The Dutch have a century-old love affair with the bicycle that's clearly evident today from the extensive network of bicycle paths that stretch into each of its twelve provinces. While some bike paths run parallel to country roads or small highways, others go where cars cannot: through the woods and dense brush of Holland's countryside. Routes are easy to follow with signposts and mile markers and maps are available at every local bookstore and tourist center, allowing you to choose your destination and just pedal away. Bike rentals are available everywhere, too, even local train stations. You do have to pay attention to bike traffic codes, though, and it's up to you to find your way over there. Fortunately, travel providers have some great bike or no bike deals, and in conjunction with the last gasp of Rembrandt's 400th birthday this year, there are still a few low-cost specials left too.
Delta Airlines (tel. 800/221-1212; www.delta.com) has round-trip flights from New York to Amsterdam this fall costing $418, plus security taxes and departure fees. (You need to book this fare by October 9, 2006.) Expect pre-tax fares to drop to around $384 this winter from New York and to cost approximately $475 from Midwestern gateways such as Cincinnati or Chicago. Book fares 14 days in advance to lock in the lowest prices. Intratours (tel. 866/952-0662, www.intratours.com) has some Internet specials for the fall to Amsterdam. Roundtrip fares are available from New York for $458, Washington D.C. and Philadelphia for $505, Chicago for $525 and Houston for $533. These fares are without taxes and fees and for midweek departures with Saturday night stays available from November 1 to December 14, 2006 and January 10 to March 31, 2007.
Look to Four Winds Specialty Tours (tel. 509/967-3448; www.4windstours.com) for dynamic bicycle trips through the Netherlands. While most bike trips are recommended for the spring and summer months, this bicycle-minded tour provider offers tulip tours, castle tours, bike and barge trips and city tours that go from Amsterdam to Brussels and a Rembrandt tour, among others. The Rembrandt Tour, which picks up again in April, costs approximately $1,085 for the eight-day land-only double occupancy package. The journey goes from Amsterdam to Rotterdam, Delft, Haarlem and Leiden. While museum fees are not included in the price of the tour, seven nights' accommodations with daily breakfast, a packed lunch and three-course dinners are. Also included is the use of a 24-speed Gazelle Medeo bicycle with panniers, the constant attention of a tour leader and detailed route descriptions and maps.
For a bike tour departing before the coming spring thaw, Van Gogh Tours (tel. 800/435-6192; www.vangoghtours.com) has a six-day five-night tour of Northern Holland departing daily through October 31, 2006. The trip visits a Wind Mill Museum, the cheese-centric town of Edam, and the dunes, dikes and woods of the Northern Netherlands. Accommodations are at three and four-star hotels, and dinner is included every night but one. Total cost of the trip is $825 for double occupancy travel, with an additional bike rental fee of $85. This self-guided tour comes with detailed maps. Don't let the self-guided aspect scare you: the Dutch are extremely friendly and love to assist travelers.
Non-bikers need not hunt far for a low-priced tour to Holland. Gate One Travel (tel. 800/682-3333; www.gateonetravel.com) is putting Amsterdam on sale offering a six-night air and land package for just $599. The $599 price is available from November 30 to December 11, 2006 and January 2 to February 21, 2006. The budget-level accommodations are at the Best Western Lancaster, located in a quiet and tree-lined canal residential section close to the Artis Zoo and Westerman Park. The package includes airfare out of New York, daily breakfast and four-nights' accommodations. Airline security fees and departure taxes are additional. Gate One also has an art tour in conjunction with Rembrandt's 400th birthday. The six-day tour to Amsterdam with Wednesday departures through December 2006 starts at $749. In addition to round-trip airfare, the price covers all accommodations, daily breakfast, admission to the Rijksmuseum and a canal cruise.
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