Discover how to plan a trip to Amsterdam on a budget. Here, you’ll find tips on how to pay less for accommodation, tours, travel insurance and much more.
First of all, what’s Amsterdam like?
A port city criss-crossed by canals, Amsterdam has a charm all of its own. Here, nature and the city are integrated, which makes it possible to feel a cosmopolitan vibe and a romantic vibe at the same time. Full of museums, flowers, bridges and bicycles, Amsterdam is a destination that appeals to most travelers.
1. If possible, avoid the high season in Amsterdam
This is a tip that applies to almost any destination. In Amsterdam, the high season runs from mid-May to September, which corresponds to spring and summer. However the low season in Amsterdam runs from October to April, the months of fall and winter.
And of course, it’s always a good idea to take the weather into account, as the winter there can be quite harsh and put a damper on some tours.
2. How to save on accommodation in Amsterdam?
This expense varies a lot, because it depends on the choice you make. Amsterdam has both cheaper and more luxurious options, which vary according to the location and characteristics of the accommodation. Daily rates start at an average of R$ 300. The most luxurious ones can reach up to R$5,000.
With this Amsterdam Hotel Finder, you’ll be able to find the perfect stay for what you’re looking for at the best price. Here you’ll find a series of filters to determine the characteristics you’re looking for.
We always use (and recommend) the one in the link above, because it’s the largest hotel booking site in the world, which guarantees unbeatable prices due to the great deals they offer (as well as, of course, being safe and having lots of options listed). Plus, there, you can check out the opinions of tourists who have already stayed in the hotels, which helps a lot when comparing the pros and cons of each stay.
It also offers an essential benefit for your trip: free cancellation at most hotels. As we said above, as this search engine has a very strong partnership with the establishments, they offer free cancellation on almost all hotels.
3. How to save on travel insurance for Amsterdam?
Stay tuned because travel insurance is a must for anyone visiting the Netherlands. And it’s also important to know that, in order to enter anywhere in Europe, you need to have travel insurance with a minimum cover of 30,000 euros in medical assistance.
We have already tested several companies and this one has been the best. It’s reliable and at a good price.
4. How to save on Internet in Amsterdam?
The best way to have Internet available in another country is through travel chips, which are pre-paid chips that work from local telephone networks, in this case those in Amsterdam. You pay for the chip and you can use the Internet during your trip, with quality at a much lower price.
In short, using your international roaming abroad is usually the worst option and ends up being much more expensive. And sometimes, in order to use the Wi-Fi, most hotels charge a very expensive daily fee and you can only use your cell phone inside the hotel.
For this reason, and many others, what most people do to travel cheaply to Amsterdam, and which is very worthwhile, is to buy an prepaid SIM card. We always use this Mobile Chip. It’s electronic (eSIM), you install it instantly and you can use your cell phone’s internet anywhere in the world.
5. Save many euros a day on water alone in Amsterdam
That simple but precious tip. For those who don’t know, throughout Europe it’s very common for people to ask for tap water in restaurants, because there it’s very well treated and ideal for consumption. Locals are used to asking for it, but tourists don’t know and if you just ask for “water”, they’ll bring you a glass bottle of natural water which is a bit expensive, on average 8 euros a liter.
Spending that every day, for lunch and dinner, adds up to a considerable amount. So always ask for “tap water”. It’s super normal and not rude or strange. The bottled water in the hotel minibar is usually around 4 or 5 euros, so go to a market near the hotel and buy several for 1 euro each. With these water savings alone, you can save around 300 euros over a 10-day trip if you’re traveling with two people.
6. How to save on car rental in Amsterdam?
Amsterdam has a good public transport system, but many tourists end up preferring to rent a car in order to visit the city’s sights, do some shopping, use the trunk, get to know the neighboring cities, drive along Holland’s roads – which are beautiful – and even travel to neighboring countries.
So take a look at the tips below and make the most of it.
Book your car in advance
Make your reservation online as soon as possible, because another tip on how to plan a trip to Amsterdam on a budget, and get a cheap car, is to book as far in advance as possible and online. The earlier you book, the cheaper you’ll pay. It’s well worth it and you’ll save a lot with promotions, paying much less than renting a car on the spot.
Don’t rent a GPS in Amsterdam
Another good tip is not to rent a car with a GPS, as it costs a lot per day. Instead, you can buy a good chip, like the one we listed above, unblocked for international calls and with unlimited Internet. That way, you’ll be able to use the map and location apps with your own cell phone.
Use this incredible price comparator
There are some car rental price comparators in Amsterdam (and throughout The Netherlands) that are sensational and search all the main car rental companies there, finding the best prices and excellent deals.
We recommend one that you can use by going to the website and entering the date of your trip. It then searches for all the best car rental companies in Amsterdam.
If you want to do the search, click here on Car Rental Comparator. In just a few seconds, you’ll have all the options for renting a car in Amsterdam from the best companies on your screen, and you can choose the cheapest one. You really will save a lot.
More tips: prefer larger and reliable rental companies, such as Europcar, Budget and Avis. Take out basic insurance when booking, which is super important and is usually included in the price. But don’t fall for the companies who, when you pick up the car, try to push extra insurance that isn’t worth it.
7. How to save on transfers in Amsterdam?
Don’t want to hire a car but want to keep yourself safe when traveling to certain places? If so, it’s worth hiring a transfer. The transfer service takes you from the airport to the hotel, vice versa or wherever you want.
And using a transfer is very practical: when you land at the airport in your destination country, there will already be a driver waiting for you. They usually carry a little sign with your name on it for easy identification.
The main advantage of using a transfer in Amsterdam is that when you leave the airport you can be sure that you’ll have reliable transportation to take you to your hotel. This way you don’t have to pay more with variable taxi fares, for example.
We have a reliable website to find the best transfer prices in all destinations in Amsterdam. It give you the price, the journey time and all the information. We found it much cheaper than taking a cab from the airport and everything was always very quick and easy. It’s very worthwhile if you’re not going to rent a car. It’s also an excellent place to buy Amsterdam’s tickets and tours.
8. How to save on tours in Amsterdam?
To see the main sights of Amsterdam on a budget, we have a very good tip for you: always buy tickets online, as this saves you time and money. To secure your tickets in advance and online, from the comfort of your own home, we recommend that you use this Amsterdam Tickets Website, which is the one we use on all our trips.
We’ve traveled a lot and used several companies to buy our tickets, but since we met this one, we haven’t changed. It’s a guarantee of the best price on all the main tours not only in Amsterdam, but all over the world.
The platform is very secure and well known: just log on and see for yourself. By buying your tickets, you won’t waste any time during your trip waiting in long lines or running the risk of finding sold-out tickets.
Some of the best-selling tickets for Amsterdam
- Heineken Experience Canal boat trip: a combo to enjoy the city’s two most popular attractions.
- Excursion to the windmills of Zaanse Schans: a trip back in time to the more rural side of Amsterdam.
- Guided tour of the Van Gogh Museum: a guided tour to see part of the work of this Dutch painting genius.
- Candlelight cruise: on this super romantic tour, you’ll cruise along Amsterdam’s canals when the city is at its most beautiful at dusk, and taste cheeses and wines.
- Tour of the historic center, Jewish quarter and Flower Market: on this walk through Amsterdam’s historic center, you’ll learn about the history of one of Europe’s most important cities, which began as a small fishing village.
