I'll be going to Amsterdam alone for the first time and have a bunch of questions...any help appreciated.

1) personal safety. is there a lot of risk of mugging or street crime? Areas I should be avoiding after dark (especially if I'm, uh, a little inebriated)?

2) I like to stay in decent hotels (not super fancy, but pretty nice, like 4 star). Do those kind of places give you trouble about e.g. escorts? What about toking in your room?

3) Anyplace you can buy viagra or similar stuff in Amsterdam without a prescription?

Thanks much...

These are questions we hear here on a monthly, of not bi-weekly, basis. Normally someone would just tell you to go look through the search feature. But I got lucky last night, so I'm in a good mood. Let's give it a try...

>1) personal safety. is there a lot of risk of mugging or street crime?
> Areas I should be avoiding after dark (especially if I'm, uh, a little inebriated)?

No more than any small city in the US...think Denver or Boise, for instance. If you avoid the bling, don't wear white socks, don't wander the streets drunk ALONE, than you've really got nothing to worry about. I usually just put on a grouchy face and no-one bugs me.

>2) I like to stay in decent hotels (not super fancy, but pretty nice, like 4 star). Do those kind
> of places give you trouble about e.g. escorts? What about toking in your room?

This I have no clue about, but I would generally think not. Amsterdam is a live-let-live kind of town.

>3) Anyplace you can buy viagra or similar stuff in Amsterdam without a prescription?

You can get kamagara at the Chickita sex shop, right on the front door of the red light district - 4 caps for 50 euros. Chickita is the only game in town for that - you're really better off bringing your own. There are other "herbal" recipes at some smart shops, but they never worked for me.

Are you sure about Chikita's? When I was there in March I bought my four tabs there on friday OK, but when I went back for some more on the tuesday they said they'd had to stop selling it, because it was now illegal.

Is it now cool again?

avoid zeedijk
and small streets around warmourstratt(sp) if say past 2am
keep to well lit areas where people are about
...
victoria hotel is escort friendly..avoid ibis they will try and charge you for having a guest in the room....
don't take kamagra/viagra anymore as i found traces of blood in my cum after using it(very scary)..all ok now though!!

Need to be aware of pickpockets. I had my wallet lifted during the middle of the day by two guys working together on the tram. I was very stoned at the time and didn't realize initially what the jostling was about, but then I went to check my wallet which I always keep in my my front left pocket and it was gone. Fortunately I quickly realized what was happening and confronted the guy standing next to me. After some give and take and a stare down, my wallet suddenly appeared at my feet, everything intact.
Be aware, avoid the dark alleys when by yourself , leave what you can't afford to lose in the hotel safe, and you'll be fine. Petty crime such as this is your biggest worry.

Santaclaus,

Actually, I've never bought from them - I've joined the vitamin-V generation recently - but I was there a few months back with a friend and he dropped coin for some. That would have been February, so I if things have changed than I've nit heard about it.

Still, it's always pretty-damn dodgy getting something like that without a doctor's eval - my first meeting with Levitra gave me a thunderous headache for a day and a half. I went back to my doctor and got down-sized a little, and it's worked fine since. I'd just grab it at home, where it's 1) cheaper and 2) prescribed more safely.

Luther,

I've never had a problem (I must look like a mofo or something) but I do agree with you - pickpockets are the worst crime we generally have here.

I've moved from a normal-sized wallet to a leather business-card case. Just take what you need - ATM card, some photo ID, strippenkaart - nothing more. These little cases are great - they fold in half, holds 8 credit cards easily and are flat and easy to hide in the front pocket.

I also always keep the cash in a different pocket - but hey, I was raised in Noo Yawk!

- Woof!

(Welcome to Noo Yawk - Move yer fuckin' truck, yah baystard!)

marc200-
All of these gentlemen raise good points and offer valuable advice. For my part, I also have yet to encounter anything more threatening than a common panhandler, who can be brushed aside with relative ease. I am a fairly young and fit man, but by no means big and strong. Yet I have never felt physically threatened or even uncomfortable in the dark alleys of the Wallen. In a part of town with a 24-hour lifestyle such as the RLD, you are probably safer I would think than in some other less-travelled neighborhoods.

As Woofie recommends, I carry a slimmed-down version of my billfold when out and about -- just the essentials. With a hotel nearby, I will carry just enough cash for a session and a couple of beers and then return to my room to shower and get more cash from the room safe. Even were I to get rolled, the goons wouldn't get more than a few hundred euros from me.

Depending on how far in advance and what time of year you plan your travel, you can find great 3-4 star deals close to the RLD. See the pull-down menu link on this site for more info. Big 4-5 stars like the Krasnapolsky, Victoria, and Barbizon Palace are probably more than you want or need, but often have rooms available and offer some pretty hefty discounts on last-minute bookings. I have stayed at all three of these along with the Winston, the Canal House, and the Toren. These last two are a solid 15-minute stroll from the RLD, but are nice and very quiet. What the Winston lacks in amenities and short-notice availability, it makes up for in location. Beware -- there is a price to be paid (in decibels) for taking lodging "in the heart of it all"!

