Horse Shopping With Reesink Horses

First Stop Amsterdam, Our Favorite Jet Lag Cure

You can select Amsterdam, the Netherlands, or Duesseldorf, Germany as your flight destination. We prefer Amsterdam, as it is normally a less expensive flight, and car rental location. After your arrival in Amsterdam, it is recommended you take the day and night to rest from your flight, and get acclimated to the time change, 6 hours ahead of New York's eastern standard time.

Besides, Amsterdam is a beautiful friendly city, and worth the visit. Most Dutch speak English, and most restaurants have English versions of their menus. It is easiest to check with the tourist information in Schiphol when you arrive for a hotel with the best rates and availability for the night. If you arrive on a Tuesday or Wednesday, the rates and availability are usually the best. If you want to rest, ask for a room off of the street (I always travel with earplugs, which have saved me on many occasions!). If you are renting a car, ask for a hotel with parking.

Our favorite is The Park Hotel, in the Museum District, Stadhouderskade 25. With it's ideal location along a canal near Leidesplein and Rijks Museum and V. Van Gogh Museum it has easy access to all trams. Rooms vary in size and decor. There is a large lobby, reception area with a cozy bar and lounge with a fireplace, all done in dark wood. It has a nice homey feel. On eurohotelsearch.com, it gives the rate in July at 96€, but we were quoted a rate of 70€, with a garage fee of $35€ per night, when we booked through the tourist service at the Airport.

Normally your flight will arrive in the morning, so a brisk walk about the city, then an afternoon nap, will leave you refreshed for an evening on the town. You can even make plans for a museum visit the next morning, as you will still have the afternoon to look at horses on your first day.