A Foodie’s Guide to Amsterdam

Amsterdam is so much more than its beautiful canals and biked covered streets that spill out of its shadows. Amsterdam is a city of diverse denizens and historic neighborhoods with all encompassing things to do. When visiting, you (or rather your tastebuds), will be completely awestruck by hole-in-the eateries, bistros, and cafes creating fusion fare and farm to table Dutch dishes. It’s inside Amsterdam’s kitchens that you’ll start to feel the city’s character.

So get ready to truly get to know the canal city by diving into some of its amazing food and eateries. Here is a foodie’s guide to Amsterdam!

A Foodie’s Guide of WHAT to Eat:

StroopWafel

Probably one of the most Instagrammed dish from the Netherlands, the Stroopwafel is basically heaven on earth. A stroopwafel is a waffle made from two thin layers of baked dough with a caramel filling in the middle. It is then dipped in chocolate and covered in your favorite toppings. Drooling yet?

Bitterballen

This is one of Holland’s favorite snacks always recommended by the locals. The only way to truly describe this dish is heaven on earth. Bitterballen are bite-sized Dutch beef and cheese croquettes typically served with mustard. Pair it a cold, Dutch beer, and you have the perfect snack.

Freak Shakes

Calories don’t count on vacation, and there are zero calories in this milkshake! Choose between a strawberry, banana, chocolate, or vanilla shake topped with donuts, cotton candy, or marshmallow fluff.

Fries

Known all over the world as French fries, not many people know that the best fries to be had are in the Netherlands. You will need to get used to the fact that fries are generally served in paper cups with generous dollops of mayonnaise instead of ketchup.  Portions served at stands surpass those in sit-down restaurants, so choose your fries wisely!

Pancakes

Not the American kind, although you do have that option. “Hollandse Pannenkoeken” or Dutch pancakes actually originated from China and Nepal.  If you order a Dutch pancake in Amsterdam, you will receive a thin pancake with a diameter of approximately 32 centimeters—huge. Pannenkoeken are made with basic ingredients, namely flour, milk, salt, and eggs. You can then decide if you want  a savory or sweet filling.

Poffertjes’

Repeat after me: ‘PO-fer-jus,’ otherwise known as fluffy clouds of warm battery goodness sprinkled with powdered sugar. And that’s all I have to say about that.

Cheese

Cheese is serious business in the Netherlands, so eat all of it. Dutch cheese has more than a 600-year long tradition. Many of the names were actually taken from different cities in the Netherlands. You can check out the Amsterdam Cheese Museum, but honestly the best way to experience all the cheese is to head over to a market. It’s all just so Goud….a. See what I did there?

Stamppot

Literally translated as ‘mash pot,’ this traditional dish involves mashed potatoes, veggies, and some sort of protein. The evenings were still chilling in April, so stamppot will warm you right up!

A Foodie’s Guide of WHERE to Eat:

Corner Bakery

Home to the freak shakes, this place cannot be missed. Imagine over-the-top homemade sandwiches and cakes like you’ve never seen before. Marry that with cute décor and “grammable” pictures, you’ll neve want to leave. Yes—they do have salads, but you won’t need them. I highly recommend pulled beef sandwich, and the cotton candy shake! Card only.

Foodhallen

Ok, I love this place. Ponce City Market is one of my favorite spots in Atlanta, so Foodhallen was amazing. At Foodhallen, the Dutch celebrate flavors. “Flavors of the finest cuisines, flavors of freshness, of Thursdays and birthday, and flavors of good to see you.” Foodhallen oozes coolness with local music and art in its halls. Don’t miss this spot!

De Pijp

Jordaan might be the most beautiful area of Amsterdam, but I’d rather hang out in De Pijip. Lose yourself for hours here with the colorful mix of cuisines, terrances, and convivial cafes. De Pijp radiates beatnik flair from angle, and its bohemian spirit is perfect for foodies. Restaurants to not miss:

•  The Avocado Show
• Café de Pijp
• Blond Amsterdam
• Little Collins

Pancakes

 The debate over which place makes the best pancakes in Amsterdam has set the blogging world ablaze. I’m sure if you really wanted to, you could try all of the options yourself. However I took the easy way out, and went to Pancakes. Pancakes is amazing! They are located throughout the city, but we ate at the Amsterdam Central location near Central Station. The location gets quite crowded, so check out their website for some other locations. 

