Question:
Two of us are planning to travel to Amsterdam next month. If anyonewould have any suggestions on affordable places to stay, please let meknow! Do they still have the "Youth hostiles" that I remember hearingabout?

Answer: They sure do, lots and lots of them. Pick up a copy of any of the budgetguidebooks (Rough Guide, Berkeley, Lonely Planet, etc.) and photocopy theaccomodation pages. When you show up in Amsterdam, get a map, look up thelocations, and start hunting. In May you'll have no problem finding a room.There are at least 20 very cheap places ($10-15/night for a bed in a dorm)within a 5 minutes' walk of Centraal Station.

Out of habit, I usually stay at Bob's Youth Hostel on NieuwezijdsVorburgwaal, which is relatively well-run. It's not in the thick of thered-light area, which may be an advantage or a disadvantage depending onwhat you're looking for. Last time I stayed there (August 1997) it was 23guilders a night, or US$11.