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Guide to Schiphol Airport

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is the main international airport in the Netherlands and a major European hub. It is the third largest airport in Europe, catering for over 40 million passengers each year. With a wide range of facilities designed to meet the needs of every kind of traveler, it is well-equipped for business travelers holidaymakers and backpackers alike.

Schiphol is conveniently located just twenty minutes outside the center of Amsterdam and its excellent transport links make it ideal for onward travel overland within the Netherlands. Taxis are readily available and a regular public bus service runs from outside Arrivals Hall 2. There are train services from the airport directly to Amsterdam Centraal Station as well as other Dutch cities including Rotterdam and The Hague.

Within the airport, there is a wide range of amenities. Information desks can be found throughout the terminals, along with touch-screen units offering airport information. A Tourism Information Office, located in Arrivals Hall 2, offers reliable tourist advice and a reservation service for local accommodation. Wireless internet is available in dedicated communication zones. There are numerous banks with ATMS, currency exchange machines and bureaux de change.

There is a good range of business amenities available at Schiphol Airport, based around three main facilities: the Schiphol Business Center, the Skyport Business Center and the Communications Center. These centers offer varying facilities, such as offices, secretarial services, meeting rooms of varying sizes, a post office and full telecommunication facilities.

Schiphol Airport has numerous cafes, bars and restaurants, providing many different kinds of food, from quick snacks to proper meals. It also offers a huge variety of shops besides the usual Duty Free offerings. There are newsagents and gift shops as well as clothing stores selling sportswear, fashion, shoes, leather goods and even tailor-made men`s suits. The list of potential purchases is a long one, with flowers, music, jewelry, perfume and an enormous range of electronic goods, such as digital cameras, laptops, camcorders, MP3 players and mobile phones all available within Schiphol. All manner of delicacies can also be purchased, from caviar, Belgian chocolate and Italian ham to Dutch sspecialtiessuch as smoked eels, spiced cookies and Gouda cheese. There really is something for every shopper within this vast airport. If all this shopping is not enough to empty your pockets, there is also a casino and a spa offering massages.

Disabled travelers will find Schiphol Airport well-equipped for their needs, with lifts, automatic doors and toilets suitable for wheelchair-users. There is also a shuttle service available between the main areas of the airport. A medical center, pharmacy and 24-hour emergency services are available within the airport. For those travelling with children, there are several children`s play areas and baby-changing facilities in every toilet.

Several low-cost airlines continue to use Schiphol as their Dutch center so, despite the trend for budget airlines to fly to smaller, sometimes less conveniently-located airports, cheap flights to Amsterdam are still readily available.

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