I hope this foodie’s guide to Amsterdam helps you plan an amazing trip to canal city! Let me know your favorite dishes in the comment section.

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                                                            —J.K. Rowling

Edinburgh has been on my bucket list for years; the diehard Harry Potter fan in me geeked out over all of the literary connections. On the way home from Berlin, I decided last minute to stop in the magical city where J.K. Rowling spent so much of her time. Sorry Mom!

Edinburgh was nothing short of spectacular, especially during fall.  The chill in the air along a gray sky, the abundance of plaid, the hearty, warm meals, and the eerie stone architecture with neighboring graveyards is enough to make any Harry Potter enthusiast shudder with excitement.  Fueled with a rich culture and a vivid history, Edinburgh is not only my favorite October destination, but also an ideal destination for student travel.

Accommodations

Located at the very top of what feels like the tallest hill in Scotland, sits my absolute favorite place to stay in Edinburgh: Castle Rock Hostel. Castle Rock is as charming as it is cozy with enough amenities to make you feel right at home. Walls and corridors are adorned with art, while the various lounges offer nomadic camaraderie, hot chocolate, and a crackling fireplace—perfect for fall in Edinburgh.

But perhaps my favorite part of Castle Rock Hostel lies in its name. Castle Rock sits directly across the street from Edinburgh Castle, the supposed inspiration behind Hogwarts. The views are both stunning and mysterious as day and night provide two different, magical vibes.

Castle Rock Hostel is also ideal for student group travel. Its central location is perfect for touring throughout the city. Booking allows you to reserve dorm room style settings. This enables your students to hang out together in the common areas, but sleep separately.  24-hour security provides an additional level of safety in an already secure city. Finally the staff of Castle Rock helps with additional booking of excursions in Edinburgh and Scotland, while also providing student discounts. There is no better place to stay in Edinburgh!

Top 5 Things to Do in Edinburgh with Students

1. All Things Harry Potter

Ok—we’ve officially established that Harry Potter was the primary reason for my visit to Edinburgh. So naturally a Harry Potter tour is at the top of my list for things to do in this city. There are several ways to get your Harry Potter fix in Edinburgh. You can either seek out all of the locations yourself, or you can join a free, that’s right free, walking tour. Before I landed in Edinburgh, I conducted a little bit of research to figure out which locations had Harry Potter connections, and to see which tours were available.  A list of all Harry Potter sites and their connections can be found here.

I decided to join a tour. If I didn’t get to see one of the locations that I wanted, I figured I would explore those later on my own. I highly recommend the Potter Trail Tour. All of the guides were fantastic, and even non-Potterheads (a technical term) had a great time. My cloak-wearing guide, Richard, met us at the Greyfriars Bobby Statue to hand out wands, and to teach us spells to turn traffic lights green. That’s right…I officially know spells.

We stopped at various places including Greyfriar’s Kirkyard, Spoon Café, The Elephant House, Victoria Street, and Potterow Port. However the tour did not include Edinburgh Castle, J.K. Rowling’s Handprints, and The Dog House.

The Dog House is an oddly decorated pub with a pretty cool vibe. Their chicken wings are notorious,
BUT the pub serves adult Butter Beer—aka special syrup mixed with Fosters.

When taking students to Edinburgh, I recommend taking them on the Potter Trail Tour. While it is a “magical” literature tour, it allows your students to remain engaged in the book series for only ninety minutes, while safely darting in and out of traffic.

2. Edinburgh Castle

Perched at the top of the Royal Mile is Edinburgh Castle.  A lasting symbol of Scottish independence,  the castle is a royal residence complete with crown jewels, various memorials, a national war museum, and my personal favorite—a dog cemetery. The views overlooking Edinburgh provide Instagram worthy shots while navigating through the castle’s passageways.  You can visit with students here three different ways: you can let your students roam; you can hire audio guides, or you can join a guided tour. In my experience, I have had the most success with audio guides. These allow your high school students to wander at their own pace, while also learning about the topics of interest to them.

