Faq

If you wish to ask a different question, please do not hesitate to contact us!

1. How far is Lucky Lake from the centre of Amsterdam?
2. Can you tell me more about the caravans?
3. What do the dorms consist of?
4. What are the cabins like?
5. Is Lucky Lake closed during the winter?
6. How many rooms does Lucky Lake have?
7. Does every room have private showers and toilets?
8. Are there any cooking facilities in Lucky Lake?
9. Is breakfast included in the price?
10. Are the rooms heated?
11. Does Lucky Lake have bicycles for rent?
12. Why do you need my credit card details?
13. Is it safe to give you my credit card details?
14. At what time can I check in?
15. At what time do I need to check out?
16. How do I get to the Amsterdam Arena, and Heineken Music Hall from Lucky Lake?
17. How do I get back to Lucky Lake at night time?
18. What is the price of public transport?
19. What are the hours for public transport?
20. I arrived at Schiphol airport, how do I get to Lucky Lake?
21. How do I get to the city center from Lucky Lake?
22. Can you buy food at Lucky Lake?
23. Can I pay with my credit/debit card upon arrival?
24. How much does a taxi cost to/from Lucky Lake to Center of Amsterdam/Schipol airport/Holendrect metro station?
25. Is there an internet connection at Lucky Lake?
26. Is it possible to stay with three people in one room?
27. Can I stay at Lucky Lake with my children?
28. Are groups allowed?
29. I don't have a credit/debit card, how can I make my reservation?
30. Do all rooms have electicity?
31. What is the difference between a double and a twin room?

1. How far is Lucky Lake from the centre of Amsterdam?
Using our shuttle bus and public transport, it should take approximately 30 minutes to reach the centre of Amsterdam. By car, you can reach the centre in 10 minutes.
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2. Can you tell me more about the caravans?
Most of the rooms are vintage caravans (trailers) - the sort of caravans that people in Europe attach behind their cars and travel with. Lucky Lake has 25 caravans arranged in an open design. Each caravan is separated from the next by a wooden fence, forming a small terrace in front of every room.
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3. What do the dorms consist of?
We have three dorm rooms at Lucky Lake. There are two bunk beds in each room, so each dorm can accomodate up to four people. We have two mixed and one female-only dorm. There are also lockers provided so belongings can be kept safely. 
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4. What are the cabins like?
Lucky Lake built nine brand new cabins in the fall of 2008. They are colourful and cosy, each with their own unique style. The cabins can accommodate up to three people (for pictures of the cabins please visit our Rooms page).
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5. Is Lucky Lake closed during the winter?
Yes, Lucky Lake is closed from the beginning of October to the beginning of April.
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6. How many rooms does Lucky Lake have?
Lucky Lake consists of 25 caravans, nine cabins, and three dorm rooms. Caravans can accommodate one or two people, each dorm can accommodate four people, and the cabins can accommodate one, two or three people.
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7. Does every room have a private shower and toilet?
No, Lucky Lake has showers and toilets in a separate building for our guests to share.
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8. Are there any cooking facilities at Lucky Lake?
We have an outdoor, communal kitchen with all the equipment you need. There are pots and pans, plates, cutlery, two stoves, three refrigerators, an oven and a BBQ, which are all free to use.
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9. Is breakfast included in the price?
Yes, our guests receive a complimentary breakfast from 09:00 to 10:30 in reception. We offer coffee, tea, hot chocolate, orange juice, milk, yoghurt, muesli, cornflakes, bread, nutella, honey, peanut butter and jams.
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10. Are the rooms heated?
No, our cabins and caravans are not heated, as we are closed during the winter months (from October until March). Guests are welcome to borrow extra blankets and hot water bottles if it is especially cold. Alternatively, we have small heaters available for rent (€2 per day). All dorm rooms at Lucky Lake are heated.
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11. Does Lucky Lake have bicycles for rent?
Yes, guests are welcome to rent bicycles for €1.50 per hour or €6 for the whole day. Explore the beautiful surroundings and villages nearby! However, if you wish to cycle to and from the centre, you will need to rent a bicycle in Amsterdam.
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12. Why do you need my credit card details?
When you book a bed or room in advance, we need your credit card details. These credit card details are used for a 10% deposit. This deposit is non-refundable. Any cancellations must be notified directly to us at least 24 hours in advance, otherwise the first night will be charged to your credit card.
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13. Is it safe to give you my credit card details?
Yes, all reservations are processed immediately using a secure online credit card processing service.
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14. At what time can I check in?
You are welcome to arrive anytime. Reception is open between 09:00 and 23:00. After 14:00, all rooms will be clean and ready. If you wish to arrive after 23:00, please contact us in advance.
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15. At what time do I need to check out?
Check out time is 11:00. We ask all guests to remove their luggage from their rooms by this time. Guests are welcome to store their bags at reception and to relax at the hostel during the day.
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16. How do I get to the Amsterdam Arena and the Heineken Music Hall from Lucky Lake?
Amsterdam Arena and Heineken Music Hall are only two stops (2 minutes) from Amsterdam Holendrecht station. Take our shuttle (7 minutes) to Amsterdam Holendrecht station. From there, take any metro to Bijlmer Arena.
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17. How do I get back to Lucky Lake at night time?
The last metro departs Amsterdam Holendrecht station around 00:15. Trains run for about an hour after this. Our last shuttle will pick guests up at Amsterdam Holendrect station at 01.30 (see the Shuttle schedule on our 'Getting here' page). If you want to stay out later, you can either use the early morning public transportation (from 6:00 in the morning), or take a taxi. A taxi from anywhere in the centre back to Lucky Lake will cost you €35.
There is no curfew and no lock out, so you won't have problems entering back into your room at night. 
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18. What is the price of public transport?
To get into the centre of Amsterdam from Lucky Lake, take our shuttle to Amsterdam Holendrecht station (about 7 minutes). From there, take the metro to the centre of Amsterdam (another 17 minutes).

