Amsterdam
The comprehensive description of what Amsterdam has to offer is available at Steven Pemberton's website http://homepages.cwi.nl/~steven/amsterdam.html.
A brief article on Amsterdam appeared in the [http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/04/22/travel/22amsterdamweb.html New York Times] on April 22. If you don't have or want to get the free account, see [http://www.bugmenot.com/].
David Reid has posted a [http://feathercast.org/?p=44 Feathercast] Podcast about visiting Amsterdam for ApacheCon.
Local [http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&near=Amsterdam,+The+Netherlands&fb=1&view=map&cd=1&hl=en&msa=0&msid=105370556298102089961.000448f6d3a932a3103ac&ll=52.374538,4.897327&spn=0.004775,0.010042&t=h&z=17 Google Map of the hotel] and closest Albert Heijn Supermarket. NOTE: there has been significant construction since the Google satellite images were taken!
Getting Around
This may not be the best way to get from the airport to the hotel and back, but it'll do the job!
- Get the train from Amsterdam Schiphol to Amsterdam Centraal. Don't get a return (unless you're going back the same day). A single should cost you c. 3.60EUR. Note there are various Train Ticket machines that may accept your credit/debit card. To pay with cash, go to the station entrance itself (at edge of airport) and go to a human teller; there is a .50EUR fee for this per ticket.
- When you get to Amsterdam Centraal, get a ticket for the local transport. You can get day passes from the GVB Tickets & Info place in the station (or at the machines, as long as you don't want a 96h one) - 24h->7EUR; 48h->11.50EUR; 72h->14.50EUR; 96h->17.50EUR. If you don't think you'll use that much transport, get a "strippenkaart". Travelling with the strippenkaart "costs" one strip per journey, plus one strip per zone. So a 1-zone journey is 2 strips, a 2-zone journey is 3 strips etc. Costs are 2-strip->1.60EUR; 3-strip->2.40EUR; 8-strip->6.40EUR (this also works as a day ticket, but I'm not sure how); 15-strip->6.90EUR; 45-strip->20.40EUR
- That's the hard part over! Exit Centraal Station and walk all the way down to the end of the station (to your left, if your back is to the station).
- The line for Tram 26 should be the one nearest to the station, at this end. If it's not, you've gone the wrong direction
- Get on Tram 26 (it only goes one direction past here - IJburg), and stamp your card (2-strips, if it's a strippenkaart). Go one stop, to the Musiekgebouw, and alight.
- Cross the tram lines, then the bike path, and walk down a bit to your right, until you find a bridge. Go over the bridge, down to your left, and you're at the hotel! (Note: it was late, and dark, and I did this bit wrong. But you can see the hotel from the tram stop, so you'll figure it out)
- To get back to the airport, REVERSE!
Other options are...
- You can walk from Centraal to the hotel - it's probably about a 15min walk. Just maybe not the most pleasant way to go if you have luggage. Be sure the major canal (not the many smaller ones) is on your left as you are walking from Centraal towards the Moevenpick (i.e., the Moevenpick is to the east of Centraal).
- Taxis can be picked up at taxi ranks at various places. The fare from the airport to Moevenpick is about 37EUR; the fare from Centraal to Moevenpick is about 8.50EUR
Restaurant Guide
Anyone want to comment on their favorite places to eat? Reminder: many shops and some restaurants may close earlier than you are used to.
For dining, you can simply walk down Leidseplein and find a wide variety of places. [http://homepages.cwi.nl/~steven/amsterdam.html Steven Pemberton's website] is an excellent resource as well.
Bars
http://www.timeout.com/amsterdam/bars/
Queensday
Queensday Amsterdam : http://koninginnedagamsterdam.nl/?en