Rush Hour Amsterdam Tram & Taxi Many Trams are "Decorated"

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Do not assume that you will leave your acommodation in the morning and only return late at night. If it rains - which it often does in Amsterdam -and you get wet, you will want to return to dry out, also it is good to return in late afternoon to have a shower etc before hitting the town at night, so 3, possibly 4 tram trips a day are involved in addition to any other to visit outlaying tourist attractions or Coffeeshops. Penalty for traveling without a ticket -at least €30 (I dont have an up to date figure) on the spot fine + cost of journey.- and the inspectors are very real, and very active  There is a "Circle Tram" or "Tourist Tram" -no. 20 - which gives a circular tour of the main tourist sites -nice to sit on and chill out for a while. I have recently heard that this tram service may be discontinued. Take note! Pickpockets "work" this tram in particular. Trams stop running around 11.30pm - then it is "Night bus", check at the Tram office for info on these during the day if required. Tram passes are good for these too. For more info get a free copy of "Public Transport Amsterdam Tourist Guide" from the tram office or click here , lots of info on the Buses,Taxis, Nightbuses and the small Underground/Subway system, -"Metro-Sneltram", (which the locals have nicknamed "the submarine" !). N.B.Take Care. Platforms of the 4 stops in Centrum are used for Smack and Crack dealing at night. Tram passes are good for this as well. Taxis Expensive. Rip off Alert ! If you need one, telephone for it. Approaching the Taxi ranks at Dam Square, or trying to flag one down on the street will immediately mark you as a tourist and you will be almost certainly taken the longest way possible to your destination to bump up the already overpriced fare, and then the driver will expect a tip (about 10% !) ! This scam has been pulled on me and many others. Taxicentrale is the main agency and I am told it runs a fast 24 hour service: Tel: 6777777. But I cannot guarantee that you will not be subject to this "magical mystery tour" scam if you use Taxicentrale because I have not tried this service. Maybe you can get a price when you book. Taxis are allowed to use the tramways when possible, this, at least means a quicker journey, (if you are taken by the most direct route!!)