COST OF TRANSPORTATION
From August 27^th 2009 Amsterdam introduced a new transport smart card, it’s called the ‘OV-chipkaart´. You can use the OV –chipkaart in all metro’s and trams and the blue and white local buses in Amsterdam.

Types of cards:

Disposable OV-chipkaart: If you are staying 1-4 days in the city this will be the best option for you because you will not have to pay 7,50 euro for the chipcard. With the 24, 48, 72 or 96 hour card, you can travel by metro, bus and tram in the city.

One hour card: There are cards available for 1 hour travelling. The cost for this card is 2,60 euro.

Anonymous OV-chipkaart: You buy this card at all underground stations and at GVB Tickets and Info Service points. You need to put credit (money) on the card before you can use it for travelling. All stations have machines to reload your OV-chipkaart, you can reload by credit card, coins and bills. The OV-chipkaart is 7,50 euro per person just for the card, the 7,50 euro is non-refundable and without credit. All travelers need to have their own card. From Amsterdam Central station to Amsterdam Holendrecht will cost 1,82 euro per person(one-way) and will be taken of your credit.

For more info please check out www.gvb.nl/english to see what option is best for you.

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19. What are the hours for public transport?
Metro 54 departs Amsterdam Centraal station at least four times per hour. It takes about 17 minutes to arrive at Amsterdam Holendrecht station. Metro's stop runnin around midnight. To catch the 1am or 1.30am shuttle you will need to take a train. Make sure the ltrain stops at Amsterdam Holendrecht station. Our shuttle bus will be at the Holendrecht station according to the schedule on our Getting Here page (also on this page is a map for the metro).
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20. Once I arrive at Schiphol airport, how do I get to Lucky Lake?
There is a train station beneath Schiphol airport. Take any train that stops at Duivendrecht station. At Duivendrecht, take metro 50 or 54 in the direction of Gein. Get off the metro at Amsterdam Holendrecht station and take the south ('zuid') exit. Turn right at the bottom of the stairs and wait by the green telephone booth. Our shuttle bus will be at the station according to the Shuttle schedule on our 'Getting here' page. There is also a map for the metro on this page. 
*If you want to take a taxi from the airpoort, make sure you have the directions with you. It will take about 20 minutes to get to Lucky Lake, depending on traffic.
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21. How do I get to the city centre from Lucky Lake?
Our shuttle leaves the hostel every hour on the hour (during peak times it may leave every half hour), starting from 08:00 until 01:00. Our shuttle will take you to Amsterdam Holendrecht station, which takes about seven minutes. The cost is €1 per person, one way. From Amsterdam Holendrect station, you can take metro 54 into the city centre and Amsterdam Centraal station.
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22. Can i buy food at Lucky Lake? Lucky Lake has a small store stocked with basic food items. There is a village called Abcoude (about 15 minutes away by bicycle) with supermarkets and grocery stores and an outdoor market that is open on Thursdays. There are also many restaurants in the surrounding area - one is located less than a kilometre away and is faces the beautiful lake.
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23. Can I pay with my credit/debit card upon arrival?
Yes, you can pay for your accommodation using Visa, Mastercard credit or debit card. Our bank charges us 4% extra on all credit and debit card transactions. This surcharge is passed down to our guests, so if you choose to pay for your accommodation using a credit or debit card, the price will be subjected to a 4% interest charge.
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24. How much does a taxi cost to/from Lucky Lake to the centre of Amsterdam/Schiphol airport/Amsterdam Holendrect station?
Lucky Lake has an agreement with ATB taxis (phone number - 020-6905858) to bring you back to Lucky Lake hostel, from anywhere in central Amsterdam for €35. With a regular taxi, it should cost around €40 from the centre, €50 from Schipol airport and €20 from Holendrect metro station. Our shuttle service operates from 08:00 until 01:30. If you need to leave the hostel before 08:00 or after 01:30, you can arrange a taxi at reception.
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25. Is there an internet connection at Lucky Lake?
Lucky Lake provides free internet access to our guests! We also have a WiFi connection, and two computers available for guests to use. Just come to reception to pick up a username and password.
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26. Is it possible to stay with three people in one room?
Yes, you can book a three person cabin. If these cabins are fully booked online, please send us an email with the request to add a third person.
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27. Can I stay at Lucky Lake with my children?
We are sorry to inform you that the minimum age for all guests at Lucky Lake is 17 years old.
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28. Are groups allowed?
Unfortunately, we do not allow groups over six people.
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29. I don't have a credit/debit card, how can I make a reservation?
To make a reservation, it is neccesary to have a credit/debit card. With the credit/debit card you pay a 10% deposit, and you can pay the remaining amount with cash or card upon arrival. If you don't have a credit/debit card, ask a friend or family member to use theirs. It is possible to arrive at Lucky Lake without a reservation. You can try calling us in the morning to see if we have rooms available. If we do, we will keep the rooms vacant until the pre-arranged time.
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30. Do all rooms have electricty?
There is an electricity socket in each room. All sockets are 220 volt and can be used for charging phones. However, high voltage electronics (such as hair dryers) cannot be used in the rooms. There are electricity sockets in the bathrooms for this purpose.
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31. What is the difference between a double and a twin room?
Double rooms have one bed for two people. Twin rooms have two separate beds.
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