Screen and Music Travel

What do Screen and Music Travel do?
Screen and Music Travel are specialist travel agents to the television and film industries. We move film crews (many of whom are probably your readers) to destinations all over the world. We have many deals in place with a number of airlines, for discounts on excess baggage charges, for passengers travelling with equipment. British Airways are the most popular airline used, strongly followed by the Star Alliance’s Media Onboard baggage service. We look after travel arrangements for many independent production companies like Michael Palin’s Prominent Pictures, Endemol, Tiger Aspect and RDF. We are also a preferred supplier to the BBC looking after programmes like Top Gear, This Time Tomorrow and many natural history programmes like Sir David Attenborough’s Life in Cold Blood, and their new series Oceans. A recent feature film credit is Inconceivable (ART in Las Vegas) starring Andie MacDowell and Colm Feore.
Ok so you are clearly qualified to help IBC visitors! Is it too late to book accommodation for IBC?
No, still a few rooms are available, but not much choice this late in the day. Most the allocations have gone by April.
Why can you find me rooms but I can’t on the internet?
Screen and Music Travel are an affiliate of a Dutch hotel search engine which has local availability.
What sort of price range do the available rooms have?
We looked at one the other day: A room in a dormitory for one night was €23, a hotel room with facilities from €85 up to a suite at The Dylan (A Manhattan-style suite, with a 4-poster bed, lots of windows and amazing views of the Zen Garden) for €1250. For those that want to be within walking distance there is Novotel at €375 which is a 4-star hotel conveniently located near the RAI
Which is the most popular region to stay in the city?
Some exhibitors (and some delegates) prefer to be close to RAI, most like to be downtown near Dam Square. If you are planning to do lots of evening networking then Dam square is a good choice as it will be in walking distance of many restaurants and will cut down the taxi bill.
What is a typical return flight cost, does staying over the weekend make much of a saving?
BA still have fares out of London of just over £100. A Saturday nights stay is sometimes cheaper but less availability over the weekend, Amsterdam is still a popular get away for a weekend with none IBC attendees! It is also worth bearing in mind that not all delegates are arriving from the UK therefore, although hotels may be chocker block over this period, the flights from UK airports still have availability. Some people just go over one day at a time, a return to the UK in the same evening.
Is there a minimum number of nights
Most the bigger hotel had stipulated minimum stays during IBC, However our searches have found smaller properties without minimum stay.

Do you arrange travel insurance?
Yes – through holiday extras. Don’t assume you have cover through your company, check with your personnel department and if not then give me a call!
What transport links are they when we arrive?
You should take a stopping train from the station under Schipol Airport (intercity do not stop at RAI station) in the direction of Duivendrecht and get off at the station called 'Amsterdam RAI'. Trains run frequently (about once every 15 minutes) every day from 05.40am until 00.27am. The trip takes 9 minutes and costs approximately €2.50. From the station the congress centre is about a 5 minute walk. The journey into the city centre by train takes around 20 minutes and will cost around €3.00. Trams are the most popular way to get around Amsterdam. They are frequent, regular and run until after midnight
Do you know of any resources for things to do after hours?
See the IBC social programme page or the Amsterdam page has lots of good links. Also, I am told, next months copy of tv-bay which will have all the information you need on what to do in your spare time!