Fair prices in Paesi Bassi — what things really cost

Tap in and out with a contactless bank card or phone, which works on all GVB trams, buses and metro. A day or multi-day pass is better value if you ride several times.

The direct train from the airport to Amsterdam Centraal takes under twenty minutes and is far cheaper than a taxi. Buy from the machines or tap a contactless card at the gates.

Rent from an established shop and always ask what happens if the bike is damaged or stolen, as some places charge huge fees. Use the sturdy locks provided and lock to a fixed rack.

The standard scheduled cruises all show similar sights, so there is no need to pay a premium. Compare a couple of operators near Centraal and avoid touts pushing pricier tours.

Tipping is not obligatory as service is included, though rounding up is common. Eat a little away from Damrak and the busiest squares for better food and prices.

Traditional brown cafes away from the centre are cheaper and more atmospheric than tourist bars on the main drag. Check prices before ordering in the busiest areas.

Note that a 'coffeeshop' in Amsterdam sells cannabis, while a normal cafe or 'koffie' is where you get an actual coffee. Prices are reasonable and similar across the city.

The direct NS train from Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport to Rotterdam Centraal takes around 25 minutes on the fast intercity and is far cheaper and simpler than a taxi. Tap in and out with a contactless bank card (OVpay) or buy a ticket; the slower Sprinter is a little cheaper if you have time.

If you fly into Rotterdam's own small airport, RET bus 33 runs to Rotterdam Centraal for a normal city fare of about EUR 5.50 in roughly half an hour. Far cheaper than an airport taxi and perfectly easy with a contactless card.

Rotterdam's RET metro and trams are cheap and efficient. Just tap in and out with a contactless bank card or phone (OVpay), which is charged by distance from under a euro, or buy a 2-hour ticket (about EUR 5.50). A day ticket (about EUR 12) pays off if you ride a lot.

A coffee or cappuccino is around EUR 3 at a normal cafe, a little more in the trendiest design spots. Prices are reasonable and similar across the city, so you rarely need to hunt for value; step just off the main tourist squares if you want the local rate.

A snack-bar plate, a Markthal stall dish or a casual lunch is one of the best-value ways to eat, and Rotterdam's multicultural food scene (Surinamese, Turkish, Indonesian and more) offers excellent cheap eats away from the waterfront and the main squares.

A main course at a decent mid-range restaurant is reasonable for a Western European city, and service is included so tipping is optional (rounding up is normal). Eat a street or two back from the busiest riverside and centre spots for better food and prices.

A bottle of water is cheap from a supermarket or snack bar and much dearer if bought at a tourist kiosk or with a restaurant meal. Dutch tap water is clean and safe, so carry a refillable bottle and fill up for free rather than buying it.

For short hops a taxi or Uber is convenient but far dearer than the metro or tram. Use the official rank or a booking app rather than a driver touting for fares, and if you take a street taxi insist on the meter to avoid a long-routed, inflated fare.