...it's practically cheaper to see an independent escort in the US (depending where you live) than to go to Amsterdam and visit a window girl for either an hour or half an hour.

Consider airfare, hotel, and miscellaneous travel expenses, you can probably see two or three girls for that amount.

Don't get me wrong, I love Amsterdam and you can see who you get rather than trust a website photo, but I am really going to wait until the exchange rate is lower whenever that is (probably never!)

It's certainly a fair analysis, but I think that part of the attraction for me is that I can visit the coffeeshops and the RLD with no fear of Johnny Policeman and his friends. Further, going on vacation is nice in and of itself. Sure, you could seek out your local talent, but after your $300 (or more) an hour was spent, it'd be straight back to the same old apartment/house, job, etc.

(my €.02)

H

I also agree that going to Adam is an experience not a cheap trick. As the fellow monger pointed out no fear of cops, no rip-offs (like the escorts that show up to read you a story...), and nice variety. Personally I find European girls more attractive and more fun. I have been leaving in the US for almost twenty years and I still find European chicks more cool. US working girls seem to come in two varieties: stuck up and damn fucks... (a personal opinion and my two cents).

Wait until the exchange rate gets lower? Will that be the day George Bush stops declaring war on the rest of the world?

Maybe thats his reasoning, completely fuck up foreign affairs and exchange rate, forcing all Americans be stuck in solitary.

is it only about the cost of getting off?

for me the sex aspect is just a part of the holiday. what about the wonderful locals, the amazing merchants houses, the efficient transport, the cute windmills, pea soup, trams, the finest cheese known to humanity, beautiful blooms, magnificent art, lush parks, febo, bookshops secreted in canalside cellars, coffee shops selling the wolrds finest marijuana and hashish, bicycle heaven, biertje, mud walking, ice skating and overall some of most beautiful landscapes you could ever wish to see?

forget your dollar vs. euro arguments. thats the way it goes with currency exchange. it goes up, it goes down. the netherlands experience is what youre paying for.

doog!

withnail

we agree with withnail wholeheartedly. in fact thats what the idea of this site has always been about.

frankly we don't give the slightest fuck for those whose only interest in the city is, sex and/or smoke.
we'd be glad if they never returned.

I agree with Withnail, Theres more to Amsterdam than the sex. The people I have met there are some of the most gracious people I've ever met. The small old neighborhood pubs of the Jordan, talking to people from all over the world and sharing stories of my country. It's only money and you can't take it with you, when you die. I can't wait to return in March....Mark

I have to echo the sentiments of the XXX-hierarchy: Vive Le Amsterdam! zing!
~uber

Wow!

I hope I didn't offend any locals or frequent travelers of Amsterdam. I've been to the city at least 5 times (far less than I assume most business travelers and vacationers) and have loved every visit indeed.

I know the city isn't just about sex/smoke (as I don't smoke much), but I love it for its people and culture. I LOVE FEBO and all the local shops.

Don't get me wrong, I love every minute traveling abroad and I know sex isn't the only thing and I agree that after a brief visit to a window girl, you're still in the great city of Amsterdam and not NYC.

It is soothing. It is lush. I remember things there in the richest colors. After a stay, I feel rejuvinated. I would rather cut back on any other luxury before I would cut back on trips to the 'Dam.


...running around in the shoes of a clown...

Amsterdam equals Therapy, simple as that. Theres not a shrink in this world that can straighten my head out like a four day stay in Amsterdam. The smoke and the RLD are a fantastic bonus but for me the City has a calming vibe about it.

Dave

Downside with the escort gig is the routine one-hour minimum. Upside with RLD is buying time in 15 minute increments with stunning women of your choice. I prefer the benefits of 30 minute sessions versus rushed 15 minute sessions.

Airfare and hotel deals are superb in Europe right now and counter the weak US dollar situation. If you focus on 30 minute sessions with window girls and stay within budget, you can do just fine. As withnail and others have noted, drink in the good times in the Netherlands and enjoy a well-rounded stay that includes many activities outside the RLDs.

