Arrived a couple of days early to visit the museums and go around town a bit. If luggage light, take the subway in from the airport for about 5 euro; otherwise walk outside to the Connexion Blue Vans and get dropped off at your hotel for 16.50 apiece. Four people? Taxi is cheaper…. Stayed at the MovenPick on the waterfront, great location between the two piers that Viking uses, 5 minute walk from the Central Station and on a tramline. 7 euros gets you a day pass on the tram / bus system. Go online and see what kind of deal you can get. Invest in the executive package at the Movenpick for 65 euros/day/couple, you get a buffet breakfast that they usually charge 30 euro each for, an afternoon cocktail party with appetizers and good wine (food very good), and free internet. In addition, you get a Krupps expresso maker that turns out the BEST hotel room coffee I have ever had…. Note: bath is so trendy, it has a swinging frosted glass door, and use a lot of caution in that slick shower. ATM in lobby.

City stuff: Van Gogh and Rijks museums, canal tour, stop at a grocery store, visit to Saturn Electronics to buy a 220v to USB plug for the electronics. The deal is on a City Pass, which gets you most of these plus a 2 day transit pass for about 45 bucks, plus skipping the lines in the museums. Lunch was at the Café in the Rijks – very good.

Boarded the Jarl about noon on the 6th, dropped off the luggage, had some lunch, then took a walking tour (bucket list: Red Light District), then the canal tour. Read more