Driving to amsterdam

[anonymous-user]

Driving to amsterdam..Anybody recommend the best route i.e ferry etc and price

[davepoth]

Best bet is Harwich-Hoek. Cuts out a lot of the quite boring drive. But even Dover-Calais is not too bad.

[Austin.J]

Did it last year, doing it again this year in july, we did dover - calais, doing same again, not a bad drive really, 5 or 6 hours i think it took, mostly motorway.

[anonymous-user]

is it cheaper doing eurotunnel.. was thinking maybe pop down to the ring too..

[mike80]

Doubt it - unless you go for a really expensive ferry!

[Austin.J]

This year when we booked (last weekish) it was pretty much same for ferry or the train, £111'ish, train is half hour, ferry is about hour and a half, but you can get out, buy overpriced phone chargers & have an overpriced pint/fag.

[F i F]

When I looked at this, starting out from Worcester then the absolute cheapest I could do it, was Norfolkline, (Now part of DFDS) Dover - Dunkirk. Typically about £50 return plus the fuel though you can get cheaper. This is also the best of the short channel crossings.

The Harwich-Hoek ferry is also very good, but is anywhere between 70-100 pounds more expensive on the return day crossing for our party, 3 + car. If you pick a night crossing you have to have a cabin which increases cost, but may be offset by reduced hotel cost at the other end, eg you land in Hoek at 7:45 so have a full day in Amsterdam after a decent night's sleep.

I know I'm about to use some very bad language here, but do you *need* to drive to and when there?
Dutch flyer

Then of course there are the Squeasyjet and O'Bleary options.

[PaulHogan]

Make sure you have somewhere to park in 'Dam. There aren't many spaces and prices are ferocious.

[5potTurbo]

PaulHogan said:

Make sure you have somewhere to park in 'Dam. There aren't many spaces and prices are ferocious.

THAT is so true. Visited Amsterdam last Nov with my family and paid over €100 to park for 2 days.

[hornetrider]

5potTurbo said:

PaulHogan said:

Make sure you have somewhere to park in 'Dam. There aren't many spaces and prices are ferocious.

THAT is so true. Visited Amsterdam last Nov with my family and paid over €100 to park for 2 days.

Simply park under the stadium and get the train in.

[anonymous-user]

F i F said:

When I looked at this, starting out from Worcester then the absolute cheapest I could do it, was Norfolkline, (Now part of DFDS) Dover - Dunkirk. Typically about £50 return plus the fuel though you can get cheaper. This is also the best of the short channel crossings.

The Harwich-Hoek ferry is also very good, but is anywhere between 70-100 pounds more expensive on the return day crossing for our party, 3 + car. If you pick a night crossing you have to have a cabin which increases cost, but may be offset by reduced hotel cost at the other end, eg you land in Hoek at 7:45 so have a full day in Amsterdam after a decent night's sleep.

I know I'm about to use some very bad language here, but do you *need* to drive to and when there?
Dutch flyer

Then of course there are the Squeasyjet and O'Bleary options.

I don't need to drive, just want to driver over, have a smoke, a few pancakes, chill out and drive back a few days later..Maybe make a mini road trip thing..

[Silver993tt]

hornetrider said:

Simply park under the stadium and get the train in.

exactly, plenty of car parks just outside of the centre. Public transport is superb, so no real hassle getting into/out of the centre.

[Silver993tt]

black pipebandit said:

I don't need to drive, just want to driver over, have a smoke, a few pancakes, chill out and drive back a few days later..Maybe make a mini road trip thing..

Well, you'll only be able to smoke tobacco since you aren't (I presume) a resident in the Netherlands.

http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advic...

[anonymous-user]

Silver993tt said:

ell, you'll only be able to smoke tobacco since you aren't (I presume) a resident in the Netherlands.

http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advic...

This has been on the cards since 2005. If they do ban it, then I am going to America to pick up a 'medical card' and smoke legally..

[Silver993tt]

black pipebandit said:

This has been on the cards since 2005. If they do ban it, then I am going to America to pick up a 'medical card' and smoke legally..

well, the ban has already been implemented in Maastricht, so it looks like the rest of the regions will follow suit very shortly.

[anonymous-user]

Silver993tt said:

well, the ban has already been implemented in Maastricht, so it looks like the rest of the regions will follow suit very shortly.

Well I better driver over quickish..

I do like Amsterdam for others thing too thou..

[king_of_herts]

black pipebandit said:

I don't need to drive, just want to driver over, have a smoke, a few pancakes, chill out and drive back a few days later..Maybe make a mini road trip thing..

I like your style

[magpies]

Another vote for Norfolk Line (now DFDS) Dover Dunkirk - cheap AND good - not often we can say that!!!!!! after that easy drive & well signposted.

[Chicane-UK]

I've done Harwich -> Hoek now a few times on trips to Germany. The only problem is just how bloody long it takes.. you're on the boat something ridiculous like 5-6 hours. It's excruciating!

Top tip though - if you do use this route, save your tesco clubcard vouchers - they can be exchanged for 3x value on Stena line tickets Helps take some of the pain out of their prices...

Personally I'd rather do some driving instead so Dover - Calais is preferable..