When travelling in Amsterdam, before you even leave the airport, stop in at the Visitor Information office and buy the "I Amsterdam" pass. There are different packages depending on how long you are visiting with lots of tips and savings.
The line ups at most attractions are very long but you are able to be fast tracked and go into a completely separate line if you have the pass. There is free public transportation as long as you swipe your pass upon entering and leaving the transit bus. We rode the bus from the airport right near to our hotel for free.
We received a free canal boat tour with the pass, there are many discounts on food and other things, and we did get to tour a museum for free as well.
The Return Ticket gives the "I Amsterdam" Pass: four tickets out of five.
I am not being overly dramatic when I say:
Packing is Critical.
If you pack too much, you end up disorganized, lugging around heavy bags, and paying top dollar for over-weight baggage fees and if you pack too little, you'll be on the hunt down for more clothing when you'd rather be on an actual adventure.
These are some essential things to keep in mind when it's time to pack.
1. Get your packing process started at least a week ahead of when you're leaving... at the very least... make a list! This way you'll have time to purchase any additional items you might need. Then once you've got the perfect list - type it out check-list style and print one off every time you are going on a holiday... you'll be less likely to forget things. Sometimes we forget the most obvious things... those will be the items you can't do without!
2. Go online and find out about what you can take as luggage. While most airlines allow travellers to check at least one bag at no extra charge on International flights, the majority of U.S. carriers charge big bucks for bags checked on domestic flights.
3. Along with your one carry on piece of luggage, you are usually able to bring one other personal item. It is subject to specific size requirements but something like a purse, laptop bag, or backpack is generally acceptable. I would suggest taking one, as you'll want at least one change of clothes in your carry on bag in case your main luggage gets lost. The personal item you bring can contain your e-reader, itinerary, magazines, travel toothbrush & paste... you get the idea. My husband and I each take a small tote style bag that can fit under the seat ahead of us and that way we don't have to get up again once seated to get our books etc. Our carry on suitcases go in the overhead until we arrive at our destination.
4. Rolling your clothing is much better than folding: tightly rolled clothes take up way less space than folded ones. And they are less wrinkled when you arrive at your destination.
5. Any type of liquids should really be placed in plastic bags. They WILL leak... it happens. Why even worry? Just pack them that way to begin with and save yourself the headache of hair gel soaked clothing, or shaving creamed shoes... My all-time favourite packing tip: you know how you get those little elasticized shower caps in hotel rooms or dollar stores? They make really good shoe covers to keep your clothes from getting dirty! And all sizes of resealable food storage bags(also from the dollar store) can hold all of your other like items together - hair products in one bag, lingerie in another, etc. They're reusable & don't take up any extra space. I even keep some in my carry on for mints, identification, earphones & medications.
6. If you're travelling for longer than a week, you may want to wash some clothes in the hotel's bathroom sink and hang them to dry. I always make sure to pack a travel size packet of laundry detergent to clean my clothes on the road, so I can pack less and have room for any new purchases I buy along the way. I also take a small drawstring bag to use for soiled laundry, to keep it separate from the clean stuff.
7. See if you can find pants that turn into shorts or capris, or a jacket that turns in to a vest, that's another space saving technique right there!
8. My best advise:
Wear Layers. Your actual travel outfit should be in plenty of layers, which will help you travel multiple climates in style and comfort. Also, it gives you many more options of what to wear during your entire trip.
9. It's really important to keep your valuable and essential belongings in your carry on bag, not in your checked luggage. Your passport, identification, money, credit cards, electronics, and other valuables should always be brought onto the plane with you.
10. Print triplicates of your travel info - you'll be glad to have done this... I make 3 copies of our itinerary(including hotels, flights, etc.)my husband gets one to keep with him, I get one to keep with me and I leave the last one with my mom. You never know what can happen so it's a good plan to have another person NOT travelling with you know where you'll be and the times you'll be gone/home.
I will post my check list here ...
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Travel Check List
Two Weeks Before You Leave
- Sort out bookings/reservations
- Transportation tickets
- Hotel information
- Health/travel insurance etc.
- Photocopies of I.D.
- Emergency contact info
- Credit cards
- Exchange money
- Traveller's cheques
- Passport
One Week Before Leaving
- Empty fridge
- Arrange lawn care
- Call alarm company
- Call credit card company(give dates you're away to avoid issues)
- Call pet sitter
- Leave keys & itinerary w/ someone you trust
- Stop mail/newspaper delivery
- Check over all luggage/label it(include one label inside should the outer one get lost)
- Family addresses for postcards
Clothing to Pack
- Coat
- Hat
- Footwear
- Sunglasses
- Swimsuit
- Underwear
- Bras
- Socks/nylons
- Pajamas
- Pants/Shorts/Skirts
- Leggings
- Shirts/sweaters
- 1 nice evening outfit
- Umbrella(travel size)
Main Luggage
- Sunblock
- Plastic storage bags/bottles
- Toothbrush/paste
- Hair products/accessories
- Camera/charger
- Cell phone/charger
- Power converter
- Luggage scale
- Laundry bag
- Travel diary
- Deodorant
- Brush/comb
- Make up/remover
- Contact lenses/glasses
- Shaving items
- Nail clippers/file
- Tweezers
- Insect repellent
- Sewing kit
- First Aid kit(medications, antacids, antihistamines, bandages, non aspirin pain reliever, thermometer in a hard case & Polysporin)
Carry On
- Passport
- Driver's license or other photo I.D.
- Transportation tickets
- Itinerary/emergency info
- Travel size toothbrush/paste
- Medications
- Candied ginger for motion sickness
- Mints/gum/chewy candy
- Travel pillow/sleep mask
- Chap stick
- Mini Kleenex pack
- Antiseptic wipes or spray
- 2 pens/notebook
- e-reader/charger
- Reading material
- Glasses/contacts
- Credit cards/cash
- Earphones
- 1 spare outfit
- Mini hand lotion
- Snacks
- Map/directions/guides
Leaving Day
- Check all door & window locks
- Turn on timers for lights
- Set alarm system
- Take out kitchen garbage
- Finish all laundry/dishes
Enjoy your trip!
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