January 2018 - Amsterdam

Before I start writing properly about my upcoming trips, I thought it might be a good idea to start my blog with a few short posts about of what I got up to last year (and also just to ease myself into this blogging lark).
2018 was an amazing year. I am blessed to have a family, boyfriend and friends who are just as passionate as me when it comes to travel and I was able to visit a total of 6 different countries throughout 2018 with them!

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January 2018 - Amsterdam

Amsterdam was top of both Aidan and I's list of places we wanted to visit since we first started traveling together. We spent 3 nights/4 days in this amazing city, and honestly it wasn't enough to do everything, but unfortunately we both had Uni to get back to!  

Still, by staying in a really central yet cheap hotel,Link: Hotel Ibis Centera Stopera, we managed to do loads and have an amazing time.
To be honest, and you'll probably here me say this over and over, but having central walking distance accommodation is key if you don't have a lot of time. You might have to spend a little more on it but what I've always found is that you can end up saving money by not having to pay for any buses/trains/taxis! 
  

Highlights included Anne Franks Haus, the Van Gough museum, a canal tour, visiting a Bulldog Cafe and going to a Sex Show in the Red Light District (not for the faint hearted!).
If you're on a really tight budget maybe give the show a skip as tickets were around €60, although it did include 2 free drinks each! Also almost became single again when i tried to nominate Aidan for the 'audience participation'!

Food was amazing too!I would tell everybody to try the apple donuts from the street vendors and going to the Pancake House for breakfast (right across from the train station) but be prepared to queue, its quite famous! I had the Dutch apple, almond and brandy pancake and it was just divine.
Cafe Corso and Durty Nellys Irish bar were two fab bars we had great nights in. Just be warned, price of food and drink isn't necessarily cheap. Its along the same lines as other big cities such as London or Paris when it comes to eating and drinking.  

While wintertime is definitely a good time to go with flights etc being cheaper and the city being quieter, going back in springtime is on my bucket list to see the tulips! But if you are going during autumn/winter, call in to the Tulip Museum to see some!

Amsterdam can get a bad rep sometimes but I honestly felt so safe there,and it was so easy to get around, its a small city that packs a big punch. Really the only thing to watch out for is all the bikes, lots of cyclists over there have no reservations about mounting the footpaths and seems that they can forget they have bells a lot!
                                                                                                                                                                 
All in all its the perfect place for a really fun and cultural weekend away but there are still things we want to go back and do such as the Heineken Experience which we unfortunately didn't have time, or the funds, to do so!

Pancake House

So many bikes!

Canal Tour

Apple donuts 

Tulip museum