By Adam J. Shardlow

We had decided to spend a little extra money on our accommodation due to the exceptional price we had got for our airfare. The Canal House is a beautiful 17th Century building sympathetically decorated with fine antiques. While not to everyone's taste I found the quiet rooms, situated on the Keizergracht Canal a pleasure when compared to the unremarkable cubes that constitute normal hotel rooms.
There are a plethora of Hostels, B&Bs and Hotels within the centre, all of which differ in price drastically. Where possible book direct with the hotel and choose something on one of the main canals as the architecture and cobbled streets appeal to even the most stony hearts.

Entertainment in the evening again offers everything you would expect of a modern cosmopolitan city. Amongst its dance and jazz clubs are some wonderful restaurants. Food in Amsterdam differs wildly; Thai and Chinese are very popular and cheap with the best one situated in and around the red light district. Where possible ask for the set menu, most restaurants do one though not all display them in the window. They help to keep costs down while offering exactly the same quality. I can heartily recommend the Café Roux owned by one of the famous brothers. While more expensive it does offer the best service in town. Nearly all the restaurants are relaxed with regard dress.

In some of the less salubrious areas of the city, night can be a disquieting experience. My female companion found the atmosphere somewhat intimidating as a series of young men accost you for the purpose of claiming a moment of your time so that they could lecture and hopefully sell you a selection of narcotics. Never having had an interest in smoking hallucinogenics or gorging myself on strange mushrooms, I found it irritating having to avert my eyes and claim I did not know any English in a poor French accent. That aside, certain areas of the city are definitely not enticing to the single female traveller and those that travel in pairs should be equally weary.

Amsterdam may not hold the same allure as its French counterpart, or be as large as London or Madrid but it does have a culture and distinct look all of its own. The people are by far some of the friendliest you will ever hope to meet and the welcome is always warm, the food and entertainment is as good if not better than that in other European cities plus its right on our doorstep. If that does not entice you at least come for the liberal exercise of your mind.