615pm flight
arrives 715am, which is 115am EST, which means either you are fabulous
early-sleepers, or you will not actually get the 3 hours deep sleep you need
to make the next day halfway worthwhile (unless you have jet lag secrets
that work for you; living in the midwest, the 915pm departure from MSP on
Northwest is a godsend, because I get decent sleep and enjoy the next day
pretty fresh, especially after a shower at Schiphol--you could double back
from BOS to MSP to get that one and also include a 5 hour trip into
Minneapolis, but that prices in the $800's--without the hotel package).


Any suggestions on a good hotel booking sight "bookings.nl" and
"hotels.nl" have both proven to be excellent, but am wondering if
anyone has any places to look!!

I've never seen sites that do better in AMS than www.bookings.nl though you
could look at the reviews and successes at www.biddingfortravel.com and try
a Priceline bid if it looks worthwhile.

To be honest, I do not envy you flying from BOS nonstop. The 615pm
flight
arrives 715am, which is 115am EST, which means either you are fabulous
early-sleepers, or you will not actually get the 3 hours deep sleep you
need
to make the next day halfway worthwhile

my friend and I are both in our early 30's with young children and take
a 2 or 3 day trip every other month or so. We usualy "go like hell"
and sleep when we can. I think friday we should be okay, but saturday
will be a late sleep in, thats for sure....its amazing how easily one
can revert to their early 20's when away from responsibilities.

thanks for the advice on hotels, I think we are going tot ake one
outside the city and then maybe pick up a cheap room on sunday nite for
my friends birthday...

Chuck

I think we are going tot ake one outside the city and then maybe pick
up a cheap room on sunday nite for my friends birthday...

Just look really close at the transport connections. If it is one of the
Schiphol hotels that is really intended for motorists and is in the middle
of nowhere, it will be an incredible hassle. But if is on a rail line or a
tram line on the outskirts, it is really probably not that much of a hassle,
and will likely be a better property than you would get in the center of
Amsterdam for anything close to a decent rate.

BEST WESTERN TAMERHORN 1
1421 UITHOORN
THE NETHERLANDS
Amsterdam-Uithoorn


479 per person in US$, airfare/hotel all taxes/fees included.....

I am trying to get some tram/train info now...

Chuck

BEST WESTERN TAMERHORN 1
1421 UITHOORN
THE NETHERLANDS
Amsterdam-Uithoorn


479 per person in US$, airfare/hotel all taxes/fees included.....

I am trying to get some tram/train info now...

Chuck

479 per person in US$, airfare/hotel all taxes/fees included.....

That's an INCREDIBLE rate, but the hotel looks to be in a lonely off-target
direction from Schiphol relative to Amsterdam (Uithoorn is southeast, while
Amsterdam is northeast on www.viamichelin.com ), with probably fairly
arduous public transport connections (the Best Western website says there
are public transport connections--although this is true for all of Holland,
this location might be actually totally impractical). For that hotel, you
would be best off renting a car just to get between the airport, the hotel,
and a convenient rail station to pop into Amsterdam. Does the package have
any alternative properties?

i read a review someone wrote and they said that it was a short walk to
the bus station but that the bus stops at 12:30 am, so that would be a
problem for us I am sure.....

I am going to take your lead and look into Haarlem and Zandaam now....


Chuck

i read a review someone wrote and they said that it was a short walk to
the bus station but that the bus stops at 12:30 am, so that would be a
problem for us I am sure.....

I am going to take your lead and look into Haarlem and Zandaam now....


Chuck