Latest news with #AmsterdamAirportSchiphol
Courier-Mail
10 hours ago
- Courier-Mail
How to deal with lost luggage: Always take this photo before flying
Escape's Doc Holiday, Dilvin Yasa, answers your travel-related questions. On a recent holiday, our luggage was mistakenly sent to another city where it remained for five days, but our claim for compensation for out-of-pocket expenses has been denied by the airline. What are our options? I was quite annoyed when I read your email. There's nothing worse than 'Sorry, but there's nothing we can do' from a service provider. So annoyed, in fact, that I emailed my contacts at the airline right away to understand why your claim was denied. Long story short, it seems wires were crossed during communications between the two airlines operating the codeshare, but you'll be happy to know that the issue has now been resolved and they will be in touch this week to reimburse you for your out-of-pocket expenses. X Contacting the airline in question is always the first step in situations like these, but it's helpful to remember that travellers can also make a claim for delayed luggage through their travel insurance, provided this is included in their policy. A claim can usually be made 12 hours after a bag first goes AWOL and this type of benefit (designed to cover the cost of day-to-day essentials such as toiletries and underwear) is generally excess free. Of course, you'll need to show your insurer you've first tried to resolve the issue with your airline and provide them with any relevant documentation that you've shared with the airlines. You'll also need to provide copies of the receipts for any essentials you wish to claim. If reimbursement through your insurer remains fruitless, you can take your complaint to the Airline Customer Advocate which provides a free and independent service to eligible customers of major Australian airlines by facilitating the resolution of unresolved complaints about airline services. You can also file a report with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. The ACCC will not resolve individual complaints, but the collective data from such reports informs what they investigate and what enforcement action they'll take. Yep, filling out the form is all about playing the long game. This is a timely reminder to photograph your open luggage before checking it in. You're always going to be asked for descriptions and/or proof that you own, and were travelling with, the items you are claiming (in lost baggage claims), so taking a few snaps can take a few stressful steps out of the equation. It's about an hour's drive from Rotterdam Cruise Terminal to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. I'm taking a cruise that ends in Rotterdam. Is it better for me to fly to London to get back to Sydney? I'm not young and don't want to take my luggage on a train to a more major airport to get home. No need to fly to another major airport; it's about an hour's drive from Rotterdam Cruise Terminal to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, or with a direct high-speed train from Rotterdam Central Station, it takes just over 30 minutes. I know you said 'no trains please' but it could actually be the easiest option for you because the Dutch rail operator NS International offers a variety of services for passengers with limited mobility, including luggage assistance and help boarding and disembarking. You'll just need to let them know you need help at least 24 hours before boarding the train by calling 030 235 78 22. Don't forget that your cruise line is likely to offer either a straight shuttle service to Schiphol, or a shore excursion which finishes at the airport too. Holland America, for example, has an Easy Rotterdam with Airport Transfer shore excursion you can book which will take in the city's top sights before getting you to the airport in time for your flight. Private transfers are also available to book (check out Transfeero and Suntransfers), although prices vary widely depending on the company you book with. You also have the option to spend a few days in London before making your way home. If you're keen to avoid travelling to nearby Amsterdam altogether, you can fly to London City from Rotterdam The Hague Airport where you can catch the train across to Heathrow (the Heathrow Express makes the journey in around 50 minutes, if you're pressed for time). You also have the option to spend a few days in London before making your way home. If you'd prefer to tack on a few extra days of holiday time but would prefer a somewhat cheaper destination, you could also consider flying from Rotterdam The Hague Airport to either Lisbon or Istanbul. Both cities offer plenty of sights to see at a significantly lower price point than London and flying with Qatar Airways or Turkish Airlines is always a wonderful experience. Something to think about. Need help? Doc Holiday is on duty to answer your travel questions. Email docholiday@ Personal replies are unfortunately not possible. Originally published as Doc Holiday's expert guide to dealing with lost luggage
