Hello beauties, today's post is quite possibly my most requested since sharing a few highlights of our trip to Amsterdam on instagram, so of course... I'm coming through with that post. I'd love to know, how many of you reading this right now have been to Amsterdam? If you've been before, or it's on your bucket list of places to travel in 2019 leave me a comment below. We went to Amsterdam a week before Christmas, and it was so beautiful and magical at that time of year, here is a photo of our incredible hotel (which we've stayed at twice now) so go and grab a cuppa, and some snacks (healthy if you're sticking to a new years resolution) and enjoy reading about our trip, and some of the best things to do whilst visiting this city.
Let's go travelling...
LONDON > AMSTERDAM
This was just at 5am getting ready for our flight, we have flown both times to Amsterdam using EasyJet as the prices are unbeatable really. I decided to check us in for our flights online a few days before so we didn't have to wait in long queues (well that's what Tom thought anyway, but really it meant I had longer in duty free ha!) we went through security, did some shopping and then got a cup of tea and chilled before we had to board the flight. I absoutley love the run up to going on holiday, sorting outfits, packing your 'essentials' and counting that you have your passport, insurance and hotel booking forms 100x before leaving the house - everyone else does that right...?!
And of course... had to get some snaps for the gram.
DAY ONE
We touched down in Amsterdam around 8am (they are 1 hour ahead) and we went to the bulldog coffee shop and for a stroll down the canal before heading to our hotel. I thought we were chancing our luck going to the hotel 3 HOURS BEFORE check-in, but Tom said let's see if the room is ready, and much to my surprise it was. The staff at Hotel Die Port Van Cleve hotel are so hands on, nothing is ever too much trouble, service with a smile and they give you such a warm welcome as you enter, and not to forget, the FREE upgrade of croissants and coffee every morning of our stay. (bonus!) We did have a 2 hour power nap before heading back out to explore and I'll mention this now, this is a city that NEVER sleeps - it doesn't matter if its midnight or 6am, the streets are always so full and lively.
I really enjoyed day one of our trip, we got settled into our hotel, went to a few coffee shops and clothing shops - Amsterdam definitely do shopping right, there is every shop you could wish for out there - although, Forever 21 was gone, unless it's moved which I wanted to go back to! We had a KFC for lunch as we were so hungry and wanted something quick to eat, although looking back we wish we didn't - fast food places are very overpriced out there and the chicken did not taste half as yummy as back at home does. We had a hotel that was right on the centre of dam square so we could walk everywhere, and also go back to the hotel for a few quick pit stops throughout the day. Yes girls, to drop off the shopping bags so if you opt for the hotel we stayed at, you can certainly shop until' your hearts content (or the limit of your suitcase reaches maximum capacity limit!)
We are such night owls when we are in Amsterdam, it really comes alive from about 6pm, we walked down the streets and you've got so much food options! We stayed out most nights until 11/12pm and on the first night, obviously we had to explore the Red Light District it's so lively from about 8pm to early hours of the morning, and then as we headed back to the hotel we stopped off at my favourite dessert place to get some waffles.
DAY TWO
Waking up in Amsterdam is the best feeling ever. We headed across the road to try out a restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and we ate there for dinner last time we went so we tried their full english breakfast, which was delicious and of course a cup of tea. After breakfast we headed around the shops (yes more shopping haha) and explored the 6 FLOOR PRIMARK it certainly was quite an experience and they had EVERYTHING!!! We also tried another coffeeshop which I'd been recommended, Popeye coffeeshop - it was really nice in there, it looked out onto yet another busy street of Amsterdam and people watching is always fun - they had so many tea's to choose from too and well, everything else was as expected for a coffeeshop in Amsterdam! It was nice to try places you'd all recommended, and throughout the days we go too many more - I'll pop a list of our favourite places at the bottom of the post, so be sure to visit them when you go!
The rest of the day was again quite relaxed, we had some lunch, and caught the golden hour and got some really good photos - I think I even took my favourite photo of Tom and I. It was a quick trip back to the hotel to chill before getting ready for our second evening, we visited a lovely Italian restaurant. We had spaghetti bolognese each and it was DELISH.
The morning started with a walk around Dam Square whilst we looked for the perfect spot for a full english breakfast, and it didn't take long, as there is everything you could possibly want for food choices available everywhere you go. We had breakfast and it overlooked onto a busy street of Amsterdam. The breakfast was so filling so I'm pretty sure we skipped lunch as we spotted DUNKIN' DONUTS - beats any other donut I've ever tasted. I'm sure if Tom could've ordered a lifetime supply to take home he absoutley would've! We had a McDonalds for dinner this evening as we wanted to stay out till later and, well the waffles/crepes/donuts were V E R Y filling ha ha. The review of McDonalds? Hmm... the McChicken sandwich was nicer than back home, we didn't rate the chips and Tom wasn't too keen on his BigMac - Again, quite pricey - but, who can ever resist McDonalds?!
The coffeeshop we visited on day three was the Green House coffeshop - quite popular and full of life and music, we actually spent quite a few hours here - they had free WIFI too, so of course I was obviously in my element being able to share some snaps of our holiday with you! It was absoutley HUGE too, probably one of the biggest coffee shops I've been too. I will type up a list of the best ones to go and check out and the end of this blog post - so stick around!
