During my 14-day stay in Holland, I would like to spend about a week fully away from Amsterdam. I was considering Haarlem. But I read that Arnhem is very nice, as well. Three questions please:
Is it correct that there is a direct train from Amsterdam Central Station to Central Station Arnhem taking about 1-hour and schedule of two trains per hour?
While realizing it's more expense, what are the advantages (e.g., stops in towns along the way) of renting a car from Amsterdam to Arnhem, and return?
My thought is by having a car in Arnhem I would have a more enjoyable opportunity to explore the surrounding area: any recommendations on two or three day trips, or an overnight trip, destinations to explore from Arnhem with a rental car?
Haarlem is a far more interesting city than Arnhem, but the surrounding countryside near Arnhem is nicer. Arnhem is on the southern side of the National park de Hoge Veluwe,
There are two trains per hour from Arnhem to Amsterdam, one is direct and takes 1h 10 mins. The other one means change at Utrecht. Return ticket €25.
Why don't you stay one week in Haarlem and one week in Arnhem? Use public transport when staying in Haarlem / Amsterdam. But rent a car when in Arnhem. I don't know anything about cars or renting cars so I can't advise
--- “I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.” Robert Louis Stevenson
What do you think of a two or three day trip down to Maastricht versus Arnhem? I've heard Maastricht is far more interesting. I'm still going to stay in Haarlem even during my day visits to Amsterdam. But if I'm going down to Maastricht I need a recommendation on a hotel. I think that I'm getting a pretty good deal at a decent place in Haarlem: The Joops Hotel at 87 euros/night. But all hotels in Maastrcht appear high-end.
Joops hotel sounds very good, very reasonable price.
Maastricht is a very pleasant city and close to the German and Belgian borders. The countryside is different from the rest of the Netherlands, as it is hilly.
