
Prinsengracht Amsterdam. Copyright Gretta Schifano
I’m planning a trip to Amsterdam this year and so was happy to accept Marco Polo’s invitation to review their new guide to the Dutch capital. The Marco Polo Spiral Guide to Amsterdam is one of a brand new series of travel books published this month.
Marco Polo Spiral Guides
The new books have a spiral binding which makes it easy to open the pages out fully. There are Spiral Guides for Amsterdam, Andalucia, Barcelona, Budapest, Ireland, London, Malta, New York, Paris, Rome, Tuscany and Venice published this month with guides to Florence, Florida, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Marrakesh, Sicily, Tenerife and Thailand to follow in May.
The books have plasticised covers to protect them and they’re just the right size to fit into a handbag. They’re divided into distinct sections such as ‘Magazine’ which has articles about the destination, ‘Finding your feet’ which has practical information, and ‘Walks’ which provides walking routes to follow. The important sights are organised geographically and there are detailed maps and suggested itineraries for a ‘Perfect Day’ in each area. I really like the specially highlighted ‘insider tips’ from locals which pepper the books. At the back of each book is a detailed street atlas showing the sights, hotels and restaurants mentioned. Inside the back cover is plastic wallet containing a pull-out map of the destination.

Canal boat tour, Amsterdam. Copyright Gretta Schifano
Amsterdam
I went to Amsterdam with my ten year-old son a couple of years ago and we had a great time: his highlights were the Amsterdam Arena Tour, the canal boat tour and the pancakes, while mine were the Anne Frank Museum and the street markets. I’m looking forward to going back to the city this year with friends.
Marco Polo Amsterdam Spiral Guide
The first thing which I look at in the Amsterdam Spiral Guide is the Top 10 list of sights not to be missed in the city. I think that we covered half of them on our last trip including the Canal Tours which top the list. We avoided number 6 on the list though – I was keen to keep away from the Red Light District and so I made sure that I knew where it was. I’d love to go to number 4 on the list next time – the Van Gogh Museum.
The magazine section of the guide has some fascinating articles. I particularly like the feature about Jewish Amsterdam which explains how the city was a place of refuge for Jewish people as far back as the sixteenth century.
The ‘Finding your feet’ section is packed with useful tips some of which I already knew about – such as the excellent i amsterdam City Card which covers public transport and admission to the major museums – and some of which I was unaware – such as the free ferries from behind Central Station.
The sights are grouped into four sections: Medieval Amsterdam, Canal Ring – West, Museum Quarter and Canal Ring – East. Each of these sections starts helpfully with ‘Getting Your Bearings’ then gives a suggested ‘Perfect Day’ itinerary for that area followed by information for individual sights. At the end of each section are suggestions for where to eat, drink, shop and go out. I particularly like the ‘Perfect Day’ itineraries and would definitely use them to help me to plan my time in the city. Another great feature is the ‘Insider Tip’ label which pops up throughout the book. It signals some quirky and unusual things to do such as the Kinderkookcafé where children can prepare and decorate their own food.
The guide is well-written (as you’d expect with authors such as Simon Calder on the writing team) and thorough. It’s practical, easy to navigate and interesting to read and I’ll definitely be taking it with me when I go to Amsterdam.

Marco Polo Amsterdam Spiral Guide. Copyright Gretta Schifano
Giveaway
Marco Polo have 10 Spiral Guides to give away to Mums do travel readers. If you’d like a chance to win a Marco Polo Spiral Guide then follow the instructions below: good luck!
How to enter
- Type the name of the book which you’d like (Amsterdam, Andalucia, Barcelona, Budapest, Ireland, London, Malta, New York, Paris, Rome, Tuscany, Venice, Florence, Florida, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Marrakesh, Sicily, Tenerife or Thailand) in the comments section below.
- Enter your details via the Rafflecopter widget below.
That’s it! Rafflecopter will choose 10 winners at random and Marco Polo will send each winner the guide of their choice.
