Amsterdam or Bust

Sunday, March 20, 2016 - London, England

Touchdown LHR at 10:10am. Thanks to the fast track passes provided onboard, we were through Terminal 3 Immigration and Customs in no time and spilled out into the Arrivals Hall. Instead of going straight to Terminal 4, we opted to visit the Delta Arrival Lounge. Although a confusing walk, and having to go outside, and poor signage, we made it to the lounge and we were welcomed in.

Mom Tip - Fast Track allows pre-approved passengers to zip through airport security avoiding the long lines at immigration and customs. It’s worth it. It is possible to skip the airline lounges and go straight to the gate but the lounges are an experience and a chance to get free food, drink and private clean up.

After a little nosh of waffles for 

myself and bacon and toast for mom, I took a quick shower and we headed off to our KLM flight. Heathrow is big. Like, big, big. If you have to transfer terminals, expect to spend some time in transit. For the most part the airport has made it easy. The labyrinth of tunnels is wheelchair accessible and air conditioned. Yes there is a train involved, but you eventually get spit out in the right place.

Pro Tip - Travel light if you can. For a 10 day trip we each had one 20”-22” 4 wheel spinner and a backpack, and that was more than enough. Try never to check a bag, especially if you are moving around on your trip. Not only do you not have to worry about missing luggage, but it allows you to stay mobile/flexible, and the time saved is a huge benefit.

We made our way to KLM check-in, but since we already had boarding passes we were directed to security. We passed some serious looking armed security with machine guns. Mom wanted to ask the soldiers for a photo, but decided to let them continue on. After the security check, with ample time remaining to make our connection, we found our way to the Terminal 4 SkyTeam Lounge. Security was a very thorough affair which took a minute.

Security Check. The security conveyor belt moves the luggage through to the left (no further check) or to the right (search the luggage). Darin’s bag went left and mine went right. We watched a man’s luggage getting searched extensively right down to the officer looking at each page of a paperback book! He was very thorough. Since my bag was next, it looked like this was going to take a while. We got lucky. The security officer left and another took his place. She searched my bag in a perfunctory manner and off we went to the lounge. The flight for Amsterdam was scheduled to depart at 2pm.

Mom Tip - Remove your liquids from your travel bag to avoid attracting security.

In the lounge I had a complimentary facial from the spa and lunch, while mom nibbled on a few snacks. After about an hour it was time to continue to Amsterdam.

KLM is the flag carrier airline of the Netherlands, and is the oldest airline in the world. We flew on one of their 737 workhorses on a quick 45 minute flight. The business class is configured same as coach, with 3 seats on each side of the aisle. The difference is that the middle seat is kept empty for those sitting upfront, like us. 

There is also a meal service. That’s
right, read it again. A meal service on a flight that is equivalent to ROC-JFK. Salad, sandwich, dessert, and two rounds of drinks. For each business class passenger. Eat your heart out Jetblue. We were on the ground in AMS in no time.

AMS, the airport, is a vibrant hub of activity. All interconnected, seamless in a way. After exiting the baggage claim you find yourself in a mall. Lots of stores (including grocery), restaurants and different shops and things to keep your attention. Walk a little bit further on the same level and you are in the ticketing area of the train station. Just take the escalator down and the trains are on the track ready to go. All under one roof. The Dutch are not known for their efficiency, but after a trip through AMS you wonder if they should be.

Mom Tip - The place is massive and there is a lot going on with the airport, shops, bank, grocery store and train station. If you are not too tired from the trip across the pond, prepare to window shop.  Signage and directions are in Dutch and English so we were able to easily use the kiosk to obtain tickets and get some Euros at the ATM.

After purchasing our train tickets at the kiosk, we were on our way to Amsterdam Centraal which was 3 stations and 20 minutes away. Exiting the train station, we jumped in a (Mercedes) cab (Welcome to Europe),  and arrived at our AirBnB apartment in the 9 Streets neighborhood about 7 minutes later.

Originally, we had planned to stay at the Hotel Sofitel Legend the Grand Amsterdam. After we had to reschedule, our canal view room was no longer an option. Looking at last minute alternatives we decided to AirBnB an apartment for the next few days. It was not Darin’s first AirBnB experience but I had no idea what to expect. Simultaneously we closed the taxi door, and the door to the apartment swung open. We had finally arrived in Amsterdam.

The hosts, husband and wife and nephew, welcomed us with open arms. Once I navigated the narrow steep stairway up to the second floor, the apartment turned out to be modern with a large window and streetscape view. 

The front door of the building opened directly onto the sidewalk; expensive shops, organic food grocery, narrow cobbled street with bicycles, walkers, cars and trucks all competing for the same space. I would soon learn to carefully watch both ways when crossing the street.

At about the same price (although it can be cheaper) as a hotel, our AirBnB was equivalent to a high end, completely remodeled suite with full kitchen. Besides keys and information about the apartment and the neighborhood, our hosts provided instructions on how to use the clothes washer, microwave and stove. All appliance directions are in Dutch! Our accommodations were within walking distance of many of the sites we planned to visit so the AirBnB was perfectly located.

After getting settled, we went out to dinner at a ridiculously old school Dutch restaurant; stopped by the organic grocery store to pick up a few breakfast items for the apartment, and casually strolled across the canal back to our apartment.

Mom Tip - During our visit to the grocery store we learned that bags must be purchased. I always pack my own shopping bag (string bag) when traveling. It is easy to carry, perfect for any impulse purchases, and ensures you can continue exploring without having your hands full.

If only we had known that this was going to be our last early night for a while...