Amsterdam

Of every country we visited on our trip, Amsterdam had by far the best food. The five extra pounds I came home with (not in my suitcase) were probably due to all the amazing eats. I can’t say we had a bad meal here. During our last few nights in Sweden, Ash and I searched photos of delicious looking food through Instagram and Yelp. De Foodhallen was at the top of our list. This is a must when visiting Amsterdam. It’s a quick tram ride away from the museum quarter making it a great place to relax and grab a bite or two after a museum-filled morning. They also have a cool art collective next door as well as other shops with neat finds.
In addition to Amsterdam having the best food, it was the most fun to visit. There was such a diverse mix of cultures. Much different from what we experienced in Sweden. The architecture is charming and beautiful. My heart lit up as we took a taxi from the train station to our Airbnb. Looking out the window as this magnificent city moved past evoked a feeling of such excitement. I knew that we would have the most amazing time here.

Where we stayed:

Booking an Airbnb for Amsterdam was rather difficult. There was not much availability and the prices were as steep as the stairs. I was worried that the one I booked was too far out from the city center but it ended up being absolutely perfect! It was about a 20-25 minute walk from the main areas we wanted to see, such as the Anne Frank Huis, Red Light District, etc. After spending our days in the heart of the city, with its thousands of summer tourists, it was nice to come back to our quiet neighborhood. We enjoyed relaxing evenings, more eating and watching boats pass along the canal. We lucked out as the time of our stay was during Sail Amsterdam. It’s a maritime celebration that happens once every five years. Tall ships from all over the world travel to this festival. Click here to check out this Airbnb listing.

 What we ate:

Oriental city - Huge selection of Chinese food. We ordered an assortment of dim sum. Everything was delicious but the sesame prawn toast is where it’s at. If you order one thing, get the sesame prawn toast!

Boca’s  - Cute little spot that has the most amazing mini sandwiches. Get a few or several to sample and share. We tried the bitterbal, hamburger with foie gras, gamba croquettes, and gouda with whole grain mustard. This place also had good seasonal beer on tap.

De Foodhallen - This place is a foodie’s paradise. We found it through Instagram and couldn’t wait to try everything.

• Bulls and Dogs serves gourmet hotdogs. We tried the Luxurious dog - A pork sausage with wild mushrooms, truffle sauce and hazelnuts. 

• The Rough Kitchen has an amazing pulled pork sandwich.

• De Ballen Bar offers a sample of one of each bitterballen. They are like mini croquettes.

• Petite Gâteau specializes in mini tarts. We got several to share because we couldn’t just decide on a couple. Some of their flavors include chocolate hazelnut, salted caramel, panna cotta (our favorite), caramel apple, and chocolate.

The Happy Pig - Best waffle I’ve ever eaten. Seriously the best! We also tried the the pancakes here but nothing could come close to the waffle.

The Pancake Bakery - This is a famous spot in Amsterdam. They offer savory as well as sweet pancakes. I would forgo the savory. Their poffertjes with butter and powdered sugar are a must. These tiny little pancakes are delicious drizzled with stroop (traditional dutch syrup). We also tried The Dutch, a pancake topped with stroopwaffle chunks, cinnamon ice cream, chocolate flakes and whipped cream.

Cheese - Lots of cheese shops sample their offerings so make sure you pop into a shop or two. Gouda is their specialty.

Ivy & Bros - The best iced coffee I have ever had. It comes with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Enough said.

Home Cooking - There were so many places we wanted to eat but we did need to watch our budget as well. The great thing about renting an Airbnb is having a kitchen to use. We stopped at a nearby grocery store and stocked up on breakfast and snack essentials the first day we arrived. I couldn't believe how inexpensive groceries were. We filled up an entire basket and spent about $20. Each morning I cooked us breakfast consisting of a scramble with a side of yogurt, muesli, and fruit. Some bread too, of course! 

What we did:

Anne Frank House - I would highly suggest taking a tour through the Anne Frank House. It’s best to purchase tickets in advance so you don’t have to wait in a mile-long line. All the tickets were sold out during the time of our stay, so we ended up purchasing a walking tour including admission through a company called Get Your Guide. After a 1 hour guided walking tour of the city, it ended at the Anne Frank House where we got in without having to wait in line. It’s pretty mind blowing walking though all the rooms in the house. If you haven’t read her Diary, I suggest reading it before you go. You will have a much stronger connection and understanding when you tour the house.

