How to not look like a tourist and other Amsterdam, Netherlands Transportation Tips

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Bicycle
Getting TO/AROUND: Amsterdam is definitely a city built for bikes. Not only does it have bike lanes on nearly every major road, but some stairways have special steel tracks underneath the handrailings so you can slide your wheels up the staircase.

So renting a bike is naturally the fun way to get around the city. However, if WANT to look like a tourist, make sure you rent your bike from MAC BIKES. Alot of their bikes are bright orange and ALL of them have a huge round sign in the front under the handle bars that says, "Mac Bikes." Some other places will put license plates on the back of their bike--another dead give away you are a tourist.

But if you DON'T want to look like a tourist, rent from Holland Rent-a-Bike. Their bikes have no distinguishable rental features on them either. A local friend of mine, Ania, checked it out too. Nothing. So when you are riding down the street on their bikes, and ring your bell for people to move, they think you are a local! It was funny watching the "tourists" dodge my swift maneuvers :)

Service was good too. I had a flat one day and they replaced my bike at no extra cost on the spot. Each bike comes equipped with a chain lock and a special lock that latches between the spokes on the wheel. And just like cars come with horns, their bikes come with bells.

Renting requires a refundable 150 euro deposit. Credit Cards are accepted and when you return the bike, they give you back the credit card slip so you can shred it.

Rates in euros as of August 2005:
1 day 6.50
Next day till 11 am 9.25
Next day till 7 pm 12.75
3 days 17.50
4 days 22.25
5 days 26.50
6 days 30.50
7 days 34.50
every day after 7 4.00

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Phone: 31 20 622 32 07
Website: none
Other Contact: Damrak 247, 5 minutes from CS.