Liftcenter Might Be Ticket to Ride

On the second floor of 256 N. Z. Voorburgwal, near Dam Square here, is a budget agency that can save you money.

The International Liftcenter offers a variety of budget travel services, including one that matches drivers who want to cut expenses with passengers willing to contribute to fuel costs.

For example, if you’re in Amsterdam and want to go to Paris, you could call or drop into the office to check if any Paris-bound drivers are seeking riders. They may know several days in advance about a car heading that way, or just hours in advance. It’s always wise to check more than once.

If they can arrange the ride, you’ll be charged a service fee of 14 guilders (about $7) and a maximum of 30 guilders toward fuel costs. That fuel charge could be reduced if several riders share the trip.

Chances are, economical rides can be found to several European destinations. The fee for a ride to Barcelona or Florence, for example, is a 24-guilder service charge plus a maximum of 90 guilders for fuel. From Amsterdam to Lisbon the charges are 27 guilders and 140 guilders, respectively. To Athens it’s 27 and 150.

The Liftcenter is linked to Eurostop, a network of similar services in 37 European cities. Together they produce a 64-page booklet that lists about 80 offices providing this type of service, in seven countries.

The publication, which costs 2.50 guilders, also includes information on budget accommodations, restaurants and tourist information offices in the cities where the offices are. Copies can be bought at the Amsterdam office.

The Amsterdam Liftcenter, which has been in business for four years, also arranges alternative forms of budget transportation. For example, they have made arrangements with luxury bus services to fill their unsold seats at reduced rates.

While I was visiting the Liftcenter it was possible to buy a one-way fare to Barcelona for 105 guilders; the regular rate was 190. Sometimes these fares are available a week in advance, sometimes it’s just a day or two.

Other last-minute bus destinations include the six-hour trip to Paris for 55 guilders, London for 75 guilders, Innsbruck for 105 guilders, Lisbon for 255 guilders, Florence for 125 guilders and Rome for 135 guilders.

Another type of inexpensive bus fare you can buy at the Liftcenter is called Budget Bus. Luxury buses are used on most routes, but don’t expect them on the Greece and Yugoslavia runs.

Budget Bus has an office of its own in Amsterdam at 10 Rokin, also near Dam Square. It offers a variety of cheap one-way fares; for example, Amsterdam to Greece for 225 guilders if you are under 26, and 250 guilders for older passengers. It also offers five “Capital Tripper” fares that allow you to spend up to six months to cover a designated route. For example, a ticket from Amsterdam to London, Paris, Lisbon and Barcelona plus return to Amsterdam is 360 guilders.

The Liftcenter also sells Transalpino rail tickets. These are special reduced rail fares for international trips that are sold throughout Europe to people under 26. You have up to two months to complete a journey.

While you are in Amsterdam you can get help with information on what to see, the transportation system, entertainment, budget lodgings and emergency services in a free copy of “Use It,” available upon request at the tourist information office outside Central Station.