Hi,

I've only been to Amsterdam once back in late March but loved it. I had quit my job and was moving city in the UK so before I did that I deicided to back pack around Europe. Wish I'd job hunted in Amsterdam to be honest but I can't speak Dutch and only a tiny bit of German so pretty useless!

Anyway, due to the nature of my trip I was going solo. Never realy met anyone during it other than a few Americans sitting at bars to pass the time. I enjoyed it solo as I could basically walk around the RLD all day and take it all in, weigh up my decisions, check and double check, that type of thing. Also didn't have to worry about people judging my choice when it came to the less conventional women I choose at times.

I would say tho, I have a friend who has done the RLD thing and visited some of the ladies too, but he's more the type who would have to have a few pints to do it first hand and wouldn't likely be willing to go around the RLD ALL DAY (and night) haha!

I guess this is a thread, and apologies if this has been done to death, tried kinda searching and I'm new here, but would you say going solo and having free will, hopefully meeting a few friendly folk in between at bars/coffee shops is better compared to the guarantee of never being a bit lonely but maybe not seeing/doing as much as you'd like is better or worse?

I suppose, if people met off here it would be easier, but with non 'as up for it' real life friends?

Just a thought to get everyones experiences and opinions.

Probably the best solution would be to spend time with friends at the bars before or after mongering.

The window choice should always be utterly indipendent.

I prefer going solo.

The cost of the room is a little higher for a single than a double split. However the freedom to walk around naked and keep it the way you want to outweighs that one for me.

In terms of being solo, I don't have to worry if you drink too much. I can get myself out of most trouble but I am not sure I can do that for you when you got us in and I don't know how or why it happened. I don't have to ask if you want to go somewhere else and I don't have to leave (as a courtesy) if you want to go elsewhere. I don't have to buy you drinks which is a good thing if you drink more than I, nor worry about doing other things like 420 if it is not your cup of tea. I don't need to debate where to eat, how much to spend.

I can get up and go anytime and go most anywhere. I can go to select bars and clubs that will let me in as a solo guy but would refuse entry to 2 guys.

As a solo it is easier to meet new people and get people to talk to you. Also easier to hit up girls in bars and dance clubs.

Always LOTS of interesting people to meet in bars cafes and restaurants.

Most important I won't have to listen to you, when we are back home, (and you have drunk a little too much) telling my wife, girlfriend, boss, mother. whomever that you should have been with us when we took on Susie and her midget girlfriend.

Regards, Roland

Yeah, but the restricted bit is I could spend all day walking the windows haha!



You know me so well...:-p

Nah I agree in that sense. The freedom and ability to not worry about anyone else is good. The downside is I have a few mates that have traveled like me and talked to randomers everywhere and got the attitude to do that in a group but who would not go in the kamers. I've got friends that would go for the girls but who are a bit socially awkward around new people.

Think I did it right by going solo and think I will go solo again. Just wondering everyones experience with their plus and negatives.

Never had a problem walking De Wallen in a group, and girls offering DP are def a plus.
High feels better too with friends.

Only cons when on my own, would just feel a bit stupid going to eat somewhere nice alone

WOW, it's like Roland and Potlover are reading my mind!!!

Roland you expressed precisely how I feel about flying solo in the Dam. Ive been many a time in groups big and small. Something in the group dynamic usually screws with some aspect of your buzz.
I have a couple of friends who know the score when it comes to allocation of time in the Dam. There's just got to be us time and me time.

However, Potlover hit the nail on the head with exactly the two situations I prefer to experience in a crowd.

The best compromise I've found is to create the pseudo friend/crowd. What I mean is to fall in with a cool bunch you meet in one of Amsterdam's bars, coffee shops or dens of sin. A bunch of guys on a bender (rarely these days) or in luckier times a group of horny girls. Or in more recent times a bunch of great guys from Ireland who once drunk and stoned were completely incomprehensible. They made my weekend.
When the crowd are semi strangers, you can ride the party bus for as long as its fun and then bail if it gets out of hand, takes a turn that doesnt suit you or when you've plain just had enough. You do meet more diamonds than assholes, but I guess that's down to your own good judgement.

So I go solo and if I meet some fun people then great, otherwise the girls and the weed will just have to do.



MAN!!, I'm sooooooo high right now.

Agree, but getting high in Amsterdam with friends for me is still another thing, as long as what happens there stay there lol.
My last trip have been on my own and did miss the group or even single friend from time to time.



Two with me!

When one is solo (missing a dinner date or buddy or group) I find going to the Thai Bird Snackbar and sitting in the window quite sufficient. Usually there is another solo person there as well and if not, then the flow of people on the Zeedijk is entertainment enough.

Also when going solo to a high end place, the hostess or maitre d' will often ask if you would like to sit at a solo dining table (with other solo folks) if there is one or sometimes will actually match you up with a fellow diner (M or F) who might want someone to experience the meal with. Quite interesting actually.

Going to sit down concerts or a play solo is great as there are usually single women who you can hit up during the intermissions. Walk or bike them home afterwards.

Gosh I miss Amsterdam. Thanks for letting me reminisce.

Regards, Roland

I've already stated my preference for going to The Dam solo but I thought I'd just tell you about my current issue to back this up.

