Amsterdam Packlist Help

[diablo]

Alright, I'll be heading out to Amsterdam on Jan 9th until the 18th. I plan on it being very cold, and very wet. I don't want to have any luggage to check, so I'll be carrying on a backpack and another piece of carry-on luggage (likely a normal sized duffel bag). I already know that it won't take me too long to get to the hostel from the airport, even though I plan on bouncing from hostel to hostel... so, I'm packing relatively light. I am also intending on having my laundry done there, so it cuts back on about 1/2 of the clothes I'd otherwise have needed. Here's what I've got so far, and I'll appreciate all of your advice and opinions on what to bring, what to leave, and what to do.

To wear:
3 pairs of wool socks
2 pairs of polypropelene 'long johns' (both top and bottom)
2 pairs of jeans
2 LS undershirts
1 Mountail Hardwear full-zip fleece
1 North Face rain shell (HyVent and GoreTex.. completely waterproof)
1 pair of North Face waterproof bottoms (put on over the jeans)
1 pair of GoreTex gloves (have a pair but they leak, so I've got to buy another...)
1 pair of GoreTex Vasque hiking boots
1 balaclava mask for my face
1 belt

To bring:
1 backpack (North Face, if you couldn't guess)
1 duffel bag
1 North Face down fill mummy bag (sleeping bag)
1 electric razor (Remington Titanium Rotary)
1 travel size toothpaste
1 toothbrush
1 travel size shampoo
1 small container of styling clay (yeah, I know...)
1 small deodorant
1 travel size liquid disinfectant/soap
1 towel (either the normal kind or the "sponge" type that takes up far less room)
1 umbrella
1 MP3 player (1.5 gig)
1 digital camera (Fujifilm A303) w/ 500mb xD memory
8 rechargable Duracell NiMH 2050 mAh batteries (camera takes 2 at a time)
1 passport
1 expired drivers license (to carry in my backpack)
1 ATM card (PIN access only)
1 credit card
1 cheap watch
airline tickets
random junk food and books for the plane ride over (15+ hours..)

If you can see that I'm leaving anything off that I should otherwise bring along, or have any comments on anything I'm currently bringing that perhaps I shouldn't, let me know so I can make modifications. The trip isn't for another 2 weeks, but I like being prepared well in advance.

 

[naoi deag se deag]

15+ hours? Where are you flying through, Hong Kong?

 

[Matt Rogers]

Protection

I wouldn't go so overboard on all the winter stuff. It is pretty mild in Amsterdam this time of year. As long as you have a jumper and a coat you should be fine.

 

[Eternal]

If you are in a hotel, you don't really need a sleeping bag.

 

[diablo]

Oops... flight time is a total of 11hr 40min total, not 15.

As for it being mild, I'm from Louisiana and thus used to it being around 70 degrees in the wintertime. It dropped from 65 (which is where it's been all December long) to 33 in just one day and everyone around here is acting like it's the end of the world. Average temperature in A'dam for this time of year (well, Jan) is 30ish degrees.

Eternal - I'll be in hostels, not hotels. The difference is huge. Hotels cost around 60-100 euros a night (80-130 bucks), whereas hostels are around 15-20 euros/night. Dormitory style beds, bring your own sleeping bags. Since the one I'll be returning to has hot semi-private showers (curtains and walls between the showers), I figure why spend an extra $60+ a night just to sleep in a room by myself? I can think of a whole Red Light District full of reasons to spend the money on... better things.

Oh, if anyone has a pair of Gore-Tex gloves (preferably North Face/Mountain Hardwear) that they'd be willing to part ways with, I'm in the market!!! Also, Eternal.. you'd love how I'm getting to the airport. The irony is astounding.

 

[Sir Space]

Damn sounds like you are getting ready to go on an arctic expedition hahah.

Watch out for theives, so leave your expensive watch/wallet, things of personal value at home.

Just bring the am ex and get some sluts and some drugs.

 

[diablo]

Originally posted by Sir Space
Watch out for theives, so leave your expensive watch... at home.

Originally posted by diablo
1 cheap watch

Affirmative on the "no wallet" policy... I always carry larger denomination currency on a zippered inner pocket of my fleece.

This will make for 5 trips to Amsterdam (2 layovers, 2 actual trips so far... plus this one coming up), so I'm not too worried about forgetting anything, but you know the saying...

 

[Eternal]

Originally posted by diablo
Oops... flight time is a total of 11hr 40min total, not 15.

As for it being mild, I'm from Louisiana and thus used to it being around 70 degrees in the wintertime. It dropped from 65 (which is where it's been all December long) to 33 in just one day and everyone around here is acting like it's the end of the world. Average temperature in A'dam for this time of year (well, Jan) is 30ish degrees.

Eternal - I'll be in hostels, not hotels. The difference is huge. Hotels cost around 60-100 euros a night (80-130 bucks), whereas hostels are around 15-20 euros/night. Dormitory style beds, bring your own sleeping bags. Since the one I'll be returning to has hot semi-private showers (curtains and walls between the showers), I figure why spend an extra $60+ a night just to sleep in a room by myself? I can think of a whole Red Light District full of reasons to spend the money on... better things.

Oh, if anyone has a pair of Gore-Tex gloves (preferably North Face/Mountain Hardwear) that they'd be willing to part ways with, I'm in the market!!! Also, Eternal.. you'd love how I'm getting to the airport. The irony is astounding.

I was wondering what a "hostel" was...I just thought you mispelled "hotels."

I'm sure I'm not the only person who wants to know the irony of your airport going to ness.

 

[diablo]

Nothing terribly special... I'm bringing Nadia (stripper girl) to New Orleans to fly to New York on the 5th... She's going to see my ex, Ashley #1 (with the implants). You guessed it, they're both bi. I didn't know that they even knew each other until the other day, but apparently it's her first time funking Ashley... for whatever it's worht. Then, I'll park her car near my house for a few days until the 9th when I'll go to bring it back to the airport and get on my plane leaving 1 hour after hers returns. Great story.