The Rijksmuseum - If I had my way, I would have gone to a lot more museums but time did not allow. We decided on one and that was the Rijks. I wish I could have spent the whole day here. They have paintings from famous artists such as Van Gogh, Vermeer, and Rembrandt. It was a really cool experience. The museum quarter is beautiful.

Canal Cruise - We did this one afternoon after stuffing our faces at The Pancake Bakery. It was about an hour long ride and took you along the canals.

Red Light District - Definitely worth walking through. I always thought it was just one little area but it’s actually spread out. Some of the alleyways are so narrow you have to walk in a single-file line. I also thought the girls were behind closed doors but they have their doors open, standing in the doorway making eye contact. It was quite awkward.

Smoking Pot in Amsterdam - There are many coffee shops in Amsterdam but The Bulldog was the first ever pot shop. We stopped in at one of their locations, The Bulldog Energy, after meeting and talking with this sweet English guy we met sitting along the canal. We noticed him smoking a joint and asked where he got it. We had actually already been inside the shop, you know, just to check it out. But we got nervous and left. Neither one of us smoked much back home and even though it’s completely legal in Amsterdam, it felt so strange. Once we got over the initial nervousness and fear we had the best time. What’s nice is they offer different strengths so we were able to get a mild strain. You have to smoke in Amsterdam! It was so cool being able to sit along the canal and light up a joint.  It’s so normal there which is really refreshing. Not all coffee shops are the same. We tried a muffin from one place which was really good. Another day my friend got a brownie from a place in the Red Light District and it was terrible and stale.

Amsterdam, you were truly a delight. I can't wait till the day I return but for now I can look back on the great memories I made in your city.

Know Before You Go

The following list is compiled of information I received from family, friends, travel websites and personal blogs prior to leaving on my trip. All the information I obtained was super-helpful and made me feel more comfortable before my departure.

1. Make sure your passport is current. Most countries will not let you enter if your passport will expire within the next 6 months. Be smart and renew in plenty of time before you depart on your grand adventure. 
2. Get a chip and pin card. Most credit card companies are now transitioning to this card anyway. I was advised to get this type of card as no one takes the magnetic strip kind.  It depends on where you go. Some places still do in fact take the old card but the chip and pin is becoming the new normal. Also, check what the foreign transaction fee is for using your card. I actually went ahead and got a new card for the trip. It has no foreign transaction fee and is a travel rewards card. Here is an article I found on Nerd Wallet to help inform you of your best options. 
3. Bring your debit card. It's always wise to have at least two cards with you in case one doesn't work or is lost or stolen. Only use your debit card for withdrawing cash at the ATM. Cash was actually my preferred way to pay for things abroad. Ticket machines at the airport or train station usually only take cards but eating out and and other small purchases were much easier using the local currency. *** Always remember to communicate to your bank and credit card company that you will be out of the country. Let them know the length of time you will be away and the country/countries you will be visiting.
4. Make copies of important documents. It's smart to make two copies of: your passport, health insurance, credit and debit cards. Take one set with you (keep it in a separate place from where you will keep your cards and cash in case of theft) and leave the other at home with someone. Also make sure you have the 1-800 number for your credit cards if anything were to happen to them.
5. Leave a copy of your itinerary at home with someone. If you are like me then you will have a typed out itinerary two months before you go. (I was really, really excited about this trip!) It's helpful to have this information written down in the event that anything were to happen to you. Important information: Airlines and flight numbers, where you will be staying and for how long, with the address and a phone number if possible.
6. Don't forget to pay your bills and rent. With the excitement of planning your trip this will be the last thing on your mind. It definitely was on mine and I'm so thankful I read this tip before leaving. If you make payments online you can schedule to have them be paid while you are away. As for rent and other utilities,  have your payments ready to be sent and have someone at home mail them for you. 
7. Pack light. I was told by numerous people to do this. I'm normally an over-packer so what I thought was "packing light" was still over-packing by a long shot. Check back for my Packing Essentials post as I will go into more detail and include items not to be forgotten.

Travel Tips & Planning

Make sure your passport is current and get out and explore!

