Holidays

[Beccy82]

Hi all. Some advice needed plz. My 18yr old son is going to Amsterdam in February 2020 for 3 nights 4 days. Neither of us have been there before so don't know if it's expensive or not. Have any of you been and are the food and drinks expensive there? How many euros do you think he'd need for spending? Thank you.

Yes, it's an expensive city. I spent €100 a day easy.

@Waxonwaxoff0 thank you. I was thinking 100 a day but now i'm thinking maybe more like 150 a day.

If he takes a card with more than enough money on it - eg a minimum of £500, maybe more, he doesn't need to think about 'taking a certain amount of euros' as he can just use the card to pay or withdraw cash and then send any leftover money back to his current account.

A Starling card is probably the best one as there are no charges and you get the best possible exchange rate. You can save tens of pounds with a card like this compared with using the 'wrong' debit card.

If he's likely to be on a restricted budget, he then has to think about how to experience Amsterdam cheaper than just going around blindly spending here there and everywhere. Eg not eating and drinking in main squares or near big tourist attractions, which are likely to be more expensive. Also look for lunch deals and maybe eat from a stall or takeaway in the evening instead of a full restaurant meal. Don't have loads of cocktails or multiple pints in the most expensive bar in the city.

If he plans to use public transport or go in museums or whatever, look to see if there are passes that make it cheaper. Google 'Amsterdam on a budget' for cheaper things to do. See if there are any discounts for students or young people. etc etc.

@barbaraofSeville thank you very much. Some very good tips there. I will google both the card and doing it on a budget. Thank you.

Amsterdam is so expensive ..my son went there the first time last year and did the touristy things.One bar cost 40 euros for 2 double vodka and cokes!!!! As he now goes there regularly for work he found it can be enjoyed much cheaper by slightly veering off the main routes and eating at some local small cafes and bistros saves a fortune just go back 2 streets and you can find them all! As he knows now some contacts through work who live in Amsterdam its self they advise! He is home today I will ask him for his tips from the locals and pass them on to you on here later on ..it might help a bit!

Following with interest...heading to Amsterdam in a couple of days and would love to hear any tips on good places to eat etc which don't break the bank!

It's like any place.. if you're in the centre then it's expensive but there's cheaper places the further out you are.
Make sure he's really careful with his wallet etc as every time I've been to Amsterdam someone has had a bag or purse stolen or someone has tried to. I know every place has people like this, but Amsterdam is the only place it's happened on every visit.