Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
is for low-cost carriers. Inside the airport, the terminal waiting areas are called lounges; an
inviting shopping and eating zone called Holland Boulevard runs between Lounges 2 and 3.
Arrival at Schiphol:
Baggage-claim areas for all terminals empty into the same arrival
zone, called Schiphol Plaza—with ATMs, shops, eateries, a busy
TI
(near Terminal 2, daily
7:00-22:00),atrainstation,andbusstopsforgettingintothecity.Youcanvalidateyourrail-
pass and hit the rails immediately, or, to stretch your railpass, buy an inexpensive ticket into
Amsterdam today and start the pass later.
Airport Services:
The ABN/AMRO
banks
offer fair exchange rates (in both arrivals
andloungeareas).
ServicePoint,
inSchipholPlazaattheendoftheshoppingmallnearTer-
minal 4, is a useful all-purpose service counter that sells SIM cards, has an ATM, and ships
packages. The
GWK Travelex
currency-exchange office is located in Arrivals 3 and sells
SIM cards for mobile phones. Avoid the Orbitel mobile shop just outside Terminal 2; it sells
only one brand of SIM cards, and for an exorbitant rate.
Youcansurfthe
Internet
(foraprice)andmakephonecallsattheCommunication Cen-
tres (one on the top level of Lounge 2, another on the ground floor of Lounge 1; both are
behind customs and not available once you've left the security checkpoint). Convenient lug-
gage
lockers
are at various points around the airport—allowing you to leave your bag here
on a lengthy layover (both short- and long-term lockers, credit card only; biggest bank of
lockers near the train station at Schiphol Plaza).
Airport Train Ticket Counter:
To get train information, buy a ticket, or validate your
railpass,takeadvantageofthefantastic“TrainTicketsandServices”counter(SchipholPlaza
groundlevel,justpastBurgerKing).Theyhaveaneasyinfodeskandalmostnolines(much
quicker than the ticket desk at Amsterdam's Central Station), take US credit cards (unlike
most Dutch train stations), and issue tickets for a fee (€0.50 for domestic tickets, €3.50 for
ticketstoBelgium,Luxembourg,andnearbyGermancities;upto€10forotherinternational
tickets).
Time-Killing Tips:
Ifyouhave extra time at Schiphol, check out the Rijksmuseum Am-
sterdam Schiphol, a little art gallery and museum store on Holland Boulevard, the lively
shopping/eating zone between Lounges 2 and 3. The Rijksmuseum loans a dozen or so of
itsminormasterpieces fromtheDutchGoldenAgetothisuniqueairportmuseum,including
actual Dutch Masters by Rembrandt, Vermeer, and others (free, daily 6:00-20:00).
To escape the airport crowds, follow signs for the Panorama Terrace to the third floor of
Terminal 2, where you'll find a quieter, full-of-locals cafeteria, a kids' play area, and a view
terrace where you can watch planes come and go while you nurse a coffee. If you plan to
visit the terrace on arrival, stop there before you pass through customs.
From Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam:
Direct
trains
to Amsterdam's Central Station
run frequently (4-6/hour, 15 minutes, €4.30). The Connexxion
shuttle bus
takes you to your
hotel neighborhood; there are three different routes, so ask the attendant which one works
