Travel help required.

[John_Arne_Riise]

Hey im going on a month long holiday in August/September. I just need some tips and advice of sorts, well here is the holiday as planned so far.

Depart Sydney, Australia 23rd August
Arrive Glasgow via London; 24th August

Depart Glasgow 6th September
Arrive Amsterdam via London 6th Sept also.

Depart Amsterdam 11th Sept.
Arrive Frankfurt 11th Sept

Depart Frankfurt 17th Sept.
Arrive Sydney via Los Angeles 19th Sept.

So basically its like 2 weeks in Scotland, a week in Amsterdam and a week in Frankfurt.

i'll be going to visit relatives in Scotland for 2 weeks, it would be a wish to see Liverpool play at Anfield by driving down there at the time to see them but it doesnt look as though that will be possible due to them not playing there within those 2 weeks. WHICH SUCKS

But iim going to Amsterdam and Frankfurt by myself so i'd like anyone thats travelled or been there for any tips, travel advice, hot spots, places to go or see in the surrounding areas.

Links for good accomodation would be nice too.

What would it be like language barrier wise? i know no Dutch, and bare minimum German, just like 'hello', 'goodbye' & 'how are you?'.

Hmmm thats all i can think of at the moment, i'll post more as it happens. Thanks in advance.

 

[Andrew]

Amsterdam Red Light District

 

[PhiLLer]

You won't have any probs getting around Amsterdam, everyone speaks (good) english there and it's very tourist orientated. There's always plenty of stuff to do in and around Amsterdam though I'd advise to stay clear of Madame Tussaud's, that's a rip-off. I suggest taking the train to some places around Amsterdam like Haarlem, that's a great city. And obviously you'll have to check out the Red Light District, just for the fun of it and being able to laugh at groups of pished english pointing out all the ugly ones. Oh, beware there are some of them girls at the Red Light District who look like mutants, stay well clear of them, they freak me out everytime I walk past...not that I walk around there a lot, really!

 

[Fotbalguy]

i might also be going to Amsterdam...... any coffeshops suggestions?

 

[PhiLLer]

Originally posted by Fotbalguy
i might also be going to Amsterdam...... any coffeshops suggestions?

Amsterdam has too many to name, anyone'll do I think.

 

[rhizome17]

Yeah, they are all much-of-a-muchness. Some of them have a better atmosphere than others, depends on what you are into really. They all sell the same thing, the bigger shops have more variety but again why be picky. Just don't talk to the African dudes on the bridges, they will be whispering at you as you cross to buy the hard stuff. AVOID.

Also avoid the pre-rolled joints which will set you back a tenner. They are weak and far better to get the gram.

Anne Franks house is worth a look if you get there early before the rest of the tourists.

 

[Parra Power]

frankfurt is boring

we were there for about 8 hours between connecting flights on the way back here.......... and there was seriously nothing to see or do

 

[John_Arne_Riise]

I'm actually planning on taking like an overnight express on the train to Berlin, which was my original destination, but there were no flights from Amsterdam to Berlin.

They said that to go from Amsterdam to Berlin, i would of had to of gone from Amsterdam back to London then to Berlin on a plane. Too much hassle if you ask me.

But yeah, if anyone has any more ideas, please post them

 

[ShiftyPowers]

Originally posted by rhizome17
Just don't talk to the African dudes on the bridges, they will be whispering at you as you cross to buy the hard stuff. AVOID.

Those the cops?

 

[rhizome17]

Nah, the cops arrest you after you buy it, confiscate the gear, then hand it back to the dealers. Maximum profit.

Actually, leaving the airport was an experience in how NOT to combat terror. The dude at the desk just kept reading his book as we filed past, no leaving stamp in our passport or anything. He didn't look up once. Osama himself could have breezed on past, and he wouldn't have been noticed.

 

[PhiLLer]

Originally posted by John_Arne_Riise
I'm actually planning on taking like an overnight express on the train to Berlin, which was my original destination, but there were no flights from Amsterdam to Berlin.