Daily Mirror
06-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Mystery over Brit, 34, who vanished in Amsterdam after leaving pals moments before flight
Ryan Jones, 34, had been visiting the Dutch city with pals and was close to boarding a flight at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol when he said he had to retrieve his travel documents, and didn't return A mystery has gripped the Netherlands after a British man left his group of friends just moments before they were due to fly home. Ryan Jones, 34, and his pals were at Amsterdam Airport Schipol preparing to fly back to the UK on May 4 when Ryan told them he'd forgotten to bring his travel documents and needed to fetch them. He walked away from the party at 2.17pm, and apart from a brief call, that was the last time they heard from him. Cops in the Netherlands have launched a manhunt, and an appeal asking for help tracking down a "large man, 6'3" tall, possibly wearing a white baseball cap and has a tattoo on his right forearm". This is not the first time the Netherlands has been put in this position, with Brit travellers regularly going missing in the European city, which is most famous for its cannabis cafes, red light district, and popular party scene. One of the most famous and tragic cases involved a 20-year-old Brit called Thomas Delafay, also known as Taiga Akabane, whose disappearance shocked the UK for a number of weeks before his body was found in a ditch. Thomas had been treated as a "high risk missing person" after he went missing while in Holland - where he and his boyfriend were visiting a friend. Dutch police launched a search operation to track down the 20-year-old "fun and outgoing" young man, but tragically found his body in a ditch close to where he was last seen at Dijklander Hospital. Thomas went missing after suffering a reported psychotic break and experiencing hallucinations, according to his sister Holly Delafay. Taking to Facebook, Holly shared her grief, saying her sould was "crushed" and her heart "broken". Her post continued: "We will miss you so much, I don't know what to do with my life now that you're not in it. I feel so lost without my baby brother. "You mean the absolute world to me and I'm so lost and broken without you. You're my best friend. I love you so so much. Fly high and rest easy baby bro." She went on to thank everyone who helped by sharing posts about Thomas's disappearance. She said: "We want to thank everyone who helped to find my brother and those who did there upmost and went above and beyond to offer their help and resources to find him. We love you all so so much.".
Wales Online
06-05-2025
- Wales Online
Ditch Amsterdam and head to this less crowded city instead with a direct flight from Cardiff
Ditch Amsterdam and head to this less crowded city instead with a direct flight from Cardiff This cool Dutch city is a cheaper and less crowded alterantive to party hard Amsterdam Utrecht has all the beauty of Amsterdam but just a fraction of the crowds and, to some extent, the cost. (Image: Portia Jones ) For anyone who has been on a stag do in Amsterdam, you know the drill. Try to find a cheap bar, load up on beer, wander the canals looking for clubs, party hard into the night, wake up with a deathly hangover and repeat. If you want to break free of the Dam's blowout cycle, there's a more chilled-out alternative to the hedonistic Dutch capital. Amsterdam is renowned for its historic canals, vibrant nightlife, and cultural attractions, and has long been a top tourist destination, welcoming up to 20 million tourists a year. Its immense popularity has led to overcrowding, with the local government taking steps to manage mass tourism and address issues related to unruly visitors. As a result, many travellers are seeking city break alternatives that offer similar Dutch charm without the crowds and high prices. Utrecht, the fourth-largest city in the Netherlands, is fast emerging as a cheaper and less crowded alternative to party-hard Amsterdam and is easily reached by plane and train. KLM flies daily from Cardiff Airport to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, with an average flight time of one hour and fifteen minutes. From Schiphol, trains to Utrecht take about 30 minutes and depart every 15 minutes, and the train station is situated directly below the airport. Gotta love those excellent European rail links. Just a short hop from Amsterdam, Utrecht shares many similarities with the capital. It's often called 'Mini Amsterdam' due to its pretty canals and well-preserved traditional Dutch architecture. It has all the beauty of Amsterdam but just a fraction of the crowds and, to some extent, the cost. Here's our guide on skipping Amsterdam this summer and head to uber-cool Utrecht instead. There are fewer tourists As a predominantly university city, Utrecht has much less clog shops and heavy tourist traffic than Amsterdam (Image: Portia Jones ) As a predominantly university city, Utrecht has much less clog shops