Cheers,
Jim

I think the difference is that now Amsterdam is a great location for those that want to travel for well rounded reasons, but that in the past Amsterdam was even a "best buy" for those who wanted a purely sexual adventure. I don't think that's so true anymore. If you just want to spend the day shagging and waiting to shag, the FKK scene seems to be a much better deal.

What I'm doing these days is splitting time...a couple days in Amsterdam and then a couple days FKK'ing.

I don't think the dollar is going to get so strong that Europe will
become a bargain anytime soon. The lower airfare only helps
for short stays. I too have seen some really great packages.
You can't run huge deficiets with low interest rates forever,
but it can occur long enough to screw your vacation :)

Why not try Central/South America or Canada if exchange rates
are an issue? Then go back to Europe when things get favorable.
Another solution would be to make shorter stays and use less budget
busting establishments.

Amsterdam has a lot more appeal to me than Toronto. Although, right
now Toronto probably offers US citizens a better deal for getting girls.
Also, many Toronto sex workers are European. Perhaps, some of
both worlds! Still, all things considered, I think Europe is worth
paying a premium to spend some time in. See you there this spring!

Leaving for Central America later today. Hope I don't get snakebitten.

Was there ten days, got murdered by the exchange rate, i'm shutting down until the dollar swings around. I don't give a you know what if everyone on here wants to pretend that there's more than weed, hookers and meeting new people to do in the Dam. Don't kid yourselves and pretend like there's greater things to the Dam.

The best place in the world for the above is to costly for Americans right now, but since the pound is invinsible you can keep on pretending like you've got socialite activities in the Dam to attend to.

It's a nice place, but hardly worth getting fuck in the ass for, unless your into that I guess.

Retiring to Cali bud and fucking my girlfriend for 2005.

Hey, there you are Once - I (really) was wondering -
now give us some details about your girlfriend .....
Wim

Gas is down to 1.88 around here. Im getting ready to book the whole of month of September on Expedia. 9hr 40 min flight from Charlotte to Amsterdam. Last time my flight took over 15 hrs via Philly. Fuck exchange rates, it's the next weeks spread im worried about.

Don't worry about the US dollar unless foreigners stop buying our treasuries and stocks. The chances of that are unlikely. The dollar is undervalued as compared to the euro.

Everybody talks about deficits etc but actually Germany's deficit is BIGGER as compared to our rate of growth which is really what matters, not the number in dollars. The big economies in europe, namely Germany and France are dead. They don't grow nor do they create jobs. Big investors have no other choice but to buy US Equites and Treasuries because we are the engine of growth and most trustworthy and liquid.

Our dollar is intentionally being let weaken but it's at the expense of the euros. WE are takign their business and what most likely will happen is the euros will start building plants in America because of the favorable exchange rates, skilled labor and cheap labor as compared to their socialist policies.

Sooner or later the mkt will wake up and the dollar will rise.

It doesn't look good for the dollar. Deficits are getting out of hand and there's no indication of a political will to fix them. Don't forget Cheney saying they don't matter! At least in the old days the Republicans would say we could grow our way out, but now, with the gap size and baby boom retirements, they don't even try that tack. John McCain and other moderates are worried.

The next shoe to drop will be if the dollar keeps dropping past psychological support levels where foreign investors expect Greenspan and the Fed to defend it. That would shatter the idea that things are being "managed" and lead to a real snowball effect.

It's heavily psychological, but the damage would be real. Just ask people from the Asian countries that got whacked post-'97. U.S. finances and general conditions are getting more and more third-world.

As for Amsterdam, the not-feeling-repressed factor still is a big draw. I try to mitigate the airfare by going in low season, getting double miles on elite status and incorporating the trip into a mileage-building strategy for the year.

Don't compare the US economy to those of Asia, it's like comparing a street walker to Bianca. Two different worlds.

The danger is foreign investors not buying our treasuries which fund our deficit but they really have no other choice. France and Germany, the big two in Europe are disasters. Annual growth of 1% on their best year with unemployment of 10%. Their deficits as compared to GDP are bigger than ours. Socialism is bad policy.

The dollar will strengthen don't worry. All the euros are terrrified of the prospects of a further falling dollar because it comes at their expense.

It sucks now but dont' worry, over the long term the United States will always outperform the European economies.