Strange Question: Rome or Amsterdam?

[Josh]

Planning the summer trip with my friends, we are set on going to Barcelona but before we get there we want to stop in either Rome or Amsterdam for a couple nights.

If anyone has been to either place, or better yet both places, please weigh in.

We like to check out the historical/tourist-type places, but our group also likes to eat great food, stay in a nice place and enjoy night life (don't care for drugs though - that's why Amsterdam was kinda throwing me off)...

Thoughts?

 

[darkewaffle]

As someone who has never been to either place, I'd be much more interested in going to Rome. Glad I could help.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Been to both, I loved Amsterdam.

note : I don't smoke/drugs, and I still loved Amsterdam.

EDIT : During the summer, lines for tourist stuff will be long at either City.

 

[bignateyk]

I would go to Amsterdam. I've never been there, but I've been to Rome. It's absolutely packed, it's dirty, and it's full of pickpockets. Not sure if Amsterdam is that way as well. Most big European cities are I think.

 

[scott916]

In your case, I'd go Rome. Amsterdam is a beautiful place dripping with culture, but the debauchery is a huge part of the allure.

EDIT: I've been to Amsterdam and loved it.

 

[Fausto]

Never been to Rome, but have been to Amsterdam.

Very fun city, lots to do and see (and I could give a rat's ass about the legal drugs/prostitution). The Dutch are (at least in my experience) very friendly and also have no problem speaking English to you. If anything, they almost prefer it so they can practice. Additionally, you are a pretty quick train trip from other countries whereas this would not be the case in Rome.

 

[zinfamous]

Both have their charms. I would recommend Rome, though, as I'm a bit of an Italophile. There's much better places in Italy to visit, though. It's massive and dirty, but you won't be lacking for good food and history.

Amsterdam is a cool, cool place, and not b/c of the drugs and sex. Great museums, good people, less noisy and trashy than Rome--depending on where you go.

 

[Josh]

Leaning towards Amsterdam as of right now then I suppose.

Is Rome really THAT dirty??

Also will Amsterdam be full of high schooler/college kids in May looking to take advantage of the lack of drug laws there?

 

[gophins72]

if you're a bunch of dudes, go to amsterdam. if you're with a woman, go to rome.
amsterdam is a lot more fun either way imo, but women love italy.

 

[surfsatwerk]

Been to both, I loved Amsterdam.

note : I don't smoke/drugs, and I still loved Amsterdam.

EDIT : During the summer, lines for tourist stuff will be long at either City.

Whore monger?

 

[Nintendesert]

If you go to Rome in the summer you're going to get Malaria and die. Go to Amsterdam instead.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Leaning towards Amsterdam as of right now then I suppose.

Is Rome really THAT dirty??

In certain areas, yes. The area around the main train station is dirty and sleazy. The further away you get from that area, the better. I enjoyed Rome quite a bit because I love the historical sites, but I think I might have enjoyed Florence even more.

 

[JEDI]

Planning the summer trip with my friends, we are set on going to Barcelona but before we get there we want to stop in either Rome or Amsterdam for a couple nights.

If anyone has been to either place, or better yet both places, please weigh in.

We like to check out the historical/tourist-type places, but our group also likes to eat great food, stay in a nice place and enjoy night life (don't care for drugs though - that's why Amsterdam was kinda throwing me off)...

Thoughts?

r u freaking nuts?!
Amsterdam of course!

hookers: $50 euro for 1/2 hr
magic mushrooms in any coffee shop

 

[JEDI]

I would go to Amsterdam. I've never been there, but I've been to Rome. It's absolutely packed, it's dirty, and it's full of pickpockets. Not sure if Amsterdam is that way as well. Most big European cities are I think.

aggressive gypsies begging in Rome.
their 'kids' tried to go thru my pockets when i said no to the 'mom' :disgust:

 

[CVSiN]

having been all over Europe with the Navy.
Italy was ok.. great food and history.. but dirty and the people werent exactly tripping over themselves to be nice to the Americans.