and heavy tourist traffic than Amsterdam, making it a more pleasant place to visit, especially in the busy high season. By contrast, the historic streets of Amsterdam are rammed with snap-happy tourists buying stroopwafel, posing at landmarks, clogging up the canal walkways and wandering into bike lanes. In uber-cool Utrecht, however, you'll find locals biking and walking around the compact centre and canals, and you can hear the expressive Dutch language all around you, with its guttural 'g's, diminutive 'ties', and pleasant sing-song accent. You should visit Utrecht over Amsterdam to explore a Dutch city with a vibe and design similar to Amsterdam but with much less foot traffic and selfie-taking visitors. It's less expensive than Amsterdam In under-the-radar Utrecht, there's plenty to see and do (Image: Portia Jones ) Amsterdam is a popular tourist spot, so everything is more expensive, from accommodation to food and attraction tickets, as demand is so high. In under-the-radar Utrecht, there's plenty to see and do, but the cost of hotels and eating out will inevitably be slightly lower than in Amsterdam, meaning your travel money can go a bit further. You can reduce costs further by staying in a backpacker hostel, booking self-catering accommodation, or seeking free city activities and events, such as a free walking tour of Utrecht. There's no better way to get to know the city than walking along the 12th-century Old Canal Area (Oudegracht), Europe's only inner canal system with wharves and wharf cellars. Ask your guide to take you along the waterside to see the cellars and learn more about the canals' history and historic inhabitants. You can also discover nature as a low-cost wellness activity by walking in Wilhelminapark, Lepelenburg Park, or the botanical gardens and appreciating the natural beauty in and around the city. Utrecht has unique canals and waterways The canals in Utrecht are at a split level (Image: Portia Jones ) Yes, Amsterdam has the iconic canals and dreamy waterways, but Utrecht has its own architectural quirks. The canals in Utrecht are at a split level, meaning they are at street level and water level. Along the water, street-level cellars also date back to the 13th century. The 12th-century Oudegracht (old canal) was built to change the course of the Oude Rijn river. Connecting the river Vecht in the north to the Vaartsche Rijn in the south, the Oudegracht was destined to become an elongated harbour. Large city castles were built along the canal, and in the 13th Century, shipyards were built as second streets at water level. The deep cellars, serving as storage spaces, ran through to below the houses. What used to be warehouses, workhouses, and factories have now been refurbished into trendy restaurants, cafes, shops, and trendy bars. Utrecht is also the only city in the Netherlands where restaurants have terraces at the water level. Enjoy an alfresco meal or drink on these waterfront terraces as you watch boats gracefully glide by. Thriving art and culture scene Utrecht also offers plenty of art and culture for visitors (Image: Portia Jones ) Amsterdam has many world-famous art museums and galleries, including the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum. However, Utrecht also offers plenty of art and culture for visitors. Utrecht proudly flies the flag for De Stijl—Dutch for 'The Style'—an eye-catching art movement born in 1917 in Leiden about bold lines, strict geometry, and a lot of horizontal and vertical action. At the heart sits the off-beat Rietveld Schröder House, Utrecht's star architectural attraction and a must-see for art, design lovers, and photographers. Built in 1924, Rietveld Schröder was commissioned by Ms Truus Schröder-Schräder and designed by the architect Gerrit Thomas Rietveld. With its transformable kitchen/dining/living area, this unusual property brings De Stijl's core principles to life in living colour (and shape). At the heart sits the off-beat Rietveld Schröder House, Utrecht's star architectural attraction and a must-see for art, design lovers, and photographers. (Image: Portia Jones ) Today, it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site where curious visitors can poke around on guided or audio tours, prepare to geek out on form and function equally. Don't miss a trip to the Centraal Museum while you're in town either. It's Utrecht's main museum and a fabulous mishmash of old and new, having opened its doors in 1838. It's now home to an eclectic modern art collection, including the world's biggest stash of Rietveld pieces, ideal for funky furniture and design-flair fans. Keep an eye out for special exhibitions; there's always something fresh and fascinating to discover here. Fantastic Food The city's youthful population means plenty of trendy bars and restaurants where you can sample international cuisine and traditional Dutch dishes (Image: Portia Jones ) The city's youthful population means plenty of trendy bars and restaurants where you can sample international cuisine and traditional Dutch dishes