I'm fortunately going to be back in Amsterdam next Wednesday for 3 nights, however, for the two days before that I'm going to Dublin with a mate. As I'm a bit of a planner/organiser I've been arranging the details for the Dublin trip for the last couple of months making sure my mate has been kept informed all the way through the process.

Now he's known for 2 months that our flight to Dublin is a 6:30am affair, however, now that I'm actually sorting out the arrangements for getting to the airport he's now moaning about how early it is (the bus we're catching is at 5am!!). And so already he's getting on my nerves and we're still 3 days away lol

I'm sure when we get there everything will be fine but they'll still be issues where I want to get to a pub to watch the Ireland v Croatia game (the reason I'm going) nice and early and he'll want to fanny about. This will midly get on my nerves in Dublin. It would PI$$ me off no end in Amsterdam.

And the moral of my story is that I will ALWAYS go to Amsterdam on my own. Time spent with mates will be done elsewhere.

Going with a group can be a laugh but there is nothing like suiting yourself which is why I nearly always go solo and when I don't I always peel off from the group to do my own thing.
There are no compromises, I can do what I want when I want and where I want.
Loads of decent people about to talk to in the bars and cafés.
So my score is 95% solo vs 5% group.
First visits are sometimes better in a group but once you've got your bearings and get a feel for the place you can be set adrift on your own adventures.
All the best,
Mr M

Solo all the way. I enjoy my independence, hanging out, being lazy, wandering everywhere by foot, going to art museums, stepping into divey bars, rolling doobies galore, smoking and drinking pints, thinking about my day, watching a bit of football, coming down a bit that I want to face the street, visiting the gals in the RLD, doing 20 circular trips before I pick the "one". I have yet to meet someone who would put up with my bull shit RLD routines! lol

Hi IiIji

Id say SOLO

Iv done a number of trips over a year with the same person.....!
Im in the frame of mind that i want to claim my Amsterdam trips back to myself.
I can walk into all of my Fav watering holes"" as i know the barr staff and they know me.
Put me in a good Amsterdam barr "nice pint" good tunes " im happy as a pig in S*** = HAPPY DAYS....
To do what you want,and go where you want , theres a lot to be said for that.....

Regards

WILL82

Haha, reading more into this, I think the folk on this board do a lot of similiar things (the gazillion walks around, chilling with a pint when they want, etc).

I'd still feel it would be good to have an inbetween tho. I loved it myself, and chatted to strangers in bars was realy cool, just think it would be good to have say 4 days or something, 2 each way.

For me, if I am going to Holland purely for the RLDs, then I much prefer going solo.

Otherwise, going in a group is more fun and to get to share the good memories.

Hello
My first trip to amsterdam red light district was when i was 21 back in the early 80's with my family allways wanted to go back but all ways missed out on stag parties and hearing my mates went with the girlfriend so i went for a day trip by myself is was so great that i wished that i did not waste my time trying to find someone to go with 3 months time i am going back by myself and staying the night to do what i want and yes i walk around the red light district for hours to make my mind up which sexy lady i will go with .

Just a quick question based on my recent trip.

I've met my fair number of girls now, and most of them get more "confident" when i pass by (not to mention colleagues).
From the classic "hi, you're back!" to "you've been with me before, don't you like me anymore?"
And then jokes, hugs, them trying to pull me inside by the arm, light touches and some undeserved less friendly ones.

Now, someone has been in the same condition and managed to hide his friends his dirty deeds? :-)

Not that i'm ashamed of what i did or i have tried to hide it when i was there with guys i trusted, just i'm not sure who i'm gonna be there next with.

Thought about 3 ways

1) avoid the rld while with them
2) sneak away for a while and beg every girl to ignore me
3) going solo XD

Any other idea?

hi guys, im booking my trip tommorow.

well to be honest i am quiet lucky on this one....firstly my plan was to go solo, then i looked a the prices now and to be honest..i simply cannot afford to buy a room that is for two people, costs coming to 300 plus in the hotels i want to be at...and simply..its not viable...wouldnt enjoy watching the pennies all day.

so, one of my friends, non-smoker..big drinker..has a relative who has a few hotels about 20 mins drive from central station...so...yeah not amazing but at least its reachable by tram/train or car...the best thing is..its free of charge and he hires cars to customers, so we will have a car to park at near central station all day..well thats the plan...leave the car in a big car park..im guess its going to be 50 euros or so to leave it there..not sure

so i have a non smoker who has sorted the hotel out, and another friend who is a smoker so to smoke n drink with...sounds ok...

my plan is to mutually agree with my friends...we go for a window girl..we all leave a particular and meet in a particular spot in lets say..30-40 mins?..and wait if someone finishes first.

reasonable..in that time you can go and do what you want i suppose.


for me..i thought about going solo..and i feel..if it was just for the rld..i could just pay an escort at their place and it will cost the same probably..or little more, will be pretty as...and even..more discreet.

for me amsterdam is not just the rld..i think its the vibe the city gives when you visit bars coffeeshops and get lost really....i think the rld really is the cherry on the cake of a lovely day in amsterdam and for that..in my opinion only..to go amsterdam you would need to share it with friends..going alone...it will be a quiet trip at times...and i dont know..the banter wont be there!

Get an appartment. Can be had for €80-100 in the RLD itself. I've stayed out of the centre a couple of times and it's a pain in the ar$e.