hostels

[nitsansh]

Also check out more reviews here:
www.bugeurope.com/reviews/Netherlands/Amsterdam/

[georgemmj]

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU...I WILL CHECK OUT THOSE SITES AND PROBABLY JUST MAKE RESERVATIONS AT THE PALACE. HOW DO YOU THINK THE WEATHER WILL BE IN JANUARY? WE ARE FROM MINNESOTA, SO WE ARE USED TO THE VERY, VERY COLD. 30' OR 40' F? JUST WONDERING WHAT WE SHOULD PLAN ON PACKING FOR WARMTH?
THANK YOU THANK YOU
GEORGIE

[nitsansh]

January is in general the coldest month of the year, so be prepared for cold weather, but probably not as cold as Minnesota.
When it's cold in Amsterdam, the Dutch enjoy skating on the canals, but unlike my cousin in Ottawa that skates to work on Rideau canal every winter, the Amsterdamers don't enjoy that pleasure every year...
You should except snow and ice, of course, when you go to a Swiss mountain resort... if not for that your friend would be out of work, isn't it? The higher the altitude, the lower the temperatures... at altitude of 2000-3000 meters the temp. at night could get below -10C (that's 14F), and in the day it's more often than not below 0C (32F)...
Snow in Paris, OTOH, is a rare phenomena, as also in Firenze, and it's once-in-100-years event in Barcelona. There, on fine winter days you can wear light sleeveless shirt...

[nitsansh]

Here are average weather data for January:
City low temp - high temp (C)
Amsterdam 1-4
Paris 1-6
Firenze 2-9
Geneva (-2)-4
Montana-Vermala# (-2)-5
Barcelona 6-13

# Ski resort in Valais, near Anzere, altitude 1495m (Anzere 1505m). These south slope resorts are milder than those on a north slope.

[Kim]

We were in Amsterdam in March and it was COLD! The worst thing was the wind, so make sure you bring a good wind/waterproof jacket, gloves and a scarf.

Also, you want to bring clothes you can layer-starting with a thermal undershirt.

Then again, you are from Minnesota and not from mild Western Canada where it rarely snows like I am! (Basically, maybe I'm just a wuss!) ;D

Kim

[georgemmj]

Thanks for the TEMPS! I think we will be ok considering we have survived very brutal winters. So if we have plenty of layers...and a nice windbreaker/waterproof jacket to go over, a scarf, hat, mittens...we will be FINE!

BUT THIS IS MY FINAL QUESTION ABOUT THIS?

We will FREEZE walking in Amsterdam from the Flying Pig Palace...to downtown, Red Light District?
Thanks

[Kim]

Nah, you won't freeze-we stayed at the HI Vondelpark hostel which is right across from the Flying Pig Palace and we walked it many times in March.

It will be brisk and it's a good walk but not a killer.

Plus, you can always just take the tram if you want-they go right around there.
Take trams 1, 2 or 5 from Central Station.

Here are the tram directions for the Flying Pig Palace;

Get off at "Leidse Plein". Go straight ahead, Go across the bridge and street, and turn left. Walk past the entrance gates of the park. Then turn right.
(There is a little map on their site too, if you wanted)

Kim

[nitsansh]

You won't freeze if you dress according to the weather. What you are used to wear in cold January night in Minnesota should be good for Amsterdam too!
I am not used to this kind of weather... in my place, the last snow was in 1950, and it was probably the only occasion in the last century... so I feel cold when the temp is 10C...
These days, in late October, I walk in sandals, shorts and T-shirt during the day, and also in the evening... I wear long trousers only when I like to dress fancy... until just a few days ago I slept in underwear only (and sometimes without it
So when I went to Prague on Easter week last year and it was a few degrees above 0, and even snowed occasionally, I was really unprepared for this... I needed to wear 4 layers of clothes, wooly hat and gloves (items I never ever wear here!) to warm up!
I had enough with this experience, and I won't travel again to cold weather destinations between October and April!

[Kim]

in my place, the last snow was in 1950

Nitsansh,

I forget where you are living...remind me?

Kim

[nitsansh]

My place is approx. 35' East, 32' North...
My E-mail domain name includes the name of place and country TLD...

[nitsansh]

Georgie
According to my weather data, Minneapolis is much colder than you should expect in Europe. The average temp for January is -14 low and -6 high (It's 7-21 F!!). There's no place I know in Europe which is that cold! If you endure that weather, you should not worry!

[Kim]

OK, I've figured out the skill testing question-I remembered once I looked at your email, like you said!

Is it warm all year round there? What would you say the coldest would be?

Kim

[nitsansh]

Kim said:

Is it warm all year round there? What would you say the coldest would be?

Just noticed your question... somehow I missed it...

I don't have weather data right now... but as I previousely said, I consider it cold when the temp drop below 10 ABOVE 0 (Celsius, of course).
I think the average low temp in mid-winter is in the low teens, and the high is in the low 20s...
These days, and it's late November, I usually go out in the evening with a fleece shirt on top of a T-shirt, and long jeens or trousers. On fine sunny days, which are more often than rainy or cold days even in mid-winter, I can walk with shorts and T-shirt only. This morning there was light rain and was quite cool, so I put on a sweat-shirt and light rain coat... the paper says the forcast today was 15-26, and it's warm for the season, but I tell you it was cooler than the last month...
As far as rain is concerned, we have a dry winter so far. There were about 5 days with light rain so far, and I think the total rainfall is just about 20mm. This is way below the average for this time of year... our annual average rainfall is around 500mm, but most of it falls between December and February, so it's still early to call it a drought...

[georgemmj]

HELLO AGAIN!!

We just got back from our trip. We were in luck with only 2 days with light rain! BUT it was sooo cold everywhere we went (Amsterdam, Paris, Florence, Geneva) but Barcelona. Barcelona had real nice weather! Thanks for all of your advice, you were right about everything! I cant wait to start planning my trip! Talk to ya'll later!
Georgie

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D