-DF

Fear.......is what they sell to voters at election time. Nothing to fear in A-dam, just use common sense. I, like you, had thoughts of being victimized while being a stoned and oversexed American in NL. It really doesn't happen to those who avoid putting themselves into compromising situations. Go to A-dam and be free from fear............. you will eventually come home. Going home what you will really fear after spending some time in A-dam........

Personal Safety

I was pickpocketed in the covered area in the Wallen not by the person behind me but by the one behind him. I had my wallet in the front left whilst looking into the right hand rooms. Because I was slightly off-balance I could feel the hand go in the pocket so i just slid my hand in too and removed his and stared the guy out. Then I left sharpish.

Stay relatively sober too pace yourself. Waking up in the morning with bruising you can't explain can ruin your trip.

Hotels

Stayed in the Krasnopolsky once and had a Thai lady step in the lift about 1:30am !! She then feigned confusion when got to my floor and went back down again. So I guess they're not too worried.

Pills

Dont know , not my scene.

Why should you not wear white socks Woofie? Not that I do, just curious.

Cheers
G~

It's just one of those "typicalisms" you see alot of, in this case, particularly from Americans.

Being American, I know white socks and sneakers is considered a healthy combination, but you stick out like a sore thumb here with the whites. Same goes for oversized basketball shirts and shorts. It's like a small white flag that says "Hi - I'm not from these parts - possibly not even from Europe. Please abuse me!"

Sure, you can argue that it's a stereotype - except that it's common to see. Buys all bunched-up, rumbling past the Waag in search of a Budweiser and buffalo wings. Sometimes caricatures are about right - drunk guys from the UK in running suits, well-dressed Japanese people packed together in suits, American kids wearing droopy pants and and their baseball caps backwards.

I'm not sure who said it, but if you're over 14, American and look like that, you need to pull your pants up and put the hat on straight, or else it's dope-slap time...

Have I not insulted anyone? Any french people wanna discuss berets?

I thought not. :)

Jeez......why do you guys carry so much dosh on your person? 50 euro in your front pocket , the rest in your shoe. They aint gonna steal your shoe unless they want 'foot in mouth'!

Regarding personal safety, surely it's unfair to single out Amsterdam as a place of possible mugging - you're just as likely to get mugged in Prague, Budapest or London (probably more so in the latters case).

Just try an keep some common sense in the front of your drug (or alcohol) addled brain and you'll be fine.

Fear of mugging is much more prelevant these days than actual mugging. I have travelled to the Americas and all round Europe and have never (touch wood) run into any trouble. My experience of trouble is always in the smaller more provincial villages and towns where tourists stand out - a certain new city in South Wales comes especially to mind

Just enjoy yourself

That'll be Newport eh? If it's any consolation I wouldn't go there and I'm from Cardiff. It's rough as fcuk. Even Nathan Blake gets twatted when he goes out there and it's his home town.

For what it's worth, I went, did everything, was out till all hours of the night in all kinds of neighborhoods completely alone, and had a FANTASTIC time. I love this city! Felt quite safe but also felt it was necessary to keep your wits about you, since at certain times and places there are a few rather seedy types around. I almost never get drunk and know how to handle myself with other substances so I always felt aware of my surroundings and comfortable. In general, Amsterdam strikes me as more dangerous than some Northern European cities (like say Stockholm or German cities), but less dangerous than NY City or London.

I would think that muggers and so on mostly prey on people who look really out of it and literally staggering around, which you can see on the streets there.

And my concern about toking and escorts in hotel rooms seems rather naive and American in retrospect, no one seems to give a damn about that.

First of all, since fear is the biggest problem. If you have never been there. You will feel real comfortable in the day time. And probably feel comfortable at night. You should use common sense as far as location of wallet. Dont take all your money with u. Always negotiate with the ladies everything you want, and the time, and don't be naive. Things that can save you grief, is don't pay attention to the drug dealers on the street. Try not to make eye contact, or they will just bother you. Late at night. Its more dangerous. But not very! Believe me, you will be so comfortable, you will wonder why you were concerned. ANyhow, i've beat that dead horse.

As far as the guy saying you will stick out like a sore thumb. It was winter, i wore long pants, but i had my white socks on. I carried myself well. Most people enjoyed me as a person and an American. A lot of people there are fond of Americans, even in these times of unpopularity.
I'm a pretty layed back guy. But its always better to go with a buddy. Its like anyplace, just don't be too stereotypical. But the guy talkin bout stereotypes, probably fits plenty himself. Be yourself. Get stoned, Get layed! Meet some travelers. The locals will always be helpful with directions. But they may seem a bit distant. Have a great time, you will and report back! You can wear white socks. dark socks with shorts looks kind of stupid anyways. Maybe don't wear those white socks with the colored stripes. Read the device as far as ladies. Do as much research at this sight for coffee shops and museums. ANd use the device to search for some ladies. Stay away from drugs off the street. I don't recommend any of the prescription drugs.
Peace out!