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

Answer: don't bother with a guide...amsterdam is easy...get a map, mark yourhotel on it, note how you get there from centraal station. maps areeverywhere, including at every tramstop. take one of the boat tours!amsterdam is built around it's canals, if you understand the canalsyou'll do fine. stop at the VVV at centraal station for maps andwalking tours...circletraam 20 is pretty neat..it goes in a big loopby like 99% of the places you'd want to go....get astrippenkaart/daagkaart for everybody. I like renting a bike atcentraal station for the duration of my stay, once you get used to ita 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 livelieraspects of amsterdam (in a general non porno format)...you know thethings that everybody really wants to know about but doesn't reallywant to come out and ask about...like the red light district or thecoffee shops... got to http://www.boomchicago.nl/ which is put up byan english language improv comedy group...but good reliable and prettycurrent info.