Copenhagen & Amsterdam hotel, etc., suggestions

[BevC]

We will be sailing the Baltic next summer on the Star and plan to spend several days in Copenhagen and in Amsterdam pre-cruise. I would very much appreciate suggestions for good (but not terribly expensive) hotels (or maybe good B&Bs) in these cities. We'd like to be somewhat close to the action (close to restaurants, shopping, etc.). Any ideas for the best rental car place, special sights not to miss, etc., would also be great.

 

How far away from the airport and/or downtown Copenhagen is the port?

 

Thank you very much, all of you very experienced cruisers! We've not cruised for many years, so feel like complete neophytes. :p

 

Bev

[Holgerdanske]

For Copenhagen you may want to try http://www.bbdk.dk/ to locate a B&B. The port area, "Langelinie", where the cruiseships dock is right near downtown, about a mile from "Nyhavn" and "Stroeget", (the "gaa-gade" shopping street). Don't forget Tivoli in the evening.:p See the lights and flowers and know that the best restaurants in the country are in Tivoli, (remeber, tips and tax is included in the price you see:eek: ). The port is also near the royal residenses. Go to "Kongens Have" and Rosenborg Castle if you have time and the Royal Copenhagen and Bing & Groendal stores, both on Stroeget. There is a 50 passenger tour ferry that stops several places along the port, among them adjacent to the cruise ships, (near the "Little Mermaid" statue and the Royal Danish Yachtclub). Expect to do a lot of walking to see Copenhagen. Car rental is best at the airport, but parking is terrible in Copenhagen:eek: . It is a very old city, (streets are very narrow but have sidewalks), full of apartments built before automobiles existed, so residents with cars fill up every little space 100% of the time, so I would't rent a car unless you are going outside of Copenghagen to sightsee. There is excellent public transportation to Copenhagen from the airport.

In Amsterdam I suggest finding a hotel in the canal area. I stayed at the SAS Raddison, very centrally located, somewhat expensive, but well worth it. You definitely do not need a car in Amsterdam. In late June it doesn't get dark until 10pm, so take advantage of the light evenings.:)

[Makeithappen]

We are recently off the 17 day Star Transatlantic where we boarded in Copenhagen. After much research we chose the Hotel Danmark for the great location, (on street back from Trivoli) and price. We were not disappointed and they have a lovely morning buffet breakfast. Rooms were quiet and clean.

 

Hope this helps in your decision making.

[alexspepaw]

I stayed at the Sofitel Amsterdam in February for a guy's weekend out...very nice, although the rooms were smaller than those in the states.

 

Be sure and visit the "coffee" houses!