Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam is The Netherlands’ main airport. It is controlled by the Schiphol Group. The airport provides direct connections to more than 247 European and intercontinental points. More than 42.5 million passengers use the airport each year making it Europe’s fourth-largest airport after Heathrow, Paris and Frankfurt. www.schiphol.nl
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There are two short-term parking lots (P1 and P2), both connected to the terminal and Schiphol Plaza by covered walkways, recommended for stays of up to 48 hours. Long-term parking is available in an open-air parking lot (P3), located 2.5 miles from the terminal. A free 24-hour shuttle bus links P3 with the terminal. There is also a luxury parking lot (P7). A VIP valet service is also available; reservations are required (tel: (0)900 7244 7465 (Netherlands only) or +31 (0)20 794 0800).
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Money and communications: There are numerous banks, which also offer VAT reclaim facilities, ATMs, currency exchange machines and bureau de change. There is a post office in Lounge 2, and mobile telephone hire at the TelecomRentcenter at Schiphol Plaza. Multiphone multimedia telephone units, which can be used for telephoning, Internet access and an SMS service, are situated throughout the airport. Wireless Internet is available in designated communication zones in the terminal building.
Eating and drinking: There are numerous restaurants, bars and cafés situated throughout the terminal building.
Shopping: There are numerous shops, including duty-free and a 24-hour supermarket, at Schiphol Plaza (before security) and on both sides of immigration. A duty-free pre-order and collection service is available online.
Luggage:Seal Go, at various locations in the Departures check-in area (tel: +31 (0)20 316 4289) seals luggage (irrespective of size) within one minute. Lockers are situated throughout the terminal. Left-luggage is open daily in the basement between Arrivals 1 and 2 (tel: +31 (0)20 601 2443). There are free trolleys and a porter service (tel: +31 (0)20 601 2303) is available on request. There is a lost and found office; information desks can provide more information.
Other facilities: The airport has a medical center, 24-hour emergency medical services (tel: +31 (0)20 649 2566) and a pharmacy. There is a fully equipped baby room and several play areas on Holland Boulevard; baby change facilities are provided in the toilets. Shower facilities can be found at the terminal hotel, available 24 hours a day. Massages, a casino and a prayer room are also available.
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Hotel Mercure Schiphol Terminal Hotel (tel: +31 (0)20 604 1339; www.hotelopschiphol.nl) is located within the terminal building, beyond customs. The hotel offers shower facilities 24 hours a day, as well as day room and overnight facilities. There are a number of hotels in the Schiphol area, most of which offer a free shuttle service to the airport. Hotels include the Bastion Hotel Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (tel: +31 (0)23 562 3632), Courtyard Marriott Amsterdam Airport (tel: +31 (0)23 556 9001), Crowne Plaza SPC (tel: +31 (0)23 565 0000), Dorint Airport Hotel (tel: +31 (0)20 658 8111), Golden Tulip Barbizon (tel: +31 (0)20 655 0550), Hilton Amsterdam Airport Schiphol Hotel (tel: +31 (0)20 710 4000), Van de Valk Hotel Schiphol A4 (tel: +31 (0)252 675 335), Ibis Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (tel: +31 (0)20 502 5100), Radisson SAS Hotel Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (tel: +31 (0)20 655 3131) and the Sheraton Hotel (tel: +31 (0)20 316 4300). The Schiphol TravelPort provides e-mail bookings and payment for selected hotels.
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Facilities include automatic doors, toilets, and an elevator between all floors of the airport, including train platforms. Wheelchairs are available for visitors, but passengers requiring wheelchairs and special assistance should inform their airline prior to travel. ACompany (tel: +31 (0)20 601 5018) provides an electrocar service, with shuttles running between piers D, E, F and G and in the Arrivals hall. Disabled parking is available in parking lots P1, P2 and P3. A bus is available on request (tel: +31 (0)20 316 1417) from lot P3 to take disabled passengers to the terminal; passengers requiring this service should call at least 24 hours in advance. Visicom (tel: +31 (0)20 601 2929) supplies text telephones for hearing-impaired passengers; induction loops are fitted at the information desks, transfer desks and in the waiting areas in the central lounge.
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The Schiphol Business Center (tel: +31 (0)20 653 2480) hires out offices equipped with fax, PC and telephone facilities, as well as a secretarial service if required. There is also a conference room with telecommunication facilities. The Communications Center (tel: +31 (0)20 653 1852) provides passengers with Internet facilities, mini-offices, a post office and a telephone center with full telecommunication facilities; wireless Internet connection is available too. The Skyport Business Centre (tel: +31 (0)20 654 1600) hires out meeting rooms accommodating between two and 22 delegates, that can be reached directly from both Arrivals and Departures. Secretarial services, catering, video and teleconferencing, a hotel reservation service and check-in are also available. Computers, fax machines and mobile telephones can be hired from Telecom Rentcentre (tel: +31 (0)20 653 0999) in Schiphol Plaza. Major airlines have executive lounges, which offer some business facilities.
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