like Poffertjes and Bitterballen. Eating out in Utrecht is slightly cheaper than in Amsterdam, as fewer tourists drive up the prices. Head to the canals for wharf-side dining and drinking, and enjoy the cafe buzz of terraces packed with students and professionals. Talud9 Wijnbar is an excellent spot for a strong espresso by day and a cheeky wine at night. For zingy international flavours, BLAUW is the place to go for quality Indonesian dining and is very popular with locals. Order their famous 'meat and fish rice table' and feast upon a vast selection of dishes, including Beef rendang, chicken rica rica, goat satay, mackerel pepsin, codfish meeting, shrimp satay, and lamb gulai. For a steak dinner in the city, head to STAN in the centre for meaty dishes cooked on the charcoal-fired Josper grill at this swish dining venue. They also have Buddha bowls, breakfasts and massive sharing plates on the menu. Nightlife without the tourists The city has an active cultural life, and you'll find theatres, cinemas, music festivals, live music, clubs, and bars to suit all tastes (Image: Portia Jones ) It's no secret that Amsterdam is the stag do city of choice, with its hedonistic nightlife, huge selection of party bars, and backpacker hostels. A night out in Utrecht is a chance to escape the noisy crowds of tourists and have a more relaxed evening surrounded by chilled-out locals, rather than slurring stags on a 48-hour bender. The city has an active cultural life, and you'll find theatres, cinemas, music festivals, live music, clubs, and bars to suit all tastes. Its large student population means a big night out on the town has a youthful and vibrant feel. If live music is your jam, there are several venues to see indie bands and artists. Ekko is a famous alternative pop stage in the city where you can have a meal, grab a beer and enjoy a live gig. Utrecht bars worth a visit include Kafé België, a beer lover's paradise with a large selection of brewed and bottled beers, and Winkel van Sinkel, for a glass of wine in a lovely outdoor seating area. Stylish Street Food Club is an eclectic venue for getting expertly stirred and shaken signature cocktails and Asian & Peruvian street food. For green spaces Rent a budget bike from the tourist centre and bike to the botanical gardens, Máximapark, and the large urban park Amelisweerd. (Image: Portia Jones ) While Amsterdam has the busy Vondelpark, Utrecht also contains beautiful green spaces to escape the urban surroundings, which can be less crowded than Amsterdam's parks. Rent a budget bike from the tourist centre and bike to the botanical gardens, Máximapark, and the large urban park Amelisweerd. Get off your bike and connect with nature by hiring a boat and exploring the scenic waterways. Hire a Canoe from De Rijnstroom and paddle through the Amelisweerd nature reserve. Glide through peaceful waters and appreciate the wildlife and swimming Dutch locals, who wave languidly from the water. Paddle through fields, forests, and bridges on this gentle expedition and soak up some rays while on it. Along the way, you can stop and picnic at one of the picnic fields you will pass or feast upon delicious Dutch-style pancakes at the waterside Rhijnauwen tea house. Plan your trip to Utrecht The easiest way to reach Utrecht from Cardiff is by flying to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (Image: Portia Jones ) Getting There from Cardiff The easiest way to reach Utrecht from Cardiff is by flying to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, which has daily departures from Cardiff Airport. The flight takes around 1.5 hours; from Schiphol, you can catch a direct train to Utrecht Central Station. Trains run frequently throughout the day, taking approximately 30 minutes. You can purchase tickets at the airport or in advance via NS Dutch Railways. To find the best flight deals, compare prices on platforms like Skyscanner or Google Flights and book as early as possible to secure the best rates. Accommodation Utrecht offers various accommodation options, from charming canalside boutique hotels to budget-friendly hostels and modern apartments. You can easily search and book hotels through trusted platforms such as which allows you to filter by price, location, rating and facilities. Look for hotels near the city centre or within walking distance of Utrecht Central Station for easy access to attractions and transport links. Getting Around Utrecht has an efficient and easy-to-navigate public transport system, including buses and trams operated by U-OV. The best way to get around is by using an OV-chipkaart, a reusable travel card that you can top up and use across most public transport in the Netherlands. You can also purchase disposable travel cards or make contactless payments for single journeys. Cycling is a popular and practical way to explore the city. With extensive bike lanes and rental options (such as OV-fiets and local bike hire shops), you'll find it easy to join locals on two wheels. Article continues below Things to Know Before You Go
