Amsterdam

Ahleckz · 21 Oct 2011 at 00:30

ennogs said:
NEVER walk around the red light on your own at night.

Why? Because of temptation? The Red Light district is pretty safe, yeah you'll get the people trying to sell you drugs and they can be a bit forward but it's as safe (or dangerous) as any other major city centre.
Amsterdam isn't an unsafe city, don't believe that it is.

jp_bl_68 · 21 Oct 2011 at 00:48

^ I completely agree. It's no more dangerous than any other city centre at night.

Spook187 · 21 Oct 2011 at 01:12

iKettles said:
Booked this up for November 20th -
http://www.bookamsterdamapartments....11&end=11-23-2011&persons=4&other=smoking_yes
Works out about £95 each for 4 of us for 3 nights. Self catered and nice and central, some pretty decent cheap apartments on there! Flights were about £60 return

you popping out for a smoke mate lol :eek:

ennogs · 21 Oct 2011 at 03:20

Ahleckz said:
Why? Because of temptation? The Red Light district is pretty safe, yeah you'll get the people trying to sell you drugs and they can be a bit forward but it's as safe (or dangerous) as any other major city centre.
Amsterdam isn't an unsafe city, don't believe that it is.

The red light can be a very dangerous place. The druggy street dealers/muggers can spot a target miles away. I lived in Amsterdam for 9 years. I am not saying Amsterdam is an unsafe city but I would never walk around the red light by myself at night.

Also as somebody has already said never buy anything off a street dealer. At best you will get ripped off at worst you will be poisened.

Tony Williams · 21 Oct 2011 at 04:23

I can understand why people would love flocking to the 'dam. I've been and I'm not really a weed person so it was shopping and site seeing for me. Would rather goto Spain/Ibiza

Begbie · 21 Oct 2011 at 07:25

iKettles said:
Booked this up for November 20th -
http://www.bookamsterdamapartments....11&end=11-23-2011&persons=4&other=smoking_yes
Works out about £95 each for 4 of us for 3 nights. Self catered and nice and central, some pretty decent cheap apartments on there! Flights were about £60 return

Is there not some big festival on during November? It was pretty cold when I was out in November, as expected really.

Awesome holiday though.

CircleFaust · 21 Oct 2011 at 09:45

that should be more than enough money. the red light is best at night, don't try and take picture of the girls (well not blantantly).
trams are good to jump on/off, some you can get for free if there's no conductor.
i didn't smoke week but coffee shops are pretty cool.
it's not somewhere i'd go back to in a hurry but you have to see it once for sure

ShaolinDreams · 21 Oct 2011 at 09:48

Tony Williams said:
I can understand why people would love flocking to the 'dam. I've been and I'm not really a weed person so it was shopping and site seeing for me. Would rather goto Spain/Ibiza

You dont really need it though do ya

LoGaN_TnT · 21 Oct 2011 at 09:52

When are they going to bring that new law in to stop tourists getting high

It is soon i think.

Dava · 21 Oct 2011 at 10:31

LoGaN_TnT said:
When are they going to bring that new law in to stop tourists getting high It is soon i think.

won't ever happen amsterdam council are against it, they just want to enforce it on border cities.

iKettles · 21 Oct 2011 at 11:43

Begbie said:
Is there not some big festival on during November? It was pretty cold when I was out in November, as expected really.

Awesome holiday though.

Cannabis Cup is 20th - 24th

Spook187 said:
you popping out for a smoke mate lol

Is there any other reason to go to the dam?

On a serious note, it's a nice city but the lax laws are one of the main reasons it's so popular!

cm1179 · 21 Oct 2011 at 11:51

jaybee said:
How come?

didn't really get the place. stayed at the flying pig in the centre of town which was great and the world cup 2006 was on and england were still in it but i just couldn't really enjoy the place. not quite sure why. i don't think it was as i'd expected it to be.

Speirs · 21 Oct 2011 at 12:17

Amsterdam.................
Great place!!

Ahleckz · 21 Oct 2011 at 14:18

ennogs said:
The red light can be a very dangerous place. The druggy street dealers/muggers can spot a target miles away. I lived in Amsterdam for 9 years. I am not saying Amsterdam is an unsafe city but I would never walk around the red light by myself at night.

Also as somebody has already said never buy anything off a street dealer. At best you will get ripped off at worst you will be poisened.

I beg to differ, and also lived there (albeit some time ago) and visited a fair few times (often on stop overs from Schipol).

Being in a group is always going to be safer, granted and people can spot a tourist a mile away (but let's be honest pretty much everyone in the Wallen will be a tourist!) but it's so busy and quite well policed that the most bother the average tourist will get is someone shouting at them trying to sell them 'drugs' or a drunk American that can't handle the wares on offer.

If I was a new comer to De Wallen, or any other major city, I'd employ common sense (don't walk around flashing your cash, keep your camera protected, don't walk down unlit alleyways, don't accept offers from strangers) and I imagine I'd be perfectly safe.

Amps · 21 Oct 2011 at 15:07

From both my experiances of Amsterdam I would also use caution when making it home through the red light district after clubbing. The main street is not so dodgy but the side streets off it are dodgy and on both trips I have came across some hassle.

Bluntwrapped · 21 Oct 2011 at 16:43

Been twice myself. Never had any hassle, the streets are usually busy even into the wee hours of the morning. If I was going back again I would go around Christmas time. Cheap hotel rates basically 50% of what you would pay during peak + the prices in the coffee shops drop too

I Would recommend The Rookies Hotel. Comfortable rooms with en-suite bathroom and a HUGE coffee shop on the ground floor. Great for when it gets late, a quick stagger up the stairs and straight into bed!

Rotty · 21 Oct 2011 at 16:50

200 quid each for spending money for 4-5 nights wont go far, you may be able to cut your hotel budget a bit to increase spending money

stulid · 21 Oct 2011 at 17:19

ants83 said:
hotel83 google it.

Thats where we stay now after trying many other hotels, just seems the best balance of price/location and room size/quality.

IRLeetly · 21 Oct 2011 at 17:24

Heiniken Museum....

The Rockerij cafe's

.....Cafe/bar staff who expect a tip on every round bought :mad:

But still hotels are expensive, even with a staff discount ours came to just over a ton a night with breakfasts