72 Hours in Amsterdam
How I Did a Long Weekend in Europe While Still Working Full-Time
You do not need to quit your job, take a two-week vacation, or spend $5,000 to see Europe.
This trip to Amsterdam was proof of that.
I worked a half day on Wednesday, used PTO on Thursday and Friday, and was back in the office Monday morning like nothing happened. Somehow, in less than four days, I managed canal cruises, tulip fields, Dutch countryside biking, wine on the canals, museums, markets, and more stroopwafels than I’d like to admit.
And the best part? The entire trip came in under $1,100.
How I Booked My Flight for $127
Flights to Europe don’t have to be expensive if you know how to stack points, travel portals, and credit card perks.
I booked my flight using a mix of points and benefits through my United Airlines rewards setup and only paid $127 out of pocket total for the flight.
One of the biggest game changers has been using my Chase United card. Between free checked bags, priority boarding, lounge access, travel protections, and occasional upgrades, it completely changes the airport experience. Especially for international flights, having lounge access alone makes overnight travel so much easier.
I also always recommend checking:
Skyscanner for flexible date searches
Point hacking tools and airline transfer partners
Rakuten travel promos for bonus points multipliers
A lot of people assume Europe is automatically expensive, but honestly, the flight is usually the hardest part—and once you learn how to use points strategically, weekend Europe trips become very realistic.
Where I Stayed: The Hoxton Lloyd Amsterdam
For most of the trip, I stayed at The Hoxton, Lloyd Amsterdam, and this hotel honestly made the entire experience feel elevated from the second I checked in.
It’s located about 10 minutes by bike from Amsterdam Central Station, which ended up being the perfect location because you can easily access ferries, trains, neighborhoods, and pretty much every major area of the city without being directly inside the busiest tourist zones.
The property itself feels very intentional—modern but warm, stylish without trying too hard. The terrace became one of my favorite parts because it always felt lively but relaxed at the same time. Whether people were working remotely, having drinks, or just sitting outside with coffee, the whole hotel carried this effortless “cool but comfortable” energy.
I booked the stay using an Amex offer that gave me $200 off plus a $100 hotel credit, which I used entirely on food and drinks during my stay. They also upgraded my room for free, gave me an early check-in around noon instead of the usual afternoon wait, and let me check out late at 2 PM, which made the weekend feel significantly less rushed.
The free bike rentals ended up being one of the best perks because Amsterdam is one of those cities where biking genuinely feels easier than using cars or rideshares. You move through canals, neighborhoods, parks, and side streets in a way that makes the city feel much more personal.
And the food? Everything somehow felt elegant without being pretentious. Cocktails always arrived looking like they belonged in a magazine, and the staff somehow managed to be both incredibly polished and genuinely friendly at the same time.
The Elephant Hostel: Budget Travel Done Right
For my final night, I moved to The Elephant Hostel, which was completely different from the Hoxton experience but honestly just as memorable in its own way.
The hostel has this very cozy Gatsby-inspired design style with warm lighting, deep colors, vintage details, and lounge spaces that actually make you want to stay and hang out instead of immediately leaving for the city.
I stayed in a women-only dorm, which made the environment feel much more comfortable and safe as a solo female traveler. The rooms were clean, modern, and thoughtfully designed instead of feeling cramped like a lot of hostels do.
What really stood out were the amenities. There was a fully stocked coffee bar with pastries every morning, private bathrooms that actually felt clean and spacious, a fireplace lounge area, organized tours and social events, board games, a gym, laundry facilities, and common spaces where people naturally gathered without it feeling forced.
It felt much more like a boutique social hotel than a stereotypical backpacker hostel.
And location-wise, it was perfect for wandering neighborhoods like Jordaan and De Pijp without constantly relying on transportation.
Thursday: Canals, Markets, and Stroopwafels
After arriving and taking the train into the city center, I dropped my bags and immediately started exploring.
My first stop was the famous Albert Cuyp Market, which feels like sensory overload in the best way possible.
Fresh stroopwafels, flowers, local snacks, vintage finds, cheese stands—it’s one of those places where you accidentally spend two hours wandering without realizing it.
Later that afternoon I did a canal cruise through Amsterdam with unlimited drinks booked through Get YourGuide.
And somehow… nobody else showed up.
So for almost the entire cruise, it was just me, the guide, and endless wine while floating through Amsterdam’s canals at golden hour. The canals are already beautiful on their own, but hearing the history of the narrow canal houses, merchant trade routes, and old bridges while slowly moving through the city made it feel much more immersive.
