Question:
My family and I will visit Amsterdam in August and I would like to arrange a tour, half-day or so, with a knowledgeable guide. Does anyone have any suggestions for such a guide or service? Thanks.

Answer: bdon't bother with a guide...amsterdam is easy...get a map, mark your hotel on it, note how you get there from centraal station. maps are everywhere, including at every tramstop. take one of the boat tours! amsterdam is built around it's canals, if you understand the canals you'll do fine. stop at the VVV at centraal station for maps and walking tours...circletraam 20 is pretty neat..it goes in a big loop by like 99% of the places you'd want to go....get a strippenkaart/daagkaart for everybody. I like renting a bike at centraal station for the duration of my stay, once you get used to it a bike is a great way to get around amsterdam.

have you been to the netherlands board of tourism's page? http://www.visitholland.com/ or if you need info about the livelier aspects of amsterdam (in a general non porno format)...you know the things that everybody really wants to know about but doesn't really want to come out and ask about...like the red light district or the coffee shops... got to http://www.boomchicago.nl/ which is put up by an english language improv comedy group...but good reliable and pretty current info.