What can you tell me about visiting Amsterdam?

Question

Do you need Visa's? what time of year is best? What hostel's or hotel's are recommended? Thanks!

Answer 1

About visa's: depends where you're from. Americans and EU don't need Visa. Google "tourist visas Netherlands" (in your language) and you'll probably find the Dutch Embassy.
for instance www.netherlands-embassy.org. There it says when you need visas.
Best time of the year: depends what you're interested in. Most people want to see "the city" - the museums, the night life, what's buzzing, etc. I think every time is OK as long as it's not too cold. This means may to end September.
April 30th is the biggest party of the year: everyone in Amsterdam is allowed to sell anything anywhere, and they actually do. The city is flooded with people having a blanket with second hand stuff. Or they do carnival like stuff to entertain people. Really big show.
Museums, night life, sight seeing: all year round. Maybe you'd think it is too cold in the winter.
Accommodation: cheap is www.stayok.nl. They used to be youth hostels, but know they'll host anyone who wants to meet people from other countries. Visit their web site. Book in time, it's full quite often.

Answer 2

If you need visa depends on where you come from.
Mostly the people from the rich countries do not or get one whenever they apply without difficulty, the people who live in the poorer countries do need visa and have a hard time to get them if they get them at all. (Not my idea, but that is how it works.)

I think late spring or early summer is the best time.
April, May, early June, with a second good periode in September and early October when the days are getting shorter.
All YHA hostels are recommended, if you can stand the new name that is, they are now called StayOkay:
http://www.stayokay.com/index.cfm?lng=2
There are independed hostels too, but I have never used any of them.

I do not know much about hotels, they seem to be more expensive than I find abroad, but as all of the Netherlands is not more than 3 hours by train away I do not often use them.

What I do use at the rare times I need a place to sleep, I go to the tourist information and ask them to arange a room for me. The last time I stayed with a very nice couple, they have a house with 6 guestrooms, a living for the guests and a great garden, costing me less than the nearest hotel.
Here is a site where you find links to most local information offices:
http://vvv.startpagina.nl/
Here is the national site:
http://www.lekkerweg.nl/
Select your own country in the roll down menu, or go to the international page:
http://www.holland.com/global/

Answer 3

Don't think you need visa to enter Amsterdam.
Hotels from Expedia ---check out ratings by visitors.
Amsterdam can be rainy at any time of the year and it is very changeable so it's just a guessing game which month go. The city is chocolate-box pretty in most parts even the red-light district. Dont miss the great set of 25 statues called The Night Watch 3D on Rembrandtplas.
Nice shopping, nice views, nice people, nice city.

Answer 4

I visited Holland last March...not recommended!! Way too cold and tulips were not in full bloom... Didn't stay in a hotel, stayed with a friend in her apartment... And we did not need a visa.

*There's a really cool wax museum in Amsterdam, if you are looking for something to do! I also recommend a river boat cruise... not too expensive and is really beautiful scenery...very informative too..

Answer 5

I personally think September is the best weather month but the weather has been so wild this year, who knows.

Not sure about a Visa.

Try www.venere.com - breaks down the city into sections so you can see what sights are nearby what hotels.