That evening I did a Dutch stroopwafel-making class where we learned how to make, press, fill, and decorate fresh stroopwafels by hand. Honestly, it ended up being way more fun than expected and felt like one of those random travel activities that becomes a core memory later.
I ended the night with dinner back at the Hoxton using my hotel credit, which somehow made the meal taste even better.
Friday: Dutch Countryside Bike Tour (The Highlight)
Friday ended up being my favorite day of the trip.
I booked a full-day e-bike countryside tour through Get YourGuide, and it genuinely felt like seeing an entirely different version of the Netherlands outside the city center.
The e-bikes made the 25-mile ride surprisingly manageable, which meant you could actually enjoy the scenery instead of feeling exhausted the entire time.
We rode through:
Dutch countryside villages
Open farmland
Canal systems
Windmill regions
Coastal paths
One of the highlights was visiting Zaanse Schans, where traditional Dutch windmills still stand along the water. It honestly looked like a movie set.
While there, we attended a traditional Dutch clog-making demonstration and cheese tasting featuring local Dutch cheeses that somehow ruined grocery store cheese for me permanently.
We also biked through Zaandam, which people jokingly call “Lego City” because of the bright, stacked architecture and colorful buildings that almost look fake in photos.
The tour itself was women-owned, felt extremely safe, and our guide was also a professional comedian, which somehow made six hours of biking feel effortless because we were laughing the entire time.
Later that evening, I wandered through the Bloemenmarkt flower market area before grabbing drinks along the canals.
Saturday: Tulips, Skyline Views, and Wandering Amsterdam
Saturday started with the Tulip Experience outside the city.
The tour included transportation, museum access, tulip farm entry, and your own bouquet to take home.
Walking through rows of tulips in every color honestly feels fake at first because it’s so aggressively beautiful.
There’s also a museum component explaining the history of tulips in Dutch culture and the economic history behind “Tulip Mania,” which made the experience feel more cultural than just Instagram-focused.
Later that afternoon, I went to A'DAM Lookout for drinks and skyline views over the city.
The contrast between the peaceful countryside earlier and the modern Amsterdam skyline views later that day somehow perfectly captured the whole trip.
After checking out of the Hoxton and returning my bike, I checked into Elephant Hostel and spent the rest of the evening wandering through Jordaan, local farmers’ markets, quiet canals, and side streets that felt much calmer than the city center.
Top Museums Worth Visiting in Amsterdam
If you only have a few days, these are the museums I’d prioritize in Amsterdam:
Anne Frank House
Rijksmuseum
Van Gogh Museum
WONDR Experience
Fabrique des Lumières
Free Things to Do in Amsterdam
One of the best things about Amsterdam is how much of the city feels enjoyable without spending money.
Some of my favorite free activities:
Walking through Vondelpark
Exploring the Bloemenmarkt flower market
Taking the free ferry to the NDSM street art district
Wandering De Pijp neighborhood and local food markets
Walking the canals at sunrise before the city wakes up
My Full Budget Breakdown (Under $1,100)
Flight: $127
Hoxton Hotel: $453 (with credits + Amex offer savings)
Elephant Hostel: $112
Tulip Experience: $15
Bike Tour: $100
Canal Cruise: $41
Stroopwafel Class: $29
Transport: $18
Dog Boarding: $210
Food ended up being heavily offset by:
$100 hotel credit
$100 Resy credit
This helped keep the total trip cost surprisingly manageable for Europe.
Top 5 Tips for Women Staying in Hostels
Always book women-only dorms if available
Bring a lock for your locker
Keep a portable charger near your bed
Pack shower shoes and an eye mask
Trust your instincts immediately if something feels off
Hostels can honestly be an amazing way to travel solo if you choose well-reviewed, social, safe locations.
Travel Items I Never Fly Without
Souli travel sandals
Noise-canceling headphones
CalPak hanging toiletry bag
Tripod with remote for solo travel photos
Waterproof crossbody travel purse
Final Thoughts
You do not have to quit your job to see the world.
You do not need unlimited PTO, luxury budgets, or months off work to have meaningful travel experiences.
This was a 72-hour trip to Amsterdam, where I:
Worked a half day on Wednesday
Used PTO Thursday + Friday
Flew home Sunday
And was back at work Monday morning
And somehow still managed tulip fields, canal wine cruises, countryside biking, museums, markets, and rooftop drinks in Europe.
Sometimes the biggest thing standing between you and travel is just realizing short trips still count.
