Amsterdam Other Types Of Accommodations

For a cozy alternative to impersonal hotel rooms, B&Bs (private homes with rooms available to travelers) range from acceptable to sublime. Rooms in B&Bs generally cost €80-100 for a single and €120-160 for a double in the Netherlands. Any number of websites provide listings for B&Bs; check out InnFinder (www.inncrawler.com), InnSite (www.innsite.com), Pamela Lanier’s Bed & Breakfast Guide Online (www.lanierbb.com), www.bedandbreakfast.com, or www.find-an-amsterdam-bed-and-breakfast.nl.

University Dorms

Many colleges and universities open their residence halls to travelers when school is not in session; some do so even during term-time. Getting a room may take a couple of phone calls and require advanced planning, but rates tend to be low, and many offer free local calls and Internet access. Some Dutch institutes of higher learning worth contacting are the University of Amsterdam (☎020 525 8080), Utrecht University (☎030 253 3550), and Leiden University (☎071 527 2727).

Home Exchanges And Hospitality Clubs

Home exchange offers the traveler various types of homes (houses, apartments, condominiums, villas, even castles in some cases) plus the opportunity to live like a native and to cut down on accommodation fees. For more information, contact HomeExchange.com Inc., P.O. Box 787, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254, USA (☎310-798-3864 or toll-free 800-877-8723; www.homeexchange.com) or Intervac International Home Exchange (☎026 334 3272; www.intervac.com).

Hospitality clubs link their members with individuals or families abroad who are willing to host travelers for free or for a small fee to promote cultural exchange and general good karma. In exchange, members usually must be willing to host travelers in their own homes; a small membership fee may also be required. The Hospitality Club (www.hospitalityclub.org) is a good place to start. Servas (www.servas.org) is an established, more formal, peace-based organization and requires a fee and an interview to join. An Internet search will find many similar organizations, some of which cater to special interests (e.g., women, GLBT travelers, or members of certain professions). As always, use common sense when planning to stay with or host someone you do not know.

Long-Term Accommodations

Travelers planning to stay in the Netherlands for extended periods of time may find it most cost-effective to rent an apartment. A basic one-bedroom (or studio) apartment in Amsterdam will range €500-1500 per month. Besides the rent itself, prospective tenants usually are also required to front a security deposit (frequently one month’s rent). The websites www.craigslist.org, www.find-an-amsterdam-apartment.nl, www.simplyamsterdam-apartments.nl, and www.kamernet.nl are popular places to find listings. Expat websites, newspaper ads, and online realtors also list long-term accommodations; be sure to ask for pictures and the exact location of the apartment before agreeing to rent. See for more websites.