They said that to go from Amsterdam to Berlin, i would of had to of gone from Amsterdam back to London then to Berlin on a plane. Too much hassle if you ask me.

But yeah, if anyone has any more ideas, please post them

You defenitely have to check out Berlin, I used to live there for quite some years, I'm sure lots has changed since then but there's always stuff to do in Berlin as well as all the history etc. about the Berlin Wall which is pretty interesting.

 

[Davilton]

Originally posted by rhizome17
Nah, the cops arrest you after you buy it, confiscate the gear, then hand it back to the dealers. Maximum profit.

They should legalise all drugs, if people wish to damage their brain/internal organs, let them do it- I couldn't care less. I do care about the detrimental affects on some societies, where drug dealers/crackheads are prevalent.

Anyway, go and watch a real team, at the Theatre of Dreams!!
You'll probably find a lot of people who speak English in The Netherlands...

 

[Hendrik]

Originally posted by PhiLLer
You defenitely have to check out Berlin, I used to live there for quite some years, I'm sure lots has changed since then but there's always stuff to do in Berlin as well as all the history etc. about the Berlin Wall which is pretty interesting.

It's also interesting to compare the two parts of the city. The one that belonged to the east has become more modern.

Check out the Brandenburger Tor, Siegessäule, Checkpoint Charley and the Bundestag (house of the parliament).

On some of the old buildings you can see some small holes back from WW2.

Oh and try to avoid Kreuzberg.

 

[PhiLLer]

Originally posted by -Vince-
It's also interesting to compare the two parts of the city. The one that belonged to the east has become more modern.

Check out the Brandenburger Tor, Siegessäule, Checkpoint Charley and the Bundestag (house of the government).

On some of the old buildings you can see some small holes back from WW2.

Oh and try to avoid Kreuzberg.

Yeah, I used to live in the West (thank god) but once the wall came down I went to school with some lads from the east and used to go over there to play footie and stuff like that after school sometimes. It looked shabby to say the least in them days but I have heard that they've modernised a whole bit.

And you gotta get a kebab when your in Berlin, there's tons of awesome kebab shops scattered throughout the city.

Checkpoint Charly is defenitely worth a visit for any tourist, check out the museum there too, they've got everything about various escape attempts (some really facinating ones too!) and much more. Kreuzberg, I used to hate that part of Berlin, not changed much has it? Oh and you also gotta check out that tower (called the funkturm, if I remember correctly), it's pretty cool to go up there, you can see the whole city (providing the weather's good).

 

[Zlatan]

I live in Amsterdam close to the Anne Frank house(warning if you want to see it, you must go on a none sunny day to prevent waiting the hole day to see some stupid house) and you have the Kalverstraat -> large street with nice shops, Mac's and stuff like that. Also you have museums(I personally dislike them) Rijksmuseum(with Rembrandt etc.) van Gogh museum(guess what you can find there) and Stedelijk Museum(not much intresting there mostly modern art)
And ofcourse you have de Wallen(I think you know what you can find there) and our famous coffeeshops.

hope that helps you a bit

 

[Vagegast]

You should also try some XTC when you're in Amsterdam... it's Holland's #1 export product.

 

[John_Arne_Riise]

Wow! That is some awesome help there.... Thanks I'm definately having to pick and choose. Some real good ideas there...

Also what about places to buy 'touristy' stuff, there are plenty souvineer shops around?

 

[Zlatan]

if you're talking about Amsterdam, souvineers shops are everywhere: de Dam(nice palace btw) and everywhere on the channels.

 

[PhiLLer]

I've never seen as many souvenirshops as in Amsterdam, they're a pain in the ass, selling their stupid, ugly black t-shirts with weed print on them

 

[:: JJ ::]

Originally posted by PhiLLer
I've never seen as many souvenirshops as in Amsterdam, they're a pain in the ass, selling their stupid, ugly black t-shirts with weed print on them

Yeah, because when you're in Amsterdam, you go WINDOW SHOPPING, you binman!