For two and a half weeks this summer I was fortunate enough to travel around Europe. It was such a life enriching experience. I highly encourage anyone to get out and explore this vast world we live in. With the advice of a friend overseas, we planned our journey to tour diverse countries so each place offered something different. I'm so thankful for that advice because each country was in fact so diverse. The line-up was: Copenhagen, Stockholm, Uppsala, Amsterdam, Prague and London. This whole trip came about because my good friend, Ashley was invited to a wedding in Sweden. She mentioned she was going and planned on traveling for two weeks, hinting that I come along. Of course my obvious answer was YES! The summer months are crazy busy with work so I didn't entirely think it was possible to get away for that amount of time. Yet my boss was so encouraging when I asked. From that point on, the next five months were dedicated to travel research. I can't stress enough how important it is to do your research before hand. Read, read, read anything you can get your hands on. I still regret not reading more before I left. Researching beforehand helps tremendously with planning your days for what you want to do, see and most importantly eat!

Outlets for travel research:

• Local Library - My library had a decent selection of up to date travel guides. Most libraries can transfer books within their branch so inquire if you don't see what you are looking for. 
• Wikitravel - This site is awesome! They offer comprehensive guides including history, districts of the city (super helpful for deciding where to stay), climate, getting around (great tips for transferring to and from the airport), architecture, local cuisine, etc. 
• YouTube - another great outlet to familiarize yourself with the city. It was also a nice break from reading.
•  Pinterest - A great collection of articles from websites as well as travel and personal blogs.
• Social Media - Put it out there that you are going on a trip. Ask for advice on what to see and eat during your travels. I received two amazing guides from a girl in London I follow on Instagram and someone who lives in Amsterdam. It's a great way to get a locals perspective. 

 Accommodations:

• Hostels - I like my privacy and have to pee far too much to venture out into the halls at night. Hostels are not for me but I know so many people love them. They are great for the budget traveler and those who want to meet fellow visitors.
• Hotels - Hotel stays are generally comfortable and familiar. (It's always smart to read reviews on Trip Advisor or Yelp.) Hotel rooms may be tiny, but they provide many amenities that "Americans" want when traveling. The front desk staff was always kind and helpful when we called down for more pillows or any questions we had. It's also a plus when breakfast is included in the room rate. When breakfast is available at an additional cost, I suggest grabbing a coffee and pastry from the local bakery or cafe.
• Airbnb - This was my first experience using Airbnb. It's a great way to get a feel for what it's like to live in the city. Some apartments are smack in the city center while others are in more residential areas. This lends to a nice break from the bustle of the city. Having a kitchen allows you to cook meals yourself and save on the cost of food while traveling. We found that the local grocery stores offered a wide variety of foods at low prices. Overall, I found Airbnb's cheaper than a hotel stay, especially sharing the cost with your travel partner. They also offered more space than a tiny hotel room. 

  

  Our Airbnb in Amsterdam overlooked a canal.

• *Tips for booking your first Airbnb or if you are wondering why you keep getting declined. Unless the host offers instant book it's always best to message them prior to sending a request to book. I was continually getting declined and didn't understand why. Even though the selected days show availability, they are sometimes not. I read somewhere online that it's best to send a message asking if their apartment/home is available for your travel dates. Once I did this I received messages back with either, yes, and a pre-approval to book or no, and declined. 
• Friends or Family - Traveling is expensive and the cost of accommodations add up. If you have any friends or family where you will be traveling, politely ask if they have any extra room for you. Ashley's friend in Sweden was so thrilled we were traveling all that way to attend her wedding she arranged for us to stay in a family members apartment for a few nights while they were out of town.

 Book in advance

• Unless you are going to wing it upon arrival at your destination, it's wise to book as soon as you know when you will be traveling. We used Google Flights to compare airline prices. 
• Pre-book attractions you don't want to miss. What I thought was far enough in advance for the Anne Frank House (2 months) was not enough. All tickets were sold out. Luckily I found a walking tour through Get Your Guide. It was a 1.5 hour walking tour through Amsterdam with skip-the-line tickets to the House. Once we passed the mile long queue, I was so happy I purchased them in advance.

 Happy planning. Check back for more of my adventures through Europe this summer. I'll be posting guides for Stockholm/Uppsala, Amsterdam, and Prague.

Have any travel planning tips of your own? Leave them in the comments below.