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Campanile Hotel Delft – DELFT, Netherlands

admin — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 20:53:09 +0000

DELFT, Netherlands

Campanile Hotel Delft

The Campanile Hotel Delft Is A Modern Hotel Located Amidst Greenery And Next To A Leisure Center Within Five Kilometers Of Delft’s Historic Center. The 95 Guestrooms Have Modern D’cor With Light Wood Furnishings And All Include Coffee And Tea Making Facilities, Direct-dial Phones, Hair Dryers And Televisions With Free Movie Channel.

In The Hotel’s Restaurant And Bar Guests Can Enjoy Seasonal French Cuisine, Served Buffet Style. An La Carte Menu Is Also Available. Guests Can Unwind With A Drink By The Fireplace In The Bar Area Where Complimentary Newspapers Are Available. In Warm Weather Guests Can Eat Or Drink On The Outdoor Terrace. Internet Access Is Available For Looking Up Local Information And Free Parking Is Available For Those Arriving By Car. The Hotel Also Offers A Dry Cleaning, Laundry And Shoe Shine Service As Well As Cell Phone Rental. There Are Numerous Sightseeing Opportunities In The Surrounding Area, With Delft’s Historic Center, Museums And Churches Within Five Kilometers And Madurodam (Smallest City), The Hague, The Beach And Rotterdam Within 25. Rotterdam Airport Is Approximately 25 Minutes Driving Time And Also A Distance Of 25 Kilometers. Take A Train To Delft Central Station And Take A Bus (60/62) To The Hotel (Defensie Stop At The Opposite Of The Macdonalds) Or Take A Train To Delft Central Station And Take A Taxi To The Hotel.

Best Western Museum Hotel – AMSTERDAM, Netherlands

admin — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 20:45:57 +0000

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands

Best Western Museum Hotel

The Best Western Ams Museum Is A First Class Hotel, Located 15 Minutes From Central Station Or 30 Minutes From Schiphol Airport By Shuttle Service. This Landmark Hotel Is Situated At The Corner Of The Well-known Shopping Street, P.c. Hoofstraat, Overlooking The Canals And Next To The Famous Rijksmuseum. The Van Gogh Museum And The Museum Of Modern Art Are Also Nearby. Around The Corner You Will Find The Nightlife Of The City, The Leidse Square. Built In 1888 And Still Standing In The Historical Center Of The City, The Best Western Ams Museum Hotel Overlooks The Canal. The Hotel Was Completely Restored In 1996.

The Hotel’s Guest Rooms Have A Private Bathroom With Tub Or Shower. Each Room Is Adequately Equipped With Hairdryer, Tv (Cable And Pay Tv), Radio With Alarm Clock And Direct Dial Telephone. Coffee And Tea Making Facilities Are Available Upon Request. The Inviting And Spacious Restaurant "The Gallery" Can Serve Groups Of Up To 150 People And Of Course The Cozy Bar Is The Perfect Place For Relaxing At The End Of The Day. Hotel Is Minutes To Fine Dining, Shopping And Entertainment.

See Rates & Availability

Amsterdam Travel Planning

admin — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 20:42:38 +0000

Before You Go

Your first step in planning your trip to Amsterdam should be to contact the closest branch of the Netherlands Board of Tourism (NBT). They’ll send you a large packet of very useful information on everything from hotels to tulip bulbs. On the Internet: go2holland@aol.com; http://www.nbt.nl/holland

Language

While the official language of the Netherlands is Dutch, most natives really do speak English fluently. Just ask "Spreekt U engels? (SPRAYKT oo ENG-ells? Do you speak English?)" and chances are, they do.

Weather

Amsterdam is often wet and windy, with temperatures ranging from the high 60s and low 70s in the summer to the 40s and well below in winter. Be sure to pack an umbrella and wet-weather gear and carry a sweater or jacket with you during any time but midsummer, when the humidity makes for sticky going. For the local weather forecast, dial 068-003. (Unfortunately this service is in Dutch only.)

What to Pack

Amsterdam is a fairly casual city, and if you’re visiting during the summer, you’ll see plenty of tourists in T-shirts and jeans or shorts. While athletic shoes will mark you as an American, you’ll definitely want a good, broken-in pair of walking shoes. Bring along a warm sweater and a windbreaker or other light jacket during the summer, and cold weather clothes in the winter. If you plan to spend time in any of Amsterdam’s bars or nightclubs, do bring along your clubwear; Amsterdam may be relatively casual, but sleek, tight Euro-style still reigns. Again, whatever the season, don’t leave home without an umbrella, as showers are frequent. (Or, if you’re traveling extra-light, buy one in Amsterdam.)

When deciding how much to pack, take into consideration that even setting foot in a Dutch caf or coffeeshop will leave your clothes permeated with smoke. Even Americans with a two-pack-a-day habit comment on the smell, so be prepared to change your clothes more often, air out jackets and coats, or make a trip to the local laundry.

Generally you can buy almost anything you need in Amsterdam, but you may be shocked by the prices of some items. You may find some tourist necessities expensive‹film, for example‹so unless you’re traveling ultra-light, bring along a few extra rolls. It’s also a good idea to photocopy all of your important travel documents (passport and other ID, traveler’s check stubs, credit cards, plane or train tickets). Leave one copy at home with a friend who can fax the copies to you, and pack another copy in your bags, separate from the originals. That way, if your documents are lost or stolen, you have a record of them.

You may want to invest in a security wallet to carry your travel documents and extra cash. These come in a variety of styles‹money belts are popular‹but choose one that doesn’t force you to undress just to get out your passport. (You’ll have to show it every time you write or cash a traveler’s check, for example.)

Gay Amsterdam

admin — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 20:39:19 +0000

Amsterdam is without a doubt the gay capital of Europe,

and not just on Queen’s Day! If you’re coming from one of the less tolerant parts of the US, you’ll find the supportive atmosphere refreshing. On the whole, gay men and lesbians enjoy great acceptance in the Netherlands. Homosexuality was decriminalized in 1811 (yes, 1811). While Americans are rightfully proud of Stonewall, Dutch queers are quick to remind visitors that Amsterdam has had a vital gay culture with bars and other meeting places since the early part of this century. One of the city’s most famous gay nightspots, ‘t Mandje, owned by Dutch lesbian foremother Bet van Beeren, opened its doors in 1927. (Unfortunately, it closed in 1983, but the legend lives on.)

The watershed in Amsterdam came in 1955

, over a decade before Stonewall, when the first gay hotels and many famous caf’s and bars opened. The DOK (De Odeon Keller) at Singel 460 became arguably the best-known gay disco in the pre-Stonewall world. The COC (a gay support organization founded in 1949) was sponsoring dance nights, too, that were just as popular with Amsterdammers then as they are today. The notorious Amsterdam leather scene also took off in the ’50s at Hotel Tiemersma, a converted cigar shop at Warmoesstraat 20. By the ’60s, the business had expanded to include the famous Argos bar, which marked a shift toward the new ultra-masculine gay aesthetic.

But Amsterdam’s gay history isn’t all about bars.

The Dutch government’s response to the AIDS crisis serves as a model for other nations. Today the state recognizes domestic partners and extends many benefits to them that queer Americans still dream of. In 1993, discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in job hiring became illegal. At this writing, the fight for total access to social programs continues, but a positive outcome seems likely. Maybe that’s why, according to some estimates, 20 to 30 percent of the population of Amsterdam is queer