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Let Your Vacation Bloom in
Amsterdam!
Ah yes, Amsterdam – the city
of tulips, the city of blooming festivals of color and fragrance
in the springtime. However, when you travel to Amsterdam, you’ll
also find a teeming center of finance and culture, rivaling other
European capitals. Begun as a tiny fishing village about 1200 AD,
Amsterdam has grown into the capital of the Netherlands, the country
that is still, today, called “Holland” by many tourists
unfamiliar with the fact that Holland is actually a geographical
area within the Netherlands.
Regardless of what you call the
country, an Amsterdam holiday can be designed according to any budget,
with quality hotels in various price ranges (see http://www.hoteldetective.net/Town/EN/Amsterdam-Hotels.htm)
and a myriad of sights and attractions.
If you’re interested in Amsterdam
on a discount budget, you might consider staying at the Golden Tulip
Amsterdam – Zaandam, available for as little as $125 per night,
depending upon the time of year. Close to the railway station, the
Golden Tulip puts the city center just a quick, 12-minute ride away,
and it’s situated right in the center of many of the city’s
most popular attractions: museums, shopping, and even windmills
and world-famous cheese markets.
With an in-house restaurant, internet
access in every room, and children under 3 staying for free, you
get excellent value for your money. Especially attractive to visitors
is the varied breakfast selection provided by the hotel –
labeled by one customer as “a vast array of tasty foods from
which to choose.”
Along with the great price at the
Golden Tulip, a budget Amsterdam vacation is sure to include the
All Day Canal Bus Pass, valid from the time purchased until noon
the following day. With Amsterdam being a city of canals, travel
to a wide range of sights couldn’t be easier – see the
Rijksmuseum, an extravaganza of arts such as the famous Netherlands
dollhouses, Delftware, and even an interactive exhibition of masterpieces
by some of the greatest 17th century masters: Hals, Steen, Vermeer,
and Rembrandt. With the Canal Pass covering three different routes,
you can climb off at any of the 14 stops, stay as long as you like,
and then climb back on for a peaceful canal run to the next attraction
of your choice.
On the other hand, if you’re
planning an extravaganza of your own for your Amsterdam holiday,
consider staying at the Hotel Pulitzer, a virtual art gallery of
its own, located right in scenic downtown Amsterdam and near Dam
Square and the Royal Palace. Another top of the line accommodation
you might return to after a fun day of sightseeing is the Dylan
Hotel Amsterdam, located inside a delightfully quaint 17th century
historic landmark, but having an almost pop-modern aspect to its
decor. Sophisticated and welcoming at the same time, the Dylan is
close to several of the most notable attractions, including the
Anne Frank House and the Van Gogh Museum.
Any of these hotels provides easy
access to a classic European night on the town, with one of the
most enchanting options being a five-course dinner cruise aboard
a luxurious motor launch, meandering along romantically illuminated
nighttime Amsterdam canals. Another popular choice is the Leidseplein
Theater, where you can take in the shows of Boom Chicago, a performance
group known for quick wit, humor, and outstanding improvisation
generated, in part, by audience suggestion. One item to note should
you be considering a family vacation: cannabis, or marijuana, is
legal in Amsterdam and is smoked openly in pubs and cafes throughout
the city.
Whether you are carefully watching
your vacation budget or you’re letting it all hang out, Amsterdam
will surely provide you with memories as varied as the colors of
tulips in spring...and don’t forget to take some of those
colors home with a visit the many flowermarkets – find dried
cut blooms, live plants, or even some dormant tulip bulbs. Plant
them in your flower beds at home, and let memories of your Amsterdam
vacation bloom anew each year.
About Author:
Steven Wallace is a savvy travel
writer. He now writes for several travel websites including http://www.hoteldetective.net.
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