Amsterdam fun city much cleaner much nicer to American tourists.
that and pot and shrooms and more are legal (if you don't have to worry about wiz quizzes)

that and the red light district was amazing.. yes the woman are super hot and fairly cheap =D

 

[Gooberlx2]

I've only been to Amsterdam. It was cool and there was a lot of stuff to do. It was during a trash/sanitation service strike though, so the city was kinda gross.

 

[ravana]

Been to both. Rome by a long shot.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Whore monger?

 

[pontifex]

kinda surprised by the results so far. I would have expected an overwhelming vote for amsterdam because of "drugz r legal, man!" and "whorez r cheap, dude!"

 

[CVSiN]

kinda surprised by the results so far. I would have expected an overwhelming vote for amsterdam because of "drugz r legal, man!" and "whorez r cheap LEGAL and look like models... , dude!"

fixed..

 

[MotF Bane]

fixed..

This.

 

[gophins72]

one other thing, your euro goes farther in amsterdam, especially if they know you're an american in rome.

 

[Fern]

Planning the summer trip with my friends, we are set on going to Barcelona but before we get there we want to stop in either Rome or Amsterdam for a couple nights.

If anyone has been to either place, or better yet both places, please weigh in.

We like to check out the historical/tourist-type places, but our group also likes to eat great food, stay in a nice place and enjoy night life (don't care for drugs though - that's why Amsterdam was kinda throwing me off)...

Thoughts?

I've been to both plenty of times.

Contrary to what many saw, Rome is not "dirty". Of course some places like the train stations etc could qualify, but's it's the same in A'dam.


Amsterdam.
A'dam has some of my favorite (art) museums (e.g., The Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and Stedelijk Museum). There are also places in Adam with great restaurants, in fact the best Mexican/S.A. restaurant I've ever eaten at was there. But know that Dutch food sucks (at least IMO). I think they were at Leidseplein or Rembrantplein (see here for more info http://www.amsterdam.info/sights/ ). I use to hang out at the Red Light district quite a lot as well, but I never found the food there any good.

English is, for all practical purposes, the official language of Adam.

There is much to do in A'dam, you will find 2 days far too short to cover it all.

Getting around in A'dam is very very easy. Public trams and buses to get anywhere. Given A'dam's rather small, you get places fairly quickly.

The one downside to Amsterdam can be the weather. It is often rainy, cool and overcast. it's not for no reason that Holland is basically a drained swampland.

Check this site for more info (search it for different topics):

http://www.amsterdam.info/shopping/

Rome.

Probably my favorite Euro city. (tied with Paris where I lived for many years)

IMO, forget about the dirty comments, same for pickpockets etc. They are in ever city. Just be alert and don't act like the archtypical stupid tourist (loud and drunk).

Obviously great food, shopping and tourist sites. I find the people there very friendly and happy types.

You've got your obvious tourist attrractions like the colluseum and ancient Rome next to it.

I also like the Fountain Trevi. Thens there's the Vatican, teh Spanish Steps etc etc etc.

2 days is but a mere glimpse of all that Rome has to offer. I've been there several times (my wife is Italian) and every time I go I find something new and wonderful by just wandering around.

Since Rome is far larger, research the few places you can see in your 2 days, then try to find a hotel nearby so you won't spend too much time on the subway or bus.

Rome has a dry climate and I doubt it wll be very hot in May. Go here and see the chart for average weather http://www.knowital.com/weather/rome/

The high will likely be in 70's during May.
----------------------------

I don't think you can go wrong with either city.

LMK if have any questions. (PM me)

Fern

 

[zinfamous]

^ I think Paris is way dirtier than Rome, fwiw. Both fine places, though. Dog shit everyfuckingwhere you go.

 

[Fern]

^ I think Paris is way dirtier than Rome, fwiw. Both fine places, though. Dog shit everyfuckingwhere you go.

Yeah, dog crap is a problem in almost all Euro cities.

But when I was living in Paris they had motorcycle squads that went around vacuuming up the poop and washing the sidewalks. The vacuums and water tanks were built onto the motorcycles, the driver never got off the bike.

The streets in Paris were actually cleaned every single day. All city blocks are constructed in a tilted angle. Late night/early morning crews come around and turn on water which flows completley around the curb. All debris has been swept there and is washed down into the sewer system.

Fern