12 de January de 2024

Expan Experience: Touring Amsterdam, London and Paris

How many days are enough to explore Europe's major cities? Probably, after visiting the Old Continent, your answer will be a lifetime. In a matter of hours, with pleasant train journeys, your dream of visiting capitals like Amsterdam, London, and Paris will become a reality.

In this edition of Expan Experience , Fabiola Guzmán , travel advisor in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Oceania, reveals details of her 10-day trip to the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and France, enchanted by the beauty of Amsterdam, vibrant London and surprising Paris, with the acclaimed Disneyland where she discovered the magic of Disney .

From Amsterdam to London, from London to Paris

"My trip started in Amsterdam. I spent three nights in Amsterdam, which seemed like a good amount of time to get to know it well. You don't need more, but if you're really interested in art, I would definitely allow more days to visit all the museums."

Amsterdam isn't very big; you can see the sights quickly, and everything is within walking distance or accessible by public transport. It's also well-connected by trams. The typical Dutch way to get around is by bicycle . It's a very clean, orderly, and safe city. Walking around at night and seeing the city lights on is incredible.

I spent three nights in London. There's a bit more to see, and there are also many museums, which are free, so if you're also interested in art, I'd recommend it. At night, it's great for exploring the neighborhoods and seeing the local sights.

Public transport works very well, especially the Underground. You don't need to be where all the action is, because it really depends on your interests and where you want to stay. London doesn't have a single center; each neighborhood has its own hub . There's a lot going on everywhere, and you can save some money by staying in the suburbs.

Then I went to Paris for four nights, which seems like the minimum for a trip to Paris because there's so much to do. It's a much bigger city; there are so many more things to do . There are also many neighborhoods to choose from, depending on the interests of the travelers, the type of trip—whether it's for a couple, a family, or by age group.

Choosing where to stay works similarly to London; there isn't just one central hub. Each neighborhood can have its own center, depending on the traveler's preferences. Some people even stay at Disneyland Paris, but I found that a full-day tour is sufficient.

A short trip to Bruges from Amsterdam

"Well, I spent three nights in Amsterdam, but one of the days I went to Bruges, Belgium . The journey took about three hours. Bruges is an incredible little town; it seems like something out of a fairy tale. The transfers to and from Amsterdam can feel tiring, but it's something I would highly recommend."

Bruges is known for its chocolate ; it produces a lot of chocolate and a wide variety of beers —so many beers of all colors and flavors. Besides being, as I mentioned, beautiful like something out of a fairy tale. So I would definitely recommend taking that trip to Bruges.

In Amsterdam, as I was saying, everything is very compact. Around Dam Square , one of the city's main squares, there are many restaurants serving different cuisines from various countries. What I noticed most in Amsterdam was that they're huge fans of French fries.

Of the must-sees in Amsterdam, I'd say the flower market, Rembrandt Square (one of the most famous), the Anne Frank House, and the Jewish Quarter . It's important to book well in advance if you want to visit museums and such, because it's not a city where you can just wing it when it comes to tickets; they sell out very, very quickly . So, don't just decide to go to Amsterdam in two weeks and buy tickets—you won't find any because museums are in such high demand.

Vondelpark , which is like a kind of Central Park, is one of the largest parks there. The best thing to do is rent a bike and explore it. The Red Light District is undoubtedly very popular, very popular indeed… where prostitution is promoted, and it's legal there. It's also recommended to take some day trips to nearby towns near Amsterdam, where you can see the windmills, or to Edam , famous for its variety of cheeses.

What I liked most about Amsterdam is that it's very clean and very safe. And at night it looks very beautiful, lit up, with the typical slightly tilted houses and the canals running by .

Wonderful London

"In London, we got around more by bus than on foot. It all starts with a general city tour to learn where each neighborhood is located. The most recommended areas, which aren't too expensive, are Paddington and Marylebone . They're very well connected by public transport and there's a wide variety of hotels at different price points. King's Cross has a vibrant nightlife and also offers a range of hotels."

From London we visited Windsor and Oxford , very beautiful cities. In Oxford, they show you the world-renowned universities. They are incredibly beautiful cities that you won't see anywhere else… The architecture and infrastructure are very, very beautiful. Very… It was very colonial.

Soho, Covent Garden, and Leicester Square are ideal for theater lovers. There are also restaurants and nightlife. That's the central part. South Bank and Southwark are close to attractions like the London Eye and Tate Modern . There's a good balance between price and location there. Kensington and Chelsea used to be the most exclusive areas, close to museums, luxury shops, and high-end accommodation options.

Piccadilly Circus, London — Piccadilly Circus.

