Holiday in Holland

[Marijn]

Does anyone know what's the cheapest way to travel to Holland? Or of any cheap (but nice) accomodation. It's for five people from 16 - 50yrs from London area. Hoping to go for 3 days next week. Thanks.

[Lil O'lady]

Don't know about cheap, certainly cheaper than UK eqivalent - public transport network especially the trains and the ordinary trams around 'greater' Amsterdam.
Or buy a bike?

[bimbo123456]

Have you thought of Center Parcs. We went to der Kempervenen a couple of years ago. It was cheaper to get the Cat over to Holland and stay for two weeks than one week in UK. I beleive there are camps near Amsterdam. They are just like the ones in UK. Dutch are great. If you have bikes it is perfect for getting around..cycle lanes everywhere...very bike friendly.

[Marijn]

Thank you for your answer. That's a good idea to use bikes around Holland, we'd enjoy that.
I'd like to know the cheapest way to travel to Holland from London.

[amonty1144]

You can go by ferry from hull to rotterdam p and o), you can probably fly quite cheaply too, try easy jet or ryanair

[Marijn]

Thanks bimbo, I think Center Parcs is expensive though.

[Marijn]

Thank you for your reply. Would Hull be the nearest ferry port for us? My geography's not good.

[bimbo123456]

In Uk it is expensive but the ferry plus staying for two weeks was cheaper than no ferry and one week in UK. They are on the web. http://www.centerparcs.com/

[amsterdammer]

http://www.stenaline.co.uk/stena_line/stena_li ne_uk/harwich_-_holland/gb/rail_and_sail.html
This is probably the cheapest way.
For accommodation in Amsterdam, best to surf on line, theres plenty of reasonable places around the city centre
I always go Easyjet, but usually book in advance, its a lot cheaper. You could try them, you may strike lucky.

[Postdog]

Travel. Train from Liverpool Street to Harwich International station, seacat to the hook, then train or cycle from there to where you want to go. When I went I stayed in Stayokay Hostels - basic but cheap.

[Marijn]

Thanks everyone for your replies. How basic is Stayokay? Do you get breakfast? Do you get your own bathroom, or is it a communal one?

[amsterdammer]

PS Forgot to say would advise against cycling, in Holland at this time of year, its bloody cold did it New Years Eve, nearly froze my nuts off. Lovely in the the Summer though!

[Buenchico]

'one' and Stena offer cheap combined travel from Liverpool Street:
http://www.stenaline.co.uk/stena_line/stena_li ne_uk/harwich_-_holland/gb/rail_and_sail.html
However, since the withdrawal of the HSS fast ferry service, it's quite a long trip and the North Sea isn't always very 'user friendly' at this time of the year ;-)

Ryanair will fly you from Stansted to Eindhoven. There are no cheap fares out on Monday but you can fly out at 0655 (or 1705) on Tuesday for �5.99. Flights back on Thursday (at 0925 or 1935) or on Friday (at 0925) are priced at �0.01. The 1935 flight back on Friday is �14.99. Based on �5.99 out and �0.01 back, the full return price including taxes & charges is �41.19
http://www.ryanair.com/site/EN/

easyJet will fly you from Luton, Stansted or Gatwick to Amsterdam:
http://www.easyjet.com/en/book/index.asp
However, the prices are dearer than Ryanair, at roughly around �100 return inc T&C

Eurolines typically take around 12 hours to get to Amsterdam, from Victoria but they've got fares from around �20 one way:
http://www.nationalexpress.com/eurolines/home/ hp.cfm

For cheap accommodation (with customer reviews) go here
http://www.hostelworld.com/
and use the 'Additional search options' to select 'Guesthouses' and 'Budget hotels'.

Chris

[Marijn]

Thanks, and thank you Buenchico for all the info. Are those cheap Ryanair fares applicable next week which is half-term holiday?
I would definitely prefer a place where we get our own bathroom and where we'll have breakfast.

[Buenchico]

Thanks for the reply. Those Ryanair fares were obtained by using next week's dates. (i.e. they were definitely available an hour or so ago but some of Ryanair's special offers end at midnight. Additionally fares tend to shoot up, on their website, in the last few days before departure. Don't leave it too long if you intend to book.).

Remember that Ryanair fly to Eindhoven, not Amsterdam.

If you want to find out what Eindhoven has to offer, see here:
http://www.holland.com/uk/framelocation.html?p age=http://www.holland.com/uk/cities2/eindhove n/main.html

If you'd rather transfer direct from Eindhoven airport to Amsterdam, there's an express bus for �35 (about �26) return. The journey takes 2� hours. The timetable is here:
http://www.eindhovenairport.com/nl/upload/Time tableAirexpressbus.pdf
You can book online here:
http://www.airexpressbus.com/

Information about Amsterdam is here:
http://www.holland.com/amsterdam/gb/

I've just taken a quick look at the HostelWorld website, seeking accommodation in Amsterdam next week. I had no trouble in finding accommodation with excellent reviews and en suite facilities, with breakfast included, for �20 (�15) pppn .

Chris

[Narolines]

I travel from the Midlands to Amsterdam reasonably regularly and I always go with BMI Baby - a fraction of the cost of rail/sea or rail/tunnel and much faster. I believe they fly from Heathrow to Schiphol - then the rail connection to Amsterdam Centraal is easy (the station is onsiate at Schiphol airport), cheap, fast, comfortable and reliable. I've recommended the France Hotel, where I generally stay(about 5 mins walk from Amsterdam Centraal Station), before on AB; the Prince Hendrik, just round the corner from the France, is also very reasonable, though a tad more than the France. Then again, they do have a decent restaurant on the premises.

[Narolines]

Sorry - should have made it clear that though the France dowes not have a restaurant it is a very short stroll to loads of decent eating places. They also own the Irish pub next door and your inclusive breakfast is served there - it's a good substantial hot & cold buffet and you have about 3 hours to stuff yourself stupid if you want!

[Marijn]

Wow, thanks everybody for the very useful information : )