VENICE the great rip off

sirteuk

Just got back from three days in Venice. We had a great time BUT this place is now a complete rip off.
The first problem we had was actually no fault of Venice and that was the exchange rate where Euro 300.00 cost £299.80, so basically it's now one to one.
The three day transport pass to include the water bus is a good deal as if pre booked it costs £28.00/person.
When in Venice part of the fun is having a coffee or beer at a pavement cafe and watching the worls pass you by, but to give an example, two beers(.5 Lt) plus two Panini's cost £25.00 and that was by the railway station well away from St Marks Square
An evening meal in the vicinity of St Marks to include one bottle of wine, two starters and two main courses £80.00 which includes the 12% service charge.
I have visited Venice many times before so I am pretty geared up to the venetian way of life, but with the combination of the exchange rate and Venetian prices, I think Venice will soon become the tourist domain of the Japenese only.
The hotel we stayed at was fabulous- called the Minelli Palace with only 5 rooms. Our room had a balcony overloooking one of the major gondola routes so we were serenaded each evening for free- the only thing in Venice that was free.
Anyone thinking of going on a budjet, make sure you find out where McDonalds is because that's the only cheap food. I didn't bother myself by the way!
Take plenty of money for food!!

gjchester

sirteuk wrote: »

Just got back from three days in Venice. We had a great time BUT this place is now a complete rip off.

Not sure where the issue is here.

It's a tourist place and no different to many others. Cafe's in tourist centres (and railway stations) are expensive the world over, go into Central London and you know your going to pay over the odds in any of the central touristy areas because they know they can charge it. Go into a bar in a station and the beers pricey, even the on station wetherspoons charge more than the one a street away as they know people will pay the extra rather than leave the area and miss a train.

I know the exchage rate didn't help, but if you didn't like it walk away after reading the prices.

pelirocco

sirteuk wrote: »

Just got back from three days in Venice. We had a great time BUT this place is now a complete rip off.
The first problem we had was actually no fault of Venice and that was the exchange rate where Euro 300.00 cost £299.80, so basically it's now one to one.
The three day transport pass to include the water bus is a good deal as if pre booked it costs £28.00/person.
When in Venice part of the fun is having a coffee or beer at a pavement cafe and watching the worls pass you by, but to give an example, two beers(.5 Lt) plus two Panini's cost £25.00 and that was by the railway station well away from St Marks Square
An evening meal in the vicinity of St Marks to include one bottle of wine, two starters and two main courses £80.00 which includes the 12% service charge.
I have visited Venice many times before so I am pretty geared up to the venetian way of life, but with the combination of the exchange rate and Venetian prices, I think Venice will soon become the tourist domain of the Japenese only.
The hotel we stayed at was fabulous- called the Minelli Palace with only 5 rooms. Our room had a balcony overloooking one of the major gondola routes so we were serenaded each evening for free- the only thing in Venice that was free.
Anyone thinking of going on a budjet, make sure you find out where McDonalds is because that's the only cheap food. I didn't bother myself by the way!
Take plenty of money for food!!

Venice has always been expensive lol , but then most ( if not all ) cities in Europe are . Tbh £80 for a meal for 2 isnt bad considering where you were , and I did find the food in Venice was exceptionally good

Pollycat

This thread could just have easily been titled:
DUBLIN the great rip off
BARCELONA the great rip off
LONDON the great rip off
PARIS the great rip off

And of course, like most threads with the words 'rip-off', 'scam' 'con' in - it's not really a rip off at all.

The word you're looking for, sirteuk, is 'expensive' - not much of a surprise there then. :rolleyes:

Froggitt

IMHO go to Vegas. Stay at the Venetian. Room overlooking the Mirage Volcano. $16pp gondola rides. Beers free while you are at the slots. Go for bagels instead of paninis. Evening meal at the Grand Lux Cafe $60 for two, with a doggy bag to take the rest of the huge portion away. Buy a 10 ride ticket for the Deuce bus up and down the strip.

gedebage

For anyone going to Venice I suggest you stay in Lido Di Jesolo, a beachside town about an hour away by bus and boat. There are many good cheap hotels and restuarants. The main street is closed to traffic in the evenings making it the longest pedestrianised road in Europe, giving the town a real holiday feel with shops and cafe's open until the small hours.

The town has a great atmosphere. Getting from Lido to Venice is easy. Regular buses to to Punto Sabbioni where you can catch the ferry right into Venice. You can get a combined bus/boat ticket. I forget the fare now but it was reasonable.

davetrousers

Another example of Rip Off Britain!

delwynshd

???? what do you mean

davetrousers wrote: »

Another example of Rip Off Britain!

davetrousers

delwynsholidaydeals wrote: »

???? what do you mean

A tongue in cheek response.

The point I'm making is that other countries can be expensive too.

daveyjp

It's ONLY the exchange rate which makes it appear expensive. If there were 2 euros to the £ it would be very cheap.

Nordictat2

Heh...try living in Norway everyday..like I do. Expensive is this lands trademark lol.