Modern Vespa

Hi all,

Bonnie and I are going there this June. Any thoughts on rentals? Bonnie prefers to ride pillion so no scoot for her. All suggestions welcome. Thank you.

JP

Not certain you want to ride a scooter for vacationing in Amsterdam. It has amazing public transit but it's super congested. Most of it is flat so even a bicycle works. It's doable but you may want to think about how much time you have to make the decision. A scooter will give you quicker transport around the city but you will be burdened with helmets. I have been several times and I find foot and transit is much easier to manage.

http://www.iamsterdam.com/en-GB/experience/plan-your-trip/getting-around/rental/scooter-hire

On the flipside, if you plan on leaving the city, I think a scoot is great option. Dutch roads are very nice and there is a lot to see just outside. If you get a chance, go over to Haarlem. It's a lovely little city. You are too late for Keukenhof but Delft would be a nice road trip as well. Both places are less than an hour from Amsterdam. Amazing windy roads with windmills along the way.

My friend lives near there, her and her friends usually walk or bicycle everywhere.

She said eh, not many scooters around where she is and it's not convenient or fast, where as bicycling and walking tends to be quicker.

Just walking around Amsterdam is cool. The red light area at nite is interesting,and the bars with the drugs are interesting also but just walk around and enjoy the city. I'd take a bicycle or walk. It was congested years ago and i think it's probably gotten worse. Lots of reat food. Good cheeses. The Anne Frank museum is a must. Very sobering. Love Holland. Have fun.

Amsterdam is one of my favorite cities in the world! I was just there last month.

I found a company that does Vespa tours and rentals. I didn't use them, but they do exist.

http://www.leftbankscooters.com/amsterdam/

I have to agree with the others, though. If you stay in the city center (which you should), Amsterdam is so tiny and walkable, that I can't see any need for a scooter. With all of the pedestrians, bikes, cars and trams, even walking can be a challenge.

One of my favorite things in Amsterdam is the Indonesian food... it's impossible to find around here!

lots of rentals available in the red light district. you can get a 30 min, 1 hr , 2 hr . Bonnie might have to sit at a bar waiting on you or she can go in as well. Most of the window shopping is pretty good in that area.

Insist on a good lock.

I think I had a good time at the Club Paradiso in 1971.

Most of the scooters there are 50s. I'm sure all the rentals are. It's all you need, really.

BTW, be forewarned about a certain product sold in the coffee shops that goes by the name of "AK47." Don't ask me how I know...

I'd go for the bicycle option as Amsterdam is so small a scooter would be wasted.

There are loads of bicycle rental shops to choose from.

I've visited many times as I have a friend who lives just behind the Heineken brewery on the South side of the city.

Personally I hate the red light district as it's full of drunken English wankers on stag weekends so best avoided.

Take a canal boat ride out and check out all of the museums now that they have all been refurbished.

You'll be spoilt for places to eat if you walk behind the brewery - Spanish, Chinese,Italian and an Irish Pub to choose from.

Bill xxx

Bicycles are the way to go in Amsterdam.

A canal boat ride is a fantastic idea (good one Bill.) and the museums are great.

Are you planning on visiting the Anne Frank house? If you are, get your tickets online before you leave and you can bypass the line and go right in.

And the line goes all the way around the block so get there early.

B x

Sounds like "bicycle it is" then. Some other suggestions were a bit more salacious and funny. Bonny is a great sport so who knows?

Thanks everyone

JP

Don't eat the purple microdot.

Either that or get on a tram of which there are plenty.

Oh, you must visit MR B's just off the square.

It caters for the clothing needs of gentleman who prefer the company of gentleman.

Really high quality leather, rubber and pvc gear for the man about town.

I can vouch for the quality of their products.

Bill x

Trams are the way you can get tickets fro a day or several days that way you save money, scooters the main scooters I have seen there are all 50s as you only have to be 15 or 16 to ride them.

Lots to see and do if you haven't be before.

Thank you Judy for the memory jogger! Went on a college field trip in '69...Amsterdam, London and Paris. I remember the red light district very well Our group was walking through the area and I was attempting to take a photo of one of "the ladies in the window" only to have some one from above throw a coffee cup at me... and they didn't miss. I instead took a picture of the guy throwing the cup at me. We all ran like hell. The Anne Frank tour was a real experience also. Very unforgettable. FWIW, our trip was from New York to Amsterdam, London and Paris and back. All lodging, some meals, airfare, side trips etc. was $315.00. Another highlight was Canterbury Tales in London.

I'm going to Amsterdam the last week of November. I expect it will be cold and dark so we're not planning on any scooting. Any tips on other things to see and do around Amsterdam? (Please, no "coffee shops" unless they really serve only coffee.)

Most of the top ten well known things are great. Definitely visit the Rijksmuseum and Anne Frank house. They are both excellent. Definitely get to the Anne Frank house early as the lines can be long. I have done most of the touristy things over multiple visits and I did enjoy the canal boat ride. The Van Gogh museum is also excellent.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g188590-Amsterdam_North_Holland_Province-Vacations.html

However, my favorite thing to do is to just walk around the city. It's vibrant and around every corner is a surprise.

+1 Pretty much everything I was going to say.

Delft is beautiful and not scummy tourist wise. Buy train tickets one way at a time. We had a tram/train debit card and forgot to check in one place and the penalty on our cards was EUR25 each. We just got back last week so if you have any ?'s I'll be happy to answer. FYI if your credit/debit card doesn't have a chip it won't do you any good. The train kiosks at small stations WILL NOT TAKE CARDS OR PAPER euros only coins. The fine for riding without a ticket is EUR35 each plus the ticket.

The Hague is a short train trip and very nice small city, the original of girl with a pearl earring is on show here in the mauritshaus museum. Our favourite Indonesian restaurant / bar is in Amsterdam the Kantjil and the tijger http://www.kantjil.nl/en/ there is tons to do and see walking is the easiest around the city. Trams are great and cheap, taxis are expensive.

The city should be all decked out for Christmas by then the Dutch celebrate Christmas a bit differently. http://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/holland.shtml
This place is worth a visit is just so tranquil and it's in the middle of the city
http://www.begijnhofamsterdam.nl

P C Hoofstraten is the place to go if you like designer shopping,

My Wife and I were in Amsterdam in late October. Walking around this beautiful city is the way to go! The Museums and Ann Frank House as stated above is a must. One tip is to walk around the Jordan section of Amsterdam. Its like a big SoHo in NYC. Also stop by the Cheese Museum for a fun experince and unlimited Dutch Cheese tastings: http://www.iamsterdam.com/en-GB/Ndtrc/Amsterdam%20Cheese%20Museum

I have two restuarants: for a snack got to Pancakesi for traditional Dutch Pancakes and for dinner look up The Patio. Wonderful restaurant in the Jordan section of the city.

Have fun!

Cheers!

Gianni