Event Information

A beautiful idyllic capital city, steeped in history, culture and natural architectural beauty; the Dutch capital should unquestionably be on every students' bucket list. Packed with street side cafes, restaurants and bars and generally adorned with amazing weather, it’s an iconic European city you can really enjoy exploring. Flowers, windmills, canals, cheese and wooden shoes can all be yours this Easter for just £129.

What tickets are available?

There are three tickets available. Each has a different accommodation package, but each includes the following.

1. All transport from the door of the Students' Union to the Centre of Amsterdam and back again. Over-night Executive Coach with Ferry crossing.
2. Two nights award winning accommodation in the heart of Amsterdam.
3. A delicious all-you-can-eat continental breakfast each morning.

Package One - Hotel Van Gogh £129

Located in the heart of the museum district just steps from the Van Gogh and the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh is a contemporary hotel ideally placed for exploring the city.

• En-suite Bathrooms
• 24 Hour Reception Desk
• Dual free WIFI
• Air Conditioning
• Daily Housekeeping
• Breakfast Included

Rooms will be 4, 6 and 8 bed dorm rooms. To look at the hotel website click here. For independent reviews of the accommodation click here.

Package Two - Clink Noord £136

Clink Noord is a brand new, design-led hotel offering a new kind of social travel experience. Set in Amsterdam's most creative and culturally vibrant areas, the very centre of Amsterdam is a free 4 minute ferry crossing away. The luxurious en-suite rooms come with stunning views of the river and all beds are equipped with USB points, power sockets and reading lights.

• En-suite Bathrooms
• 24 Hour Reception Desk
• Dual free WIFI
• Air Conditioning
• Daily Housekeeping
• Breakfast Included
• In-house Restaurant and Bar
• Stunning Architectural Spaces
• Free Ferry Ride to City Centre

We have 11 rooms of 4 and 2 rooms of 6. To look at the hotel website click here. For independent reviews of the accommodation click here.

Package Three - A&O Zuidoost £138

A&O is a fantastic three star hotel located just 15 minutes metro ride from the centre of Amsterdam. Featuring free WIFI and an on-site bar, all rooms are comfortable, clean and come equipped with a TV and private en-suite. A&O is one of the most trusted contentinent hotel brands ensuring you have a comfortable and enjoyable stay in the Dutch capital!

• En-suite Bathrooms
• 24 Hour Reception Desk
• Dual free WIFI
• Air Conditioning
• Daily Housekeeping
• Breakfast Included

Rooms will be 4 and 6 bed dorm rooms. To look at the hotel website click here. For independent reviews of the accommodation click here.

What are the optional extras I can buy?

Seat & Bed Reserve £6

This is not a deposit. We operate allocated seats and beds. Reserve your seat on the coach and your bed in a room with your friend for just £6. Does not apply to societies.

Official Bar Crawl Ticket £15 (with free Cardiff on Tour T-Shirt)

Bag yourself an amazing night out to remember in Amsterdam. Your bar crawl ticket guarantees you entry to six bars and clubs, two free shots in each, an hour of unlimited shots and a Cardiff on Tour T-shirt for you to treasure forever!

Travel Insurance Policy £5 - £10  (depending on circumstances)

We advise you take out our in house recommended low cost travel insurance policy. This will protect you against the possibility that something goes wrong and you miss the coach home or lose or damage something valuable. You can look at and apply for that travel insurance here.

Trip Itinerary

This is your trip and you can spend it however you like! We'll have an optional running itinerary that means you can explore Amsterdam with the Students' Union Reps.. Alternatively you can sign up to your club/society trip package.

Friday 18th March

20:00 - 20:30 Check-in at Julian Hodge Lecture Theatre

21:00 Coaches leave the Julian Hodge Building

Saturday 19th March

12:00 Arrival in Amsterdam, place luggage into storage.

