Something of an Amsterdam institution, when summer comes the city swarms with the cheery red hire bikes from this company's seemingly bottomless supply.

The bikes are all pretty new, well-maintained, and the basic 'granny' style will set you back just 8.50 Euros per day.

The ideal way to get around Amsterdam, do be warned that the old centre literally crawls with stoned frat boys who'll step right in front of you without warning. Master those backbrakes fast, and watch out for tram tracks too. Take it from me, they're a killer.

At Central Station and at other locations around town
www.macbike.nl/
+31 20 620 09 85

Take either a credit card or a passport and 50 Euros for the deposit.

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Amsterdam is undoubtedly one of Europe's most romantic cities, but if you only have the time and money for one mushy weekend break in 2007, I'd have to recommend somewhere else.

The amount of roadworks and construction going on in the city centre at the moment is phenomenal, and I'm afraid that it does spoil things quite a bit. The Rijksmuseum and Stedelijk Museum are being refurbished; an area from Centraal Station to Muntplein has been excavated for a new Metro facility; and several of the old streets and buildings are currently wearing an ugly shroud of scaffolding.

Of course there are still many photogenic pockets of Je Oude Amsterdam to be found, but right now they are fewer and further between. Let's hope the Herculean effort being put into the city is enough to preserve it for generations to come.

Then again, if all you're after is girls, beer, clubs and 'coffee' it's business as usual.

There's a helpful website which indicates the extent of the disruption here:
www.werkaandeweg.amsterdam.nl/index/emaps

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Irish Pub on Rokin popular with Expats and boorish tourists on lager and Guinness fuelled tours through the town and the Red Light District. Food is average and overpriced. The room with a fire is quite nice in the winter. There are much better places in Amsterdam, if you want to go to an Irish bar go to Tig Barra on Overtoom.

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Narrow trams, crowded, and with the inevitable pickpockets. Women, carry handbags inside coats. Men, leave an empty wallet sticking out of a hip pocket. It’s a good distraction!

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Only take a taxi if you're really desperate. If they get the slightest hint that you're a tourist, they'll take you the very long way round. From the airport take the fast, regular and cheap train and in the centre take the tram, metro or bus.

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