Hi everyone, had to reactivate my account recently.

I'm thinking of a trip across the pond during the last week of August. Any ideas on what the weather is likely to be? My previous visits have been in the off season times (Jan, Feb) and, although I don;t mind the cold, I imagine August will be rather pleasant.

On another note, has anybody stayed at the Pulitzer? Any thoughts on the hotel?

FT

I would be good to find a source of long term weather forecasting, i have just come back a week ago and I trusted the good old BBC for my weather needs..... they said it would be sunny for our visit, and it pissed down with rain for most of the trip! Doh.

Yes. Stayed there in 1998.
Pulitzer is good but expensive.
They mucked up our booking and on their busiest night in August, the Prinsengracht Concert is staged outside.
We got the manager's apartment as a consolation and had a bird's eye view. Fantastic.
Much better value and situation is the RHO on Dam Sq.
Central, good breakfast, all taxes included.

Thank you, Jim....price - interestingly enough - is not an object in this case, since I'll be using points to stay for free. My other free choice is the Hilton, but thats too far away. This is essentially going to be a free trip.

The weather in August should be fine:

http://www.weatherreports.com/Netherlan ... rages.html

I stayed at the Pulitzer once back in 2004. It's a nice place, and the room was very comfortable. Of course, at a hotel that charges €200 - 300 a night, you would expect it to be nice. It's also in a perfect location in a quiet neighborhood, but you're only a ten minute walk from the Dam.

Thanks, Flex - I think I'll go ahead and finalize plans while seats and rooms are still available on a freebie basis. Luckily Starwood doesn't have blackout dates. I take it from your comment that if you took price out of the equation, the Pulitzer should be great, right? It certainly seems to have a nice location - close enough to things, yet not in the middle of the craziness.

By the way, another silly question - does it still stay light late into the evening, or has it started getting dark sooner?

Have stayed there a couple of times. On both occasions had nice rooms although one had a duff AC unit. It is a bit of a warren but the it's a pleasant change from usual business hotel.

Thanks all. I just finished confirming the trip - best part about this trip being that the plane ride and the hotel are free - lets me save up for everything else..:)

I take it this is light jacket time? I've never been to Amsterdam when it hasn't been bitterly cold, so this will be a nice change. Of course, I have learned to expect rain at all times.....

Needless to say, a trip report will follow...:)

I stayed in the Pulitzer in 2002. Very nice place.
Don't get too buzzed. LOL The halls are a maze, kinda easy to lose your way.

Now I actually prefer Krasnapolsky by dam square. Shorter walk to the attractions.

And I like to take the train back to Schipol, so I can easily walk to CS.

Not sure if we were taxi scammed, but leaving Pulitzer the taxi driver said the trains were blocked by accident. So the cab fare got a little higher.

Hope to be there in a week or two myself.

Have fun.

RE the weather....weather.com weather channel usa

Pick Amsterdam for your city. It has forecast averages and sunrise/sunset

is kranstopoly by dam squre, is that the ones with the appartments, i thought they were quite a way away form there, are there more than 1 krans hotels, (with appartments and if so was the one near dam square have any window girls outside

@annyman: There's only one Kras. The front is on Dam Square whilst the apartments are towards the rear, closer to the RLD.

@Don Van Gorder: walk from Pulitzer to CS is not much more than from Kras.

Thanks everyone - looks like I can expect 60s weather; which is absolutely marvelous! My memories of Amsterdam have always involved bone-chilling cold and brutal winds, and quick escapes into coffeeshops to warm up and get fortified against the frigid temps outside. Just doesn't seem to be the same place I see pictures of with people sitting outside cafes!

This should be a nice pleasant change, an Amsterdam I've never seen..:)

Maybe not. In 2002 it was a rainey Oct day to go home.
Defineatly a shorter walk to the attractions.

On the other hand, I like breakfast at the Guiness Pub by the New york Steakhouse
on Leidesplein. Pulitzer closer. And I always have to have one lunch at the Hard Rock.

Where do i get the sunrise/subset times on www.weather.com ?

For any city get the forecast. Next get the averages. That screen choose table display.
Last choose the month. Hope that helps. Get to Scotland someday I hope.
Part of the lineage may be scottish. Part dutch, english, french ,welsh, and american
indian for sure.