1. When is check-in and check-out time?
Check-in is from 2pm, check-out is until 11am. For apartments 1 to 6 this is 3pm and 10.30am.

2. My flight arrives early; can we check in earlier than 2 pm?
We always try to be flexible. You can be checked in earlier, depending on whether or not the apartment is booked the night before, cleaning schemes, etc. The apartment manager or owner can let you know what the possibilities are.
For apartments 1 to 6, the earliest check-in time is 10am.
If you would like to be absolutely sure you can check in before 2pm, we advise to book an extra night (please note that check-ins in apartments number 1 to 6, are not possible before 10am).

What can you do if you have to wait some time until check-in? See under question #4 below.

3. My flight arrives quite late; is this a problem?
No, it is not a problem.
For apartments 1 to 6 an extra charge may apply if you arrive later than 10pm at the apartment (see the Terms and Conditions).

4. Is there a place where I can leave my luggage?
A very good luggage storage facility is available in the Central Station. It is located at the East end of the central hall. You will need a credit card, payment with cash is not possible.
Next to the lockers is a small supermarket. (By the way: there is also a supermarket on the airport).

If you need to wait some time until you can be checked in, here are some tips.

- A very nice breakfast/lunch restaurant is Grand Café 1e Klas, on platform 2 B in the Central Station. This is the former first class waiting lounge, still in its original 19th century splendour. It is open 7 days a week, from the morning until the late evening.

- the Tourist office is located on platform 2 B too.

- Another suggestion might be the recently opened Public Library ('Openbare bibliotheek') near the Central Station. This has a nice, large restaurant on the 7th floor with a view over Amsterdam. It is located a 5 minutes' walk East of the Central Station, along the waterfront, and open from 10 to 10, 7 days a week.
There are a few hundred internet terminals that can be used for free.

- outside, in front of the Central Station is the GVB Public transport office. Here you can get transport tickets for tram, bus and metro, maps, etc.

- also in front of the Central Station (on Damrak) are some canal boat tour companies. A canal boat tour is one of the 'must do's, and you might take a tour if you have 1 or 2 hours to spend.

See also our Central Station map.

5. Is there a supermarket near the apartment?
Yes, Amsterdam has a good network of grocery stores in the centre, always at walking distance.
We made a map of the centre for you that has some practical information, such as location and opening hours of supermarkets. The blue balls on this map are the supermarkets. Below the map is the list, so that you can print it.

6. Are there restaurants and shops near the apartment?
Yes.
Amsterdam has hundreds of restaurants in the centre, a place to eat is never far away. The same goes for shops: the centre of Amsterdam is a major shopping destination, not only for international travellers, but also for Amsterdammers and Dutch people in general, who come by the thousands to Amsterdam to shop, especially on Saturdays and Sundays.
Major shopping streets are:
- Kalverstraat / Nieuwendijk (both start at Dam Square)
- Leidsestraat (between Leidseplein and Flower Market)
- P.C. Hoofstraat (more upscale, near Museumplein)
- Utrechtsestraat (starts at Rembrandtplein)
- Nieuwe Spiegelstraat (near Rijksmuseum; dozens of antique shops)
- all small streets between the canals in the west part of the canal belt
- the Jordaan area in general
NOTE: there are many, many other shops all over the centre

7. Can I park near the apartment?
Yes, but parking in the centre is expensive. Do not attempt to park anywhere without paying, parking laws are strictly enforced, and foreigners are not spared.

English language information about parking in Amsterdam is provided on this website.

In the centre of Amsterdam (where practically all of our apartments are located) you need a credit card to pay for on-street parking. Coins will no longer be accepted in parking meters from the spring of 2009.
- for information about on-street parking: click here
- in the centre are several public car parks, see our map for locations. For cheap parking you can consider the P+R locations on the outskirts of Amsterdam (also on the map).

Our advice: if you visit Amsterdam to see the sights and visit the museums, you are best off walking or using public transport - you do not need a car. The city's policy is to discourage cars from entering the city centre (by narrowing or closing off streets, make streets one-way and making parking expensive).
The centre of Amsterdam is fairly small and contains all major tourist attractions; from the East to the West end of the centre is an hour's walk, and from North to South 30 to 40 minutes.
Also, public transport is excellent. There are many trams, buses and metros in Amsterdam, and many trains from Amsterdam to nearby places such as Delft, Rotterdam, The Hague, Alkmaar, the airport (Schiphol),  etc.
From the Central Station trains also go to Paris, Antwerp, Brussels, Bruges, Berlin, Copenhagen, Cologn (Köln), Frankfurt and other international destinations.

8. Where do I get the keys to the apartment?
Your host will wait for you in the apartment. This is why we would like to know your arrival details (flight number, scheduled arrival time), so that we can monitor your actual landing time.
If you bring a mobile phone with you to Amsterdam, we would appreciate it if you could let us know the number, so that we can be in touch after you arrived in Amsterdam.

9. When do I pay the balance?
The second half of your payment is due at arrival. You can pay to the person who checks you in, or pay by credit card or bank wire. More information is in the booking confirmation we will send you (see also the Terms and Conditions).

10. What is your cancellation policy?
This is described in our Terms and Conditions.

11. Does a child also count as a person?
Yes, normally it does. For longer stays (above 1 week), sometimes an exception is made. Noorderkerkstraat A and the Entrepotdok apartment have a special rate for a child if the stay is longer than 5 nights.

12. What is the best way to get from the airport to the apartment?
Please refer to this page.

13. Is there a tram or other public transport close by the apartment?
Yes, there is, at all apartments; Amsterdam has a dense network of trams, buses and metros, there is always something close by.
Here is some practical information.
The public transport in Amsterdam is run by the GVB. Its office to get tickets and information is in front of the Central Station. The GVB website has a map of trams and buses and a map of the metro lines.
A special bus is the Stop/Go (formerly 'Opstapper'), which is a 'hop-on, hop off' bus, which goes up and down the Prinsengracht canal (the outer canal of the ring of canals), between Central Station and the Opera House/City Hall complex. It stops where you want.

If you stay in the centre, you'll find you can get practically anywhere on foot, as the centre of Amsterdam is quite small and has practically all major attractions.

- if you use public transport just a few times: you should buy a 'strippenkaart'. These are sold at post offices and Albert Heijn supermarkets (see our practical map), the GVB office in front of the Central Station, tourist offices and most tobacconists.
- if you plan to use the public transport several times a day, and/or explore outside the centre of Amsterdam, the 24, 48, 72 or 96-hours ticket might be worth your while.
- if you stay a longer period of time in Amsterdam, a season ticket (starting at 1 week) might be handy.

14. If smoking is not allowed, does this include marihuana etc.?
Yes, non-smoking includes all kinds of drugs. One of the reasons is that the non-smoking properties are to be kept free of smell. Like cigarettes, drugs like marihuana leave a persistent smell, which other residents (who expect a smoke-free environment) may not like.

15. What is there to do in Amsterdam when I am there?
Please refer to our events listing. We also made a map of museums, theatres, attraction and other event locations and other event locations.