3. Royal Mile

If there was ever a location fit for having your students roam freely, the Royal Mile is it! The Royal Mile is a historic road stretching from Edinburgh Castle down to Holyroodhouse, lined with museums, pubs, and shops. My favorite thing to do in places like this is to post up in a super cute café, and to turn my students loose in groups with a photography scavenger hunt. I typically hand out paper copies, set the time frame and parameters, and then send them off. My students always come back with hilarious adventures, amazing pictures, and a little too many souvenirs.

Interested in having a scavenger hunt created? Contact me here.

4.Palace of Holyroodhouse

This palace marks the end of the Royal Mile. Prior to being a palace, an abbey (part of a monastery), stood in its place. According to one legend, the palace was named “ holy rood” for a piece of the cross brought here as a relic by Queen Margaret. Whether or not that’s true, the palace is beautiful and is definitely worth a visit. My favorite parts were the abbey and the gardens.  Stunning.

5. Urban Hiking

Even though I’m a city girl at heart, I absolutely love the outdoors, and I frame my student trips around that. Edinburgh has two beautiful hikes that are perfect for both the crisp fall air and for student travel. Arthurs Seat is my favorite hike in the city. It’s an ancient volcano that sits 251 meters above sea level. The climb offers beautiful 360-degree views complete with gusty winds and lush landscape. Pack a lunch, and hangout at the top. Simply amazing.

For another great view of Edinburgh, head up to Calton Hill: the monument that rises up from the eastern end of New Town. As you head to Calton Hill, keep your eyes out for the gated entrance to the Old Calton Cemetery. There is so much history in this cemetery; it’s absolutely fantastic! You can even find a memorial topped with Abraham Lincoln. The views of Edinburgh are good in the cemetery, but the eerie feeling in the air is probably the best part about this location. I never saw people drift from each other when exploring. Students will love it. If time permits, continue down the road towards the entrance of Calton Hill.

Edinburgh is absolutely magical in October. Everything I found myself in front of, I wanted to photograph. Breathtakingly beautiful greens, blues, and grays, set the backdrop of this city rich in history. And while many of us are lucky enough to have a fall break, it’s time to start making Edinburgh a high school student destination!

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When people find out that I’m a teacher, I usually get this reaction:

 “If you’re a teacher, how do you travel so often?”—they don’t mean vacation time.

My students respond with much more honesty:

“Aren’t you supposed to be poor? How do you travel?”

To be fair, there are several misconceptions about travel and the travel industry. One of the most common misconceptions is cost. Traveling can be affordable, and can fit any lifestyle, even those with a more modest income.

It’s All About Choice

First and foremost before I give you the five ways to make traveling more affordable, you have to decide if you actually want to travel. I know, I know. You wouldn’t be here if you didn’t want to travel the world, but let’s be honest…in order to travel, you have to commit to some sort of “creative refinancing.”  You have to make choices.

It’s not about coming up with large sums of money. It’s the exact opposite, actually.

To travel is to skip past Starbucks.

To travel is to not buy all the new clothes.

To travel is to sometimes stay home on a Friday night.

Just like so many other things in your life, to travel is to invest in yourself. So while you may think traveling is out your reach, ask yourself: why not live off of 90 percent of your paycheck instead of the full 100 percent?

5 Tips For Affordable Travel

Now that you have officially decided to make the commitment and save, I present to you the five tips for affordable travel… from one budget friendly traveler to another.

1. Flight Trends & Miles Bonuses

One of the biggest reasons people hesitate to travel is because of airfare—rightfully so. Airfare can be the most expensive part of travel. And while I hate to be the bearer of bad news, there really isn’t a cheap day to book flights. However if planned accordingly, the sky can be optimized for budget.

