Easy Amsterdam

Cooking a homemade meal for your closest friends when you find you a missing an obscure Asian ingredient? Tampopo specialises in a wide range of canned, dried, and fresh spices and peppers from Japan, China, Indonesia, Thailand, and India. And it is inexpensive too!

Location: Haarlemmerdijk 168, Amsterdam

The Bakkerswinkel has the best homemade pastries around. The pipin' hot scones, thick clotted cream, homemade jams... I gain weight just thinking about it. And they serve a well priced high tea as well.

Locations: Warmoesstraat 69 (Red Light), Roelof Hartstraat 68 (A’dam Zuid), Polonceaukade 1 (A’dam West). (In Haarlem and Utrecht too!)

Want to go out to eat but don't know where you can take your little one? Try the Cafe Restaurant Amsterdam. The restaurant is situated in the old engine room of Amsterdam's water pumping station. And there were about a million kids here when I ate there.

Location: Watertorenplein 6, Amsterdam

Having a hankering for tastes from home? In a pinch for some Cheerios or a cake mix? Eichholtz is a deli in central Amsterdam that has most things you need, but don't be surprised by the hefty price tag for the convenience. Carries a diverse supply of both British and American goods.

Location: Leidsestraat 48, Amsterdam

Tim and Bas run Zool and they are so friendly it is almost like being home. It is the best place to hang out, relax and have a drink, and they have clever little sayings on the board outside that always cause a good chuckle. Plus they even let you - gasp! - run a tab and they have free wireless. If you stop by, tell the guys the red headed Texan says hello.

Location: Oude Leliestraat 9, Amsterdam

You can catch the Opstopper for a trip from Central Station down the Prinsengracht, or vice versa. There are no bus stops so just stand on the approriate side of the canal to the direction you are going and stick your hand out and it will stop. You can pay cash or with your strippenkaart.

Call home for cheap without having a long distance carrier. Using Telediscount you can dial a code from your land line before calling the number. It tells you how much it costs, which varies depending on the time of day. Pay as little as 1 Euro cent to call the USA!

Getting a Museumkaart allows you into over 400 museums throughout the Netherlands for the low price of €29.95. It is an incredible deal that last a full year. Purchase at any participating museum.

Check out Low Cost Airlines for inexpensive flights from Amsterdam and other cities near A'dam. If nothing else, good for comparison and understanding which airlines fly fromwhich cities...

Tired after a long day at work and want food delivered to your home? Or just don't want to go out in the rain? Try Urban Bites for delivery in your zip code.

Even though this place is a hole in the wall, it hands down has the best ribs in town. The portions are huge and the prices are very reasonable. Expect a wait, every time, because it is finger lickin' good.

Location: Kerkstraat 41, Amsterdam

After traveling all over Amsterdam and visiting many jewelry shops, I finally found one that had my watch battery and change it while I waited! In a mere15 minutes I had what looked like a brand new watch. Apparently, most shops do not have a large selection of batteries or won't waste the time to change them, so it is difficult to find one that will, especially while you wait. The Battery Shop is conveniently located outside Central Station.

Location: Stationsplein 15, Amsterdam