Staying outside the city.. Eurolines...nervous!
 

I'm very excited about my upcoming Amsterdam/Paris trip but also very nervous, only about one thing...

We booked the trip really late (3 weeks before we leave). So, we're staying on the outskirts/outside of both cities. The first in Amsterdam we're staying at a campsite that's apparently 15 mins away from the airport and 15 mins away from the city center. A train (or bus?) goes there, but I'm so worried we'll have NO idea where to go. (I'm going to look everything up and make correct route plans the best I can, but I'm still nervous)

In Paris, we're staying in Montemarte (sp?)-- it doesn't seem to be TOO far out of the city, does anyone know?

We're taking the eurolines bus from Amsterdam to Paris, and for the life of me I cannot figure out where the bus stations are in the cities. Any suggestions?

We'll have enough cash, and plenty to do. I'm not worried about getting around the cities themselves, just about figuring out how to get to our hostels/hotels. If anyone can help in any way, that'd be great!

The only place I've been overseas is Ireland (amazing) and that was a 12 day, all-inclusive guided tour, we didn't have to do ANY thinking about where we were going or how to get around. But yeah, that was a Christmas present from my dad. My budget is a lot smaller, lol :)

Ahh, Montmontre, I fucking love that part of Paris. Its the art district, and has one of the best views of paris you can get from the ground. You will be happy you are staying there. Just jump the metro and you will be anywhere you want.
Same with the campground in the dam. Shame you couldn't get closer in though. It can get a bit boring out there. Did you check the Hortus Hotel/Pension. Its badass, and you might get lucky. Heres the link http://www.hotelhortus.com/

Dude - one word of advice: improvise.

Improvisation is the hallmark of the backpacker. You'll find out how to get into the city from your campsite, as you'll figure out what stop to get off on the bus, and how you're supposed to use those French seatless toilets.

You can always print out metro maps, bus routes, geographical maps... but at the end of the day, its about stepping into a new environment and figuring it all out as you go along. (I mean you may have the address to a hostel, but which building is it? Which door? Which stairs?)

Exciting eh? :cheers:


And if you're stumped along the way, especially in Amsterdam, where everyone speaks English - just ask.

Good luck - you'll do great.

Montmartre isn't at all outside of the city. Paris is a VERY compact city for such a populous place. Montmartre, being in the 18th district, is just due north of everything. It's really easy to come down the hill and be in the thick of it all, and the district itself is lively and cool. Anything on a metro line means you're pretty close to everything. You're no more than 12 minutes by metro to St. Lazare or Gare du Nord, which are huge hubs for more metro lines. But you'll have just as much fun and see 10x as much by pointing yourself toward the city center and *walking*