13 practical tips on making the most out of your Amsterdam trip

Following my post on the perfect 3-day itinerary on what to do and see in Amsterdam, here are a few more practical tips to make the most out of your trip:

- My first debate upon arriving Amsterdam was whether to do the heavily promoted IAMSTERDAM city pass. This really depends on how many museums/paid sites you are going to visit. For reference, a 48-hour pass for the tram that runs through the city costs 12.5 euros. As Amsterdam is so small, the tram will likely cover most of your transportation needs. Using the 48 hours pass as an example, unless you are going to visit four or more museums/sites in 48 hours (remember the Anne Frank House and Rikjsmuseum are not covered), you may end up paying less without the pass.

- If you can, visit Amsterdam from late March to mid-May as this is when the famous tulips blossom and the Keukenhof Tulips Garden opens. Hotels can be quite expensive during this peak season though. For example, I usually set my hotel budget at around US$150-$200 per night and I was only able to book a very basic, 3-star hotel at Frederiksplein near the Museumplein area this time. But the beauty of the tulips is totally worth it!

- Try to visit well before mid-May. A friend reported traveling to Amsterdam a little after mid-May last year when the Keukenhof was still opened for visitors but most the tulips were already wilted and cut off. That would have been a major bummer!

- Getting to Keukenhof: Take the direct bus from Museumplein (right outside of the Diamond Factory) to Schiphol Airport OR the train to Schiphol Airport from Amsterdam Central. You will see a stand selling combo tickets (garden entry + round trip bus tickets). The combo tickets cost 24 euros per person. This is also where you will board the bus. The bus ride takes about 45 minutes.

- Depending on weather, you can head over to Keukenhof at around noon, thereby leaving the morning for museum/sights that might have been closed after you visit Keukenhof. The sun sets only after 8:30 pm in the spring and summer months so there is plenty of time to enjoy the tulips. Budget 6-7 hours for the whole trip (2 hours for transportation per way and 2-3 hours for visiting).

- If you are keen on seeing the Anne Frank House, book your tickets online two months prior (i.e. decide on your Amsterdam trip two months prior). I only decided to visit Amsterdam three weeks before my trip and by then, online tickets for Anne Frank House were completely sold out for the days I was in. I tried different dates and found that tickets were only available exactly two months after. The on-site queue that opens after 3:30 pm will waste you at least two hours.

- The canal cruise is available at multiple spots in the city (Museumplein, Amsterdam Central Station and Jordaan/next to Anne Frank House). The cruise lasts for an hour and was a great way to see the city and canals (Amsterdam is the Venice of the north with many canals and bridges throughout the city) and gain an overall understanding of the city. That said, if I was not traveling with a small baby and if it wasn't 3 degrees outside, I would probably do a biking tour or walking tour to understand the city. Amsterdam locals live on bikes so it would be a great way to experience and explore the city.

- I wasn't sure if it was due to visiting during peak season but it might be a good idea to also book the Van Gogh museum tickets online in advance. I tried to get tickets onsite on Day 1 but tickets for the day was sold out before 10:30 am. I went back to the hotel at night trying to book tickets for the next day but it was also sold out but luckily, tickets were available in the morning of my Day 3.

- Despite windmills being an icon of Holland, the Zaans Schaan Windmills Village, about 40 minutes away from Amsterdam, did not seem very heavily marketed so it might be easy to forget including this in your trip. The good news is that this village is free of charge (which MIGHT explain why this place was not visible in promotions). Anyway, it is worth a visit and I appreciated seeing some old and cultural side of Holland.

- Getting to Zaans Schaan Windmills: Go to the Amsterdam Central Station. Cross over to the other end to the G terminal and take the bus no. 391. The bus ride takes around 40 minutes.

- I did not go for the Heineken Experience but my husband lived in Amsterdam for a year and recommended the rooftop bar and the fun interactive games. Great for beer lovers!

- The Royal Palace is great if you love history although if you expect to see some European royal grandeur, this may not be it. Admission is only 10 euros so it's definitely worth going in any case. Don't forget to take the audio guide included in the admission. This is essential for understanding the history and development of the royal family of Holland.

- Check the website of the Royal Palace before your trip to ensure it's opened during your visit. The Palace is often closed for official events.