Amsterdam - questions

[XMan]

Going through Amsterdam both on the way and on the way back. 
Been through before, but usually in a bit of a hurry, and have never stayed overnight before.  I have a few hours on the way in this time, and staying overnight on the way back.

1) Thoughts on anything interesting I can pick up to bring to Ukraine as a gift (for woman, or young girl)?
2) Any clue where the hotel shuttles pick up / drop off? 
3) Flying KLM/NWA.  Do I need to pick up my luggage after flying from Kiev to Amsterdam and re-check it in the morning when my flight leaves? 
4) How much time prior to flight should I be back at the airport in the morning?

Thanks.

[BillyB]

Going through Amsterdam both on the way and on the way back. 
Been through before, but usually in a bit of a hurry, and have never stayed overnight before.  I have a few hours on the way in this time, and staying overnight on the way back.

1) Thoughts on anything interesting I can pick up to bring to Ukraine as a gift (for woman, or young girl)?
2) Any clue where the hotel shuttles pick up / drop off? 
3) Flying KLM/NWA.  Do I need to pick up my luggage after flying from Kiev to Amsterdam and re-check it in the morning when my flight leaves? 
4) How much time prior to flight should I be back at the airport in the morning?

Thanks.

1) Bring gifts that are made in your country. I always bring at least one book of scenery of the city, State or Country that I live in. See's truffles are the best and always the best candy to bring. For a young girl I would guess a Barbie doll and some accessories.

2) Like you I've passed through the airport at Amsterdam too and if you want to sleep for free as I've seen many people do, they have plenty of lounge chairs. There are also hotels at and in the airport. If you already reserved a hotel away from the airport, airport personnel can direct you to the shuttles.  http://www.booking.com/searchresults.html?city=-2152752&ssne=Schiphol&error_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.booking.com%2Fhotel%2Fnl%2Fsheraton.html%3Flabel%3Dgog235jc%3Bsid%3Ddb8dcfd58d3953a8a10fd5a30a43e1d8%3B&label=gog235jc&sid=db8dcfd58d3953a8a10fd5a30a43e1d8&si=ai%2Cco%2Cci%2Cre&ss=Schiphol&checkin_monthday=6&checkin_year_month=2010-2&checkout_monthday=7&checkout_year_month=2010-2

3) KLM/NWA are airline partners and they should transfer your bags on the next flight the next day without you having to pick them up and re checking them back in. Doesn't hurt to verify when you first check your bags in.

4) PM Shadow. He lives in Amersterdam and been through that airport a number of times. You could also ask airport personnel too. They all speak good English.

[Al_C]

Overnight on the way back?  That's great.  Amsterdam is a fabulous city with so much to do.  What are you into?  You will have to do some serious picking and choosing to get it all done in one night.  See if you can visit the red light district.  It is a serious head trip even if you don't plan on patronizing any of the ladies.

The city has an extensive system of trams to get you where you want to go.  First take a train from the airport to Central Station, and from there you can catch a tram to anywhere, including your hotel.

English is no problem there, but beware of the ticket machines for the train and trams. They are only in Dutch, but you can choose a real ticket clerk instead to get English.

Be careful of what you bring back to the United States because there are legal things there you can't have here (like cannabis seeds, freely sold there in open markets).

[Shadow]

1. Any gifts that are 'Dutch' you can pick up at the tax free shops at the airport.
They will not cost you more as in the center of Amsterdam.

2. The train and tram system does work, however with current temperatures might cause some delay.

3. There is a Sheraton at the airport, if you wish to take a hotel in the city, there are several options.

4. Check with the airline on how they handle your luggage. They could send it directly, but with an overnight stop you would have to verify.

5. The usual advice is to be at the check-in two hours before departure. With the recent extra measures I would advide to make it at least 3 hours to be safe.
Once the check-in is completed, go through customs at once, as there usually can be quite a waiting line. Then there is time to visits the shops, get a cup of coffee and run to your exit. Schiphol is huge, so it can take up to 10 minutes to reach your plane.

I never lived in Amsterdam (it was The Hague) but have relocated a bit more south since last year.

[kievstar]

Never sleep for free over night in the Amsterdam airport unless you like rats / mice crawling all over you.  No joke.  I have stayed in the hotel mercure several times within the Amsterdam airport (not free).  Around 11 at night the rats mice come out in the hundreds (maybe thousands) and are crawling all over sleeping people in search of food.  I notice that the middle eastern, Asian, and Indian people just brush them off and keep sleeping.  They have a short window of time from 11 at night to about 3:30 in the morning until the airport gets to busy and they go to sleep or there already full of food.

I have spoken with the workers in the airport and they said there is a reason we have two hotels within immigration and numerous just outside the airport.  Remember rats came from Europe to the USA.  There is a big problem with rats in several Western Europe countries.