• Flight Search Engines:

Search engines are the easiest way to find cheaper flights. My favorite search engines are Skyscanner.com and Kiwi.com. Skyscanner provides you with the cheapest route to you to your destination. The website scans all airlines in its search to provide the best possible price. Kiwi.com shows the cheapest destination for the searched time period. If not set on a location, Kiwi.com will provide budget friendly ideas. Keep in mind that the more flexible you are with travel dates, the more money you will save. It is cheaper to fly on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturday—try to plan accordingly

• Websites vs. Apps:

Airlines have become incredibly creative with their algorithms. Something as simple as where you search for your flights can have an impact on cost. Always check for airfare on the actual airline or search engine website itself, and then the airline or search engine app. There is almost always a difference in cost. Sometimes the difference is $50, and other times the difference is around $200.

• Miles and Rewards:

This may seem like a no brainer, but join an airline rewards program. I am a Delta Medallion member, so I book Delta or partner airlines to collect miles. As a SkyMiles member, travelers have access to SkyMiles deals. These are worldwide destinations that have flight specials throughout the year, typically during low tourist seasons. Pay attention to the travel period when booking, and enjoy a significantly discounted flight.

2. Credit Cards

Credit cards are the easiest way to “cash in” on travel deals. You spend money daily. Why not make spending work for you?

Like I always say, spend smarter not harder!

I have two travel cards, and they are my absolute favorites in the industry.

Chase Sapphire Preferred

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is amazing for travelers for a variety of reasons. There are no foreign transaction fees, and it is accepted everywhere. In addition users get 2X the points when the credit card is used on purchases regarding travel or dining at a restaurant. The rewards options are limitless. Most airlines and hotel chains can be booked using Chase Sapphire Rewards. Use this card most when traveling.

Currently there is a special! Use my link, and receive up to 50,000 bonus points if you spend $4,000 in the first three months.

American Express

If you are a Delta flyer, this card is perfect you! The American Express card is the best card to use at home when trying to gain reward benefits. There are no foreign transaction fees. In addition, users get 1 companion pass! That’s right, you and your favorite travel buddy can fly to any American domestic location for the price of one ticket plus taxes and fees. This card also allows for mileage boosters, and 2X the miles for every Delta purchase. 1 mile for every other purchase using your card. Use this card most while home.

Currently there is a special! Use my link and receive up to 60,000 Sky Miles ($600) after spending $2,000 in your first three months.

3. Pay Attention to Seasons

In the travel industry, the year is often divided into three seasons: peak season (June through August), shoulder season (April-May and September- October), and off- season (November through March).  Summer is the most popular time to travel for Americans. This creates an influx of American tourists in the world’s most popular vacation spots. However it’s important to remember that travel seasons are dependent upon the destination. When traveling on a budget, pay attention to destination specific seasons and plan accordingly. Here are a few examples:

• Asia:

Peak season and off-season revolve around weather. December to April is typically the dry season, and May to November is typically wet season, due to monsoons. Bali is a little different, as it sits near the equator. Bali’s dry season is May to September, whereas the wet season is October to April. While people may think that traveling during monsoon season is dangerous, there are actually several advantages for the budget friendly traveler.  Prices are lower for everything, and I mean everything—lodging, transportation, tours, etc. Most sites will be less crowded, which makes for the perfect Instagram post. The scenery is even more beautiful. Lush greenery, full canals, and active wildlife make for a serene experience.  Remember the dollar goes much further in Asia, so you can truly optimize your budget in these destinations. For more information on how to travel during rainy season, click here.

• Europe:

Americans flock to Europe in droves throughout their summer holiday leading to an increase in prices, wait times, and reservation availability. Many of the popular sites are completely overrun with tourists making it virtually impossible to fully enjoy your experience, or to take the perfect selfie. If you are looking to travel to Europe on a budget, travel during the off-season—November through March. The weather may be colder, but it’s totally worth it! Europe is simply magical in the winter. European currencies are stronger than the dollar, which can sometimes add a financial burden to your trip. Traveling in the off-season is another way to save some money.

• The Southern Hemisphere:

With an opposite weather pattern, destinations below the equator provide plenty of opportunity for those on a budget. Many of these locations are often overlooked increasing your chances for deals.

June is officially the start of winter in South Africa. While the weather is colder and the water rougher, winter is one of the best times for game drives and whale watching. June through September is also considered peak activity season for Great Whites, so cage diving is a must.  While the weather can be a bit unpredictable, prices are lower and tour availability increases—so if you’re flexible, you can actually experience this life changing opportunity at a much lower cost. South African Rand, like other African currencies, is not strong as the dollar. Not only will you save money due to off-season, but also because of currency conversion.

