Holland is one of the most beautiful and interesting countries in Europe, which is known not only for its history and architecture, but also for its modern views on culture, which attracts a considerable number of tourists. Contrary to popular belief, making an independent trip to Holland for Russian tourists is not so difficult, but you need to take care of some things in advance.
Necessary
- - visa,
- - air tickets,
- - Hotel reservation.
Instructions
Step 1
The first step is to obtain a visa. If you already have a multiple-entry Schengen visa issued by any other European country, then you do not need to do an additional Dutch one. But if you do not have a visa, then it is better to contact the consulate of the Netherlands, especially since this country is known for willingly issuing visas to tourists from Russia. You will need to collect the entire set of documents that the consulate asks to provide. If you prepare all the papers, then there is nothing to worry about: Holland does not refuse applicants who have everything in order with their papers.
Step 2
One of the problems that independent travelers face is ways to save money, because Holland is not a budget country. Flights are usually an important expense item. It is recommended that you buy them yourself by looking for options on sites such as skyscanner. If you value speed, then choose direct flights, but this can cost a little more. For those who want to save money, we can recommend options with a transfer. Do not forget to check the websites of low-cost airlines such as airBaltic or EasyJey, they can find very competitive prices. You can also fly to any other European city located near the Netherlands, and then take a train or bus.
Step 3
You can find the hotel that is most suitable for your purposes on sites such as booking.com. There you can find a variety of options in terms of prices, comfort and location, there are often promotions with which you can sometimes save up to 50% of the cost of the hotel. Booking a hotel is one of the basic requirements for obtaining a visa, but if you already have a visa, you can try to find accommodation already on the spot, just walking around the districts of the city you like. Remember that during the peak tourist season, all places in the best hotels may already be booked. Most of the hotels in Holland are located in old castles or just in old houses, the rooms may not be as spacious as we would like. Nevertheless, the amazing atmosphere that reigns in such places more than compensates for some of the cramped conditions.
Step 4
Public transport in Holland is very well developed. You can get around the cities by metro, buses and trams. There are various daily, weekly and monthly passes, so if you are staying in the country long enough, it makes sense to find the one that suits the conditions. You can move between settlements by trains or electric trains, which are quite expensive, so you can rent a car, it will cost you much less in the end, especially if you are traveling with your family or company. Be careful with parking lots, inside the city they are always paid. To see the sights of the city, you can rent a bike, it is very affordable, and the developed cycling infrastructure in Holland will make such movement as comfortable as possible.
Step 5
One of the significant expense items in the Netherlands is food. So, a dinner in a restaurant for two will hardly cost you less than 100 euros, and lunch in an ordinary-looking cafe will surprise you with a bill of no less than 50 euros. If there is a kitchen where you are staying, then you can buy groceries in supermarkets and cook yourself, it is relatively cheap.
