Navigate EuropeLike a Local
Save money, avoid scams, and explore Amsterdam and London by public transit — without the confusion, the tourist tax, or the €70 fine.
Complete Transit Guides
For Every Tourist
Step-by-step guides that replace every confusing forum thread, outdated blog post, and overpriced tourist brochure.
- 💳OVpay & OV-chipkaart explained simply
- ✈️Schiphol to city — train vs taxi truth
- 🚊Which tram lines tourists actually need
- ⚠️3 scams and exactly how to spot them
- ⛴️Free ferry most tourists never find
- 💳Oyster vs contactless — definitive answer
- ✈️Heathrow — Elizabeth Line vs Express
- 🗺️Zone system decoded for tourists
- ⚠️Pedicab scams, pickpockets, fake tickets
- 🌙Night Tube and night bus coverage
The Cards Tourists
Need to Know
Two cities. Two payment systems. One rule that applies to both: never buy a paper ticket.
Probably not. Since 2025 the Oyster card costs £10 non-refundable. Contactless gives identical fares plus a weekly cap that Oyster PAYG does not offer. Exception: children 11–15 need one for the 50% Young Visitor Discount.
Full comparison in our London guide →
A single-use paper tram ticket costs €3.40. The identical journey with OVpay costs approximately €1.56 — less than half. Every tourist buying paper tickets pays a 118% surcharge that simply does not need to exist.
Full payment guide for Amsterdam →What the Guidebooks
Don't Tell You
Schiphol to Amsterdam — The Honest Truth
Unlicensed taxis charged tourists €485, €600 and €980 for the same journey the NS train completes in 17 minutes for €5.30.
| Option | Cost | Time | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| NS Train ✅ | €5.30–€5.90 | 17 min | Best option |
| Bus Line 397 | €5.00 | 30–40 min | Good alt |
| Official Taxi | €40–€55 | 20–35 min | Groups only |
| Unlicensed Taxi | €100–€980 | Variable | Scam ⚠️ |
⚠️ Standard GVB day passes do NOT cover the Schiphol train. Only the Amsterdam Travel Ticket includes airport transport.
Full Amsterdam airport guide →What Tourists Lose
Every Single Day
Real scams, real amounts, real situations happening to thousands of tourists every month in both cities.