June and July are also great months to visit Chile and Argentina. Crowds are smaller and the weather is cooler. If trekking to Patagonia, journey with caution. Southern Patagonia is virtually quiet with most lodging closed and tours delayed due to weather. Atlantic Patagonia is lively with skiing, trekking, and animal watching. These locations are often overlooked because of weather conditions, and the currency conversion again works in your favor.

4. Lodging Loopholes

Let’s face it. When we travel, we spend more time out of our lodging than in them. So why waste a portion of your budget on something that you won’t completely utilize? An easy way to make travel more affordable is to give up a little bit of luxury when booking lodging. There’s a couple different ways you can do this:

• Location of Lodging

If you book lodging further out from the city, the price will be cheaper. The only difference is that you might need to use extra transportation to get to and from your area of stay.

• Type of Lodging

Look into different types or styles of lodging in the area that you are traveling to. Simply booking a hotel, may not actually be your best option.

In Iceland and New Zeland, campers are quite popular, and they function as a mode of transportation and a type of lodging.

In Southeast Asia, villas or homestays are extremely popular. Most of them are stunning, and easy to get to. In addition, the families that own them are beyond friendly and will help you with whatever it is that you need. AirBnB is a great tool to use in searching for these types of lodging.

Don’t be afraid to look at hostels in any location either. Hostels are generally safe, and they are the perfect way to meet people when traveling. Hostels are also very clean and cheap. I like to use Hostel World when booking this type of lodging. They have thorough reviews on hostels including amenities, security, and location.       

If you are 100% determined to stay in a hotel, perhaps book a lower quality option. Look into 3 star hotels. Your amenities may be different, but you will be able to save some money.

5. Currency Conversion

The fastest and easiest way to save money while traveling is to choose a destination where the dollar extends further. Southeast Asia, Africa, and South America are a few examples of such places. Each
contains beautiful countries with currencies weaker than the dollar. This provides you with an amazing vacation on a more relaxed cost.

Weaker currencies do not mean poor quality. Southeast Asia, Africa, and South America offer breathtaking views with enough adventure to keep your adrenaline pumping throughout your entire journey. In addition the food scene in these areas is unreal. Due to the dollar’s stronger value, you can enjoy some of the best food and wine in the world without breaking the bank.

Bonus Tip for Affordable Travel: Hire Out

As a teacher, I am constantly wondering where my time goes at the end of each day. Time is money. Optimizing your budget for travel can be time consuming.  Searching for airfare, tourist season trends, and lodging can be stressful. Sometimes the best way alleviate stress and to improve cost effectiveness is to have someone else plan the trip, and provide all the options.

Interested?  Send an email to Kristy@ventresadventures.com

Bon Voyage—on a budget!

The post Five Tips For Affordable Travel appeared first on Ventres Adventures.

Traveling during a destination’s rainy season or monsoon season is a relatively easy way to save money when venturing abroad. While there can be some challenges, adequate preparation and packing will have you dancing in the rain in no time.

If you are interested in purchasing any of the items below, please use the links provided. A percentage of your purchase will go directly to Ventre’s Adventures Student Travel Programs.

Luggage

When I am not traveling with students, I am typically backpacking through my destination of choice. The type of backpack I use can make or break my trip, especially during rainy season. I am a huge fan of Osprey Packs. They are the most durable packs that I have ever used, and they have a lifetime warranty.

The two Osprey backpacks that I recommend to everyone are the Osprey Men’s Atmos AG 65 backpack, and the Osprey Women’s Aura AG 65 backpack.

          

Even though most backpacks are made with quick dry material, I would still recommend extra protection during the rainy season. A rain cover is perfect for the unexpected downpour, and an Osprey Airporter is for the accidental water and/or liquids spilled when your backpack travels through the airport.

