Tower Suite at Sheraton Amsterdam
Airport Hotel
multimedia experiences. You will
need to go outside security, exit the
terminal and head to the bus lane in
front of Schiphol Plaza. You can go
online to purchase tickets in
advance. Reservations are required.
If you don’t have time before you
leave, you can also purchase tickets
in Schiphol Plaza before your tour.
The cost for the one hour tour is
€15.50 per adult ($19.50), €7.75
per child ages 4 to 12 ($10) or €35
($45) for a family with two adults
and two children.
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is one
of the few airports in the world that
includes a casino; not just a few slot
machines like you find in Las Vegas,
but a full casino. In fact, Holland
Casino is a full-service casino with
slots and table games. It is free to
enter and open to anyone 18 and
over with a boarding pass and an
ID. The casino is in Departure Hall
2, behind Passport Control between
Gates E and F. The casino is open
daily from 6:30 am to 7:45 pm.
If you’re after a little quiet
time, head to the Airport Library
in Holland Boulevard. The library
has books available in about
20 different languages, as well
as electronic materials for
downloading to your own
device. The library is closed
for remodeling until late 2015.
AMS is one of the only hotels in the
world with an Airport Park. In fact,
the Airport Park is a unique faux
park concept, with indoor spaces
simulating a city park, a real
130-year-old tree anchoring the
space, as well as an actual outdoor
terrace. There are great lounge
chairs where you can rest, animal
sounds are filtered throughout,
interactive screens project images
of people riding bikes through open
parks and even butterfly projections
dot the floors. For something really
unique, you can hop on one of the
stationary bikes to charge your
phone. When you head outside, you
can enjoy the open air and watch
planes come and go in the distance.
The café in the Airport Park serves
up organic snacks and fair-trade
coffee you can enjoy at any of the
numerous picnic tables. The Airport
Park is located in Lounge 1, toward
Pier D, on the second floor.
XpresSpa: This successful airport
spa chain has three locations at AMS
where you can get everything from
a full body massage to a quick back
and neck massage; facial; manicure;
pedicure; wasting; oxygen
treatment; or an automated massage
chair. You can find XpresSpa on
Holland Boulevard, Lounge 1 between
Gates E and F; on Level 2 of Lounge
3; and in Concourse D. Each location
is open daily from 7 am to 9 pm.
Rituals Spa: This local Dutch
company offers a variety of products
to help the body and soul. In addition
to offering products, you can also
Terrace at Airport Park Schiphol.
Photo by Maurice Mentjes for
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
Most of us get off a flight, even
after a night sleeping in one of the
fully-flat seats, feeling a little achy
and perhaps a bit jet lagged. AMS
has several options for relaxing:
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get a hand and/or foot treatment.
The spa is in Lounge 1 toward Piers B
and C and is open 6 am to 8 pm daily.
Massage-O-Matic: For a completely
automated experience, check out the
Massage-O-Matic units scattered
throughout the airport. These
modern units have a shiatsu massage
chair and calming music. For 2€
($2.50), you can relax for 5 minutes
between flights.
Silence Meditation Centre: This
is a quiet area located on Holland
Boulevard. You can find books in
many different languages, quiet
area for prayer and/or meditation.