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post and Marco Polo sent me Spiral Guides to Amsterdam, London and Tuscany for review purposes.
New York please 🙂
London.
I would like the Andalucia book, i have family that live in Spain
Vienna – for when I visit my son
Barcelona please
Cape Verde guide please
Budapest
Florence 🙂
Venice please x
Venice
Paris would be great x
London please
I would love the Paris guide please x
Tenerife
Would love to read the Amsterdam guide.
My husband really wants to go to Rome, so the accompanying handbook would be awesome 🙂
Karen Hannah recently posted…Review: Worm World by Interplay
Ireland
New York,
London Please
Andalucia
Barcelona would be fab.
Paris please.
Ireland
Amsterdam would be lovely, thanks
Rome
Thailand please.
Florida!
Amsterdam
London please
Amsterdam 🙂
Barcelona please 🙂
Marrakesh as I’m going there in May 🙂
I would love the Ireland guide please as going there for Easter x
New York as we are going in May!
I’d like the Paris Guide If I win please.
Sicily!
Thailand would be awesome!
Malta please! <3
Amsterdam
London please 🙂
Barcelona please
Barcelona for me please 🙂
Florida please!
Budapest please… though tough decision as there’s so many places I want to go…
Hello Gretta! I really enjoyed your guest lecture at LCC few weeks ago 🙂
I would like to participate this poll — Budapest Please!
So Sun Park recently posted…Comparing Historical Markets in London VS Seoul
Thank you So Sun, that’s great to hear and thank you for entering this competition.
The London guide please 🙂
Venice for me please
Amsterdam would be great!
Barcelona as I am going in July ! Can’t wait although slightly apprehensive of the heat at the peak of the summer :S.
Amsterdam
London would be great being a country bumpkin
Budapest
I would love an amsterdam one
London as my current guide is about 15 years old and well thumbed!
Barcelona x
New York, or , Florida,
New York as i have always wanted to go there.
Venice please
Nicola Baird recently posted…Do you love your child or partner more?
Rome 🙂
Amsterdam ????
Budapest would be great as we are visiting for the first time in April.
I’d love to win London or Amsterdam!
Nicole recently posted…Peaceful Parisian Moments
I would go for Thailand please as we are hoping to go next year
Louise Perry Fairweather recently posted…Lushice Sorbet and Lime Shortbread
I’d get the Budapest one!!
New York x
Malta!
New York please! Going there later this year 🙂
London
London Thank you x
New York [Big Apple;]
New York
I’d love to win the guide for London x
Paris x
London
Amsterdam 🙂
Amsterdam please!
Tuscany
Morocco
Budapest
I’d love the New York Spiral Guide
A London guide please
london please
Paris
New York
Tenerife
Thanks for your helpful review! Would love for an Amsterdam book please x
tuscany
Would love to win a London guide
I’d love Gran Canaria as we’re off there soon (although hopefully Amsterdam later in the year too so I’m making a note of these guides!)
Cathy (MummyTravels) recently posted…Family day out: Warwick Castle – unlocked and with a toddler
I’d love to visit Malta, fantastic sights and great history. So it would be the Malta book for me.
Greece please
I’d love to win Thailand for my parents who are going this October for the first time! x
Amsterdam, though I have been there three times!
Amsterdam please
The Iceland Guide
London would be great, please.
Amsterdam x
South of France
Amsterdam please
The London guide x
London
Tuscany
Gran Canaria
The London guide please
Vietnam! :3
I’d love an Amsterdam book please! Thanks!
Jo addison recently posted…The National Space Centre with Babies and Toddlers
I would love London please x
Thank you for the lovely post and giveaway! I would love to win the Budapest Spiral Guide please!
Paris
Barcelona for me 🙂 never been but it was a hard choice as I love Amsterdam too
The Diary Of A Jewellery Lover recently posted…No Man Is A Failure That Has Friends
Fab review, thanks for sharing! Would love to win a London guide.
Florida!