DAY FOUR
We chilled all morning, and it was AMAZING, I wasn't going to share this but if it helps someone out then it'll be worth it - by the end of day two my feet were hurting so much, as I decided to wear heeled boots walking everywhere so my feet had blisters (*note to future self - just wear trainers!*) so looking back at the moment of chilling in the hotel I remember being so greatful to rest my feet (so sad!) After chilling for the morning, we decided to head out and grab some lunch (pictured below) we then went around and did some more shopping and then a quick pit stop at the GOA coffeeshop - one we hadn't visited before, I thought this one was quite edgy and cool and another recommended place to go.
The evening of day four was my absolute favourite, I mentioned to Tom that I really wanted to do a canal cruise one time - and now, let me tell you there's quite a few options to choose from; pizza cruise, wine and cheese cruise, lights tour (only at a certain time this one), cocktails cruise and the list goes on and on. However, little did I know that Tom went out (probably when I was resting my poorly toes) to book us a space on the Amsterdam Light's Festival cruise which happened to be on for a limited time whilst we were there, he booked the LOVERS cruise, and it was so romantic drinking champagne and having an hour long tour. The lights were so beautiful, Amsterdam looks incredible at the night time, if you go please please please do a canal cruise, I smiled ear to ear the entire time. I hope you enjoy these next few photo's we captured of the tour. If you're reading this Tom, thank you <3
We ended our evening by going to an incredible steak restaurant and a fairly early night after a busy afternoon and evening, but if I have to pick a favourite memory of our trip, it absolutely was this evening.
We chilled all morning, and it was AMAZING, I wasn't going to share this but if it helps someone out then it'll be worth it - by the end of day two my feet were hurting so much, as I decided to wear heeled boots walking everywhere so my feet had blisters (*note to future self - just wear trainers!*) so looking back at the moment of chilling in the hotel I remember being so greatful to rest my feet (so sad!) After chilling for the morning, we decided to head out and grab some lunch (pictured below) we then went around and did some more shopping and then a quick pit stop at the GOA coffeeshop - one we hadn't visited before, I thought this one was quite edgy and cool and another recommended place to go.
The evening of day four was my absolute favourite, I mentioned to Tom that I really wanted to do a canal cruise one time - and now, let me tell you there's quite a few options to choose from; pizza cruise, wine and cheese cruise, lights tour (only at a certain time this one), cocktails cruise and the list goes on and on. However, little did I know that Tom went out (probably when I was resting my poorly toes) to book us a space on the Amsterdam Light's Festival cruise which happened to be on for a limited time whilst we were there, he booked the LOVERS cruise, and it was so romantic drinking champagne and having an hour long tour. The lights were so beautiful, Amsterdam looks incredible at the night time, if you go please please please do a canal cruise, I smiled ear to ear the entire time. I hope you enjoy these next few photo's we captured of the tour. If you're reading this Tom, thank you <3
We ended our evening by going to an incredible steak restaurant and a fairly early night after a busy afternoon and evening, but if I have to pick a favourite memory of our trip, it absolutely was this evening.
DAY FIVE
The last day *SIGH* who else dreads the last day of their holiday? I kind of did (because I still needed to do one last Christmas present shop and staying in Amsterdam was FAR more appealing) and kind of didn't as we did so much this time round and also, I booked us a very late evening flight so we managed to enjoy another whole day until late afternoon in our favourite city. We decided to try our out FINAL most recommended coffeeshop to visit - Prix D'Ami - girls it's so pretty and pink honestly you'll love it - and they do waffles and crepes, and they had a pretty good lunch menu too choose from too. We stayed here for a few hours, and also went for lunch. We walked past the shops for the last time, without forgetting the souvenir shop OF COURSE, after spending $80 euros we had finally brought everything we wanted and I resisted spending any more money on clothes out there, which was probably quite sensible because by this point I'd taken up half of Tom's suitcase too and mine was PRETTY heavy. It was all good though, it still made it through - whether it was about to explode or not it's all coming home with me! Our flight home was good - it always feels quicker on the way home doesn't it? We shared a grab bag of minstrels and reminisced of our favourite holiday moments...
TRAVEL GUIDE:
BEST COFFEESHOPS TO VISIT -
- Prix D'Ami Coffeeshop
- Barney's Coffeeshop
- Greenhouse Coffeeshop
- The Bulldog Coffeeshop
- GOA Coffeeshop
FUN THINGS TO DO -
- Mademe Tussauds
- Ice Bar
- Van Gogh Museum
- Canal Cruise
- Pub Crawl
- Red Light's Secret Museum
THE HOTEL WE STAYED AT -
Hotel Die Port Van Cleve (link here)
I hope you've all enjoyed an insight to our city break away. We both had the most amazing time (even if Tom was ropped in to taking 100s of photo's everyday!) and it's definitely on our places to visit again in 2019 - honestly no matter how many times you visit, you will ALWAYS want to go back.
Amsterdam - once again you've been a ball, thank you! Until next time . . .
Love Em oxo
No comments
Post a Comment