14:00 Group Photograph at the I Amsterdam Sign at the Reichs Museum

15:00 Check in at hotels

17:00 Canal Cruise 

Sunday 20th March

07:00 - 10:00 Breakfast is served

11:30 Trip to the Anne Frank House Tour

13:30 Modern Art Museum 

15:30 Body Art Museum 

21:00 Bar Crawl leaves Hotels

Monday 21st March

07:00 - 10:00 Breakfast is served

10:00 Hotel check-out, place luggage into storage

10:00 Last Minute Shopping

13:00 Coaches leave Amsterdam

Tuesday 22nd March

02:00 Arrival back in Cardiff

Important Terms and Conditions

You should be aware of the following details:

Passports

You are required to have a valid and in-date passport for this trip. The UK is not part of the Schengen area and boarder restrictions are in force between Dover and Calais. British citizens do not require a visa, but need a passport to prove that they are actually a British citizen. Please ensure your passport is valid and in-date before you book onto this trip.

Refunds

This general trip ticket and all added extras are strictly non-refundable. Please be absolutely certain that you're free for the dates of the trip.

Travel insurance and European Health Insurance Cards

We would strongly advise you to take out personal travel insurance for this trip to cover your personal property, money, passports, medical expenses and repatriation if necessary. The Students' Union itself has public liability insurance, but that won't help you unless your loss is directly attributable to our negligence. Applying for an EHIC if you don't already have one will be a good idea as well, but this will only cover the most basic of medical attention.

Students' Union and Hotel Terms and Conditions

This is a Students' Union trip, organised directly by the Give it a Go Team. In terms of rules and expected conduct, whilst on this trip you are in effect inside the Students' Union Building and subject to University Regulations. By signing up to this trip you are agreeing to both the Students' Union code of conduct and the house rules for the Hotel. Any infringement of which may provoke academic consequences for you.

Students' Union Code of Conduct

Got a Question?

Email us: GiveitaGo@cardiff.ac.uk  Phone us: +44 (02920) 781411

1. Can non-Cardiff University students come on this trip?

Yes, non-CU students can come on this trip if accompanied by a Cardiff University Student. They will have to create a guest account on this website to book.

2. Is this trip suitable for children/families? Is there a reduced rate for children?

No - children are not permitted on this trip.

3. I'm having trouble signing up online. What do I do?

You can also sign up in person at the finance counter on the third floor of the Students' Union.

4. I don't know if I need a visa. Help!

If you are a UK/EU citizen, you do not require a visa to travel to the Netherlands, but you do need a passport to prove that you are, in fact, a UK/EU citizen.

If you are not a UK/EU citizen it a likely that you will require a visa and we advise you to read the advice in the next few titles down.

5. What is the deadline for this trip?

There is no deadline for this trip. Tickets are sold on a first come first served basis.

International students should be aware of visa application processing times.

6. Can societies, clubs and groups sign up for the trip?

Groups, societies and clubs may be accommodated as part of this trip, but please email us to check on the usual email address.

Students' Union Visa Guidance

The general approach when applying for a Schengen visa is to to apply to the embassy of the 'main country of destination' which for this trip in isolation will be the Dutch Embassy.

As of 1 March 2015 all visa applications to the Netherlands can only be made by an 'in-person' appointment at the VFS offices in London, Manchester and Edinburgh. I.e. you will not be able to make a visa application to the Dutch consulate in Cardiff, you will have to go to the nearest office (London) in person after making an appointment with the VFS office.

More information is available following this link.

You can make an appointment with VFS following this link.

You can apply for a Schengen visa within three months of the intended date of travel. Assuming there are no problems, the application itself can take up to 15 working days to process - but longer if you supply incomplete documents or the embassy has a query with your application.

The application itself generally has a fee attached to it of between £40 - £60 but this does not include the costs you will incur travelling to London.

Visa Documents the Students' Union can provide

The application will require you to supply a number of documents, some of which the Students' Union can supply for you. You should research this thoroughly yourself before you travel to London to make the application to avoid wasted time and money. Click here for more information on short-stay document requirements.