Short Holiday in Holland,advice please

[Judyanngee]

Hi, I and my friend are "novice" riders (one 20km ride a week)

We would like to go to Holland for a 2 night break, hiring bikes whilst there.

Can anyone recommend/advise us of where to fly to/where to stay/ where to hire bikes.

Sorry for the big ask. I've looked at arranged holidays but I can't find one for only 2 nights (can't do longer due to my friends partner's work and children)

Thank you for any help
Judy

 

[slowmotion]

If you only have two nights, I would fly to Amsterdam and use the city as your base for cycling. There are numerous places to hire bikes. It's a wonderful place and you can visit other cities nearby using the extensive network of cycle routes. I stayed at the Hotel van Onna which was cheap, central, and basic, but that was a while ago. Friends have rented apartments but I don't have any details. Have fun.

 

[Spinney]

I went to Delft in May and enjoyed it. We hired bikes from Halford (different logos etc, does not appear to be the same chain as we have here!). There were lots of places to hire bikes, and there are lots of cycle tracks etc.
However if you don't have much time, then staying in Amsterdam would be better, as slowmotion says - you won't spend too much time travelling then.

 

[Judyanngee]

Thanks both of you for your replies, I'll discuss with my friend (I think that she had visions if cycling through tulip fields) lol

 

[Spinney]

Cycling through tulip fields can be done - but not at this time of year!*

* well you can, but the tulips will not be in flower!

 

[Haitch]

Two nights is effectively one day. If you want to go cycling on that day, fly to Amsterdam, hire a bike from the first rental shop you trip over in the morning and pedal to Zandvoort on the coast, lovely beach. It's 30km but you can have a break in Haarlem. Get the train back if you must. Alternatively, head north from Adam towards Edam, Volendam, Hoorn, but 20km is not going to get you very far.

 

[mixtetape]

We rented 2 dutch bikes from the Black Bicycle co (I think that was the name) and had a lovely 2 days cycling around Amsterdam. Those were quite heavy though, don't know if I would have taken them out of town (oh, and we had to leave id with them as deposit, which was fine but caught me unprepared). Hope that helps!

Ps and definitely second the Vondelpark

 

[slowmotion]

I would spend my two days exploring Amsterdam on two wheels. It's a fantastic city to visit, even if you don't spend time visiting the museums.

Top tip: don't waste time going to the Anne Frank House. A tourist Hell!

 

[slowmotion]

[QUOTE 4402658, member: 45"]I wouldn't miss it. If you book in advance the queues aren't a problem.[/QUOTE]
Fair enough. I'm afraid that the naked commercialisation made me queasy.

 

[snorri]

Rotterdam is an attractive city too. For a day out from there you could take the fast ferry from the landing place beside Erasmus Bridge to Dordrecht. After exploring this ancient city you have the choice of several cycle routes back to Rotterdam.
https://en.rotterdam.info/
I have found the Euro Hotel suited me and notice they rent out bikes, although I used my own when staying there.
http://eurohotelcentrum.nl/?lang=en

 

[Sixmile]

Bumping this up as I'm looking to do a very similar trip. I'm looking to fly to Amsterdam on a Monday, home on Wednesday. We wouldn't be able to get the kids looked after for any more than that.

I was thinking of staying somewhere walkable from the airport on the first night or at least somewhere with airport transfers. Then Tuesday morning, find somewhere to hire bikes and ride to Utrecht and check into a hotel there for a night. Next day, ride back into Amsterdam, few hours in the city then flight in the late evening.

 

[Sixmile]

Cheers for the tips.

My trip itinerary has changed I think. I think I'm going to do it with a cycling buddy and stretch it out to maybe 4 nights with 50 - 70 mile days. The most he has ridden in a day is 55 miles but seeing as Holland is flat, an extra few won't kill him.

My biggest dilemma at present would be whether to take our bikes on Easyjet at £40 each way pp or hire out there. How much would I be expecting to pay for a decent road bike for 4 days hire?

 

[snorri]

A lot more than the £80 you would have to pay Easyjet, but if you just opted for a standard Dutch bike,then that would cost less than what you would pay Easyjet!

 

[derrick]

Delft is a great little town, would definitely go there again, Amsterdam is not what it used to be.

 

[Julia9054]

I hired this last time I went to Amsterdam. Cost very little but weighed about the same as a small Landrover. Watch out for the back brake.