There's also good transport links near Buckingham Palace and a variety of accommodations. We drove past the palace and they were just about to do something at Parliament. They were taking the King out and there was a parade, and it was like, 'wow,' with the soldiers doing a march. It was really beautiful. Buckingham Palace is something you don't see everywhere, and being there is impressive. Big Ben too.

Paris, the city of light

"We crossed from London to Paris via the English Channel on a ferry, and it's quite quick, taking about an hour. All the regular tours in Paris begin with an evening city tour to see the city lit up. The Eiffel Tower puts on a light show at 9:00 PM, and it lasts about five minutes."

We visited the Place de la Concorde, the Opéra Garnier, the Champs-Élysées, the Arc de Triomphe, the Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighborhood , among others. Parisian neighborhoods like Le Marais are bustling with activity, art, fashion, and nightlife, and are close to Notre Dame and the Centre Pompidou . Notre Dame is still under construction, so it's not open to the public.

One of the most sought-after neighborhoods for accommodation is Saint-Germain-des-Prés . It's a bohemian and chic neighborhood with many cafes, and it's close to the Louvre Museum and the Luxembourg Gardens . The Latin Quarter of Paris is youthful and also full of very affordable bars and restaurants, near the Pantheon. The Champs-Élysées , in the 8th arrondissement, is the most luxurious neighborhood. It's touristy because it's close to major shops, and that avenue leads directly to the Arc de Triomphe.

A whole day in Versailles won't be enough; you won't see everything, because there are thousands of hectares of gardens. The museum is the quickest way to explore, but you could also spend about two hours visiting several rooms. It's very flexible.

Paris is connected by a complete metro system, covering the entire city. Despite its size, it's connected by all means, including the RER, which is like a kind of metro-train. Paris has a huge range of hotels, covering all price points. And because it's so big, depending on the passenger's preferences and where they want to stay, we can assign them to a hotel in their preferred neighborhood. But there's something for everyone, something for every budget.

At night, the Moulin Rouge , the most popular cabaret in Paris, is a highlight. It means Red Mill, and it puts on a fantastic show, similar to Broadway, perhaps. There are many tables, all of which include half a bottle of sparkling wine, and you can decide whether you want dinner or not. But all tickets always include half a bottle of sparkling wine. The show is constantly changing; there's a presentation, like a simulation of Aladdin, and then the music changes and they put on another show.

The big surprise of the Expan Experience: Disneyland Paris

"We also went to Disneyland in Paris. Disneyland also has accommodation inside the park, but one day is usually enough . It's similar to the parks in Orlando. Obviously, it's much smaller in terms of attractions, but it also has two parks, including Universal. It's about a 15-minute walk between the two parks."

What's different about it compared to Orlando is that they said if you left a park you couldn't go back in, or that it worked with reservations. Not here. Here you could go in and out as many times as you wanted to either park.

The rides were amazing too. The Ratatouille ride, for example, really caught my attention because it was so dynamic. It was in 3D, and when it went through the kitchen section, they threw out spices, fruit aromas, and things like that. I found that incredibly entertaining. There were about three really action-packed, adrenaline-pumping rides that were truly 'wow'. But the rest were more about the visuals, the magic of Disney, and geared more towards kids.

Disneyland has a closing show that lasts over half an hour. Those who had been to Orlando said they liked the show in Paris better because it was longer and included fireworks.

Everything in the park is in French, and they also translate it into English . In fact, I found that they spoke much more Spanish than English in Paris . At one point, a guide said something like, "If they don't understand you, don't even try with English."

Some tips for this adventure

"In Amsterdam, plan well . Check carefully what you want to visit because museum tickets sell out incredibly fast. And get around by bike, tram, bus, or train. You can cycle everywhere and walk too. You can pay for everything with debit and credit cards in all three cities . Even the London Underground used to be payable by card; you didn't need a ticket or any special card, nothing."

I wouldn't recommend carrying too much cash, although it's always necessary to have some because there are always places that don't accept cards . It's important to remember that in London you have to exchange money for pounds sterling.

You can also get to Disneyland Paris by metro ; there's no need to take a transfer or anything. I would recommend staying until closing time. The metro runs until the park closes. As for lines at Disney, all the rides displayed the estimated wait time . Some had 10 minutes, some 20, and others 30. There's also an app where you can check which rides had the shortest lines, and some even allow you to book them.

To plan a trip to Europe, just for the Amsterdam area, I would recommend booking about 5-6 months in advance . June through August are peak season. It's also very hot, so I would recommend September, October, and November, which are already autumn.

It's also important to bring an umbrella or buy one there, as it often rains in these cities . They also sell raincoats, which are much simpler and make walking easier. I bought one , and actually, it rained the day we went to Disneyland, and my friends were annoyed because they only had umbrellas. And there I was, comfortable in my raincoat, going on all the rides .