           

Jackets

When deciding on the proper rain jacket to pack, there are a few aspects to consider. The first is quality. You want to make sure that your jacket can withstand the elements of your destination. For the most part, that means wind and rain resistance. The second aspect to consider is packability. You want to make sure that your jacket can easily fold up into a small, packable object. My two favorite jackets that I recommend are made by The North Face. While they can be expensive, the company offers great warranties for their products.

For men I recommend The North Face Resolve 2 Jacket, and for women I recommend The North Face Venture 2 Jacket. Both run true to size. If you like your jackets to be bigger, make sure you size up. Both jackets are wind and rain resistant, and they fold up into their pockets for easy packability.

           

Women’s Shoes

Cold & Rainy

When venturing to cold and rainy destinations, packing the proper shoe can be challenging. You need to make sure that your shoe has solid traction, thermal capability, and water resistance. In addition, packing bulky shoes such as these can be a pain. Typically I recommend wearing this shoes on airplanes and other travel days because they are difficult to fit in a backpack. In this category, Hunter and Sorel reign supreme.

Sorel Boots are my absolute favorite. Not only do they last forever, but also many of them already have thermal lining embedded in them. Sorel Boots have improved traction allowing them to be a safer option on slick surfaces. In addition, they are fashionable adding the perfect finishing touch to any outfit. Sorel runs true to size.

                       

Hunter Boots last for years, and they come in a bunch of super cute colors. They are also available in tall or short variations. What’s important to remember, though, is that these boots are not intended for active outdoor activity. They are great for strolling around on rainy days. If your destination is cold and rainy, be sure to purchase some thermal socks for your boots. Hunter runs true to size.

                       

Warm & Rainy

When venturing to warm and rainy destinations, packing the proper shoe is actually pretty easy. The type or types of shoe(s) needed depend(s) on your level of outdoor activity that you will be pursuing. Flip flops are typically not ideal unless you are casually roaming in the rain or going to the beach. I recommend three different options.

If you are going to be traveling through jungles or rice fields, you need a hiking shoe. I have provided two of my favorites. Some women feel more comfortable having their ankles covered, so the Columbia boot is a great option. If you are hiking in wet terrain, I recommend the Merrell hiking shoe. Both of these recommendations are water and terrain proof, meaning that they will withstand the elements of travel.

           

If you are simply walking around a warm and rainy area, my go to shoe of choice is actually the Chaco. While I find them to be absolutely hideous, they are the best option for warm and rainy travel. They are also great on boats, and are the easiest shoes to dry and pack.

Camera Gear

If you’re like me when you travel, then you probably take thousands of pictures abroad. Rain and moisture can ruin your camera gear if you’re not careful. I provided a few items that allow safekeeping of your camera, while still taking high quality pictures.

The camera cover enables protection of your camera when shooting in the rain. I personally find it to be quite annoying to have on your camera, BUT if you are shooting outdoor landscape in the rain, it is the perfect accessory.

The Nikon and Canon lens hood, to me, is the most important and easy to use. You can pop the hood onto your lens, and it will block the rain from creating white spots on your pictures.

If you’re looking for an overall high quality water resistant camera, the GoPro Session is my personal favorite. It can withstand all of the elements, while also capturing high quality pictures and videos. A word of caution. Just because the camera is water resistant does not mean that water does not adhere to the lens. You still need to properly clean off the GoPro Session, just as you would with any other camera.

                      

Miscellaneous

There are a few other items that I found quite necessary when traveling through rainy season. I didn’t realize I needed them until I was there. Hopefully you find enough room in your backpack to include these items as well.

When traveling to warm and rainy destinations, mosquitos are out in full form. Typically bug repellent is more expensive abroad than back home, especially in areas where there are high volumes of mosquitos. I use all Sawyer products when I venture outdoors, but their bug repellent is my personal favorite. Sawyer bug repellent contains thirty percent Deet, and the repellent is in lotion form. This means that you can carry it on an airplane.

Another item of usefulness is the floating dry bags. I didn’t realize I needed them until all of my clothes were soaked in South America. The problem is that once your clothes get soaked in a humid destination, it is virtually impossible to get them to dry completely. This means that eventually they may start to smell….gross. You do not want your wet, smelly clothes to mix with your dry, clean clothes. These dry bags are the perfect solution for that scenario.

             

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