venice...HELP please!!!!

mum2olly

Hi all,

I am going to venice in september and am staying out of town.

i have got a xfer to the hotel already sorted but was wanting some advice on getting cheapest deals for buses and water taxis etc.

also any cheap food ideas

also (finally lol! best places to visit! we r there 3 days! i have been before when i was younger but hubby has never been!

thanks so much!

any info appreciated!

Littlemadam83

When I went quite a few years back we bought a 4 day pass for the water buses, I absolutely adore them and you can get pretty much anywhere on them. We found water taxis to be over priced, but its up to you.

Depending on what you are looking for I enjoyed St Marques Square, over priced for food but lovely atmosphere. I suppose everyone has to go there dont they!

We really loved just getting off wherever and having a look, it is sooo beautiful!

ellay864

It's been too many years since I went but one place I loved was going over to the island of Murano where they make amazing glassware, you see the glass blowers in action. But my favourite thing each time I went was just walking off round the tiny maze of backstreets. You can find some lovely little places, and cafes at reasonable prices - couldn't tell you any off hand but they were a fraction of St Marks square...though St Marks is somewhere you almost HAVE to sit and have a drink in, just for the atmosphere!

alisont

Been 5 years since I went and I was only there a day before joining a cruise. Id say get the 4 day waterbus pass - its a fab way to travel and see the sights from the canals. I got the bus from the airport (do validate your ticket at the machine before getting on the bus)

I stayed in a cheap basic hotel for £22 near the station.

If you want to save money on food/drink then if you wander off in the back streets - great way to see the city the food gets cheaper!

I was in Rome last week and we saved a fortune by having drinks before/after going out in the hotel - our fab hotel had mini fridge for food/drink and a microwave. We stocked up on breakfast/lunch foods at the supermarket and ate out in the evening - so hot there (high 90's)we did not want big meals so tended to have a slice of pizza for 2-3 euros just right size for a snack meal and really nice, we then got ice cream for 2-3 euros, very cheap eating out.

Having said that its nice to have sit down meals out to soak up the atmosphere:)

If you get the waterbus pass you could eat on the Lido or other islands - they might be cheaper. St Marks square is wonderful but very expensive for a drink.

Im planning to go with my parents next year cant wait as I did not get to see inside anywhere last time!

Have a fab time Its a wonderful place:)

There are plenty of small supermarkets in Venice I recall - great for bottles of water.

I brought back 150 euros from Rome which suprised me!

mum2olly

thanks guys, does anyone know how and where to get the best value on 3 day water bus passes?

jak1962

hi also there are vending shops in the less touristy areas that do food and drinks, was there last year, food not bad and only a couple of quid, coffee 40 to 50p.

Winifred

Have a look at the veniceconnected site to order and buy transport tickets in advance. You will be able to work out what's best for you - but do not validate your ticket until just before you first use it so that you maximise the time.

Sue_S

Winifred wrote: »

Have a look at the veniceconnected site to order and buy transport tickets in advance. You will be able to work out what's best for you - but do not validate your ticket until just before you first use it so that you maximise the time.

The VeniceConnected pass starts from when it's picked up, not when it's validated which is a bit of a nuisance. Also you have to say what day you're picking it up so your plans are a bit 'set in stone'. Good discount though...

Mardrew

We just got back last night from our holiday of 5 nights in Venice and 6 nights in Garda.

Definitely get a transport pass from veniceconnected. If you order online more than a week in advance you save 10%. As much as we loved walking around the streets of Venice and exploring the different areas we still got our money's worth from the pass. (We did 3 of the walks from here - http://aloverofvenice.com/HiddenCorners/HiddenCorners.html - they gave us a focus to our wandering and took us around streets that we just wouldn't have found.)

The other tip is have a water bottle with you and instead of buying bottled water use the water fountains that are dotted around the city to keep refilling your water bottle.

A time-saving tip for you - if you wish to go into St Mark's Basillica, walk past the long queue waiting to get in and go to the left of the 2 lions and hand your rucksack in - rucksacks are not allowed in but most people don't take any notice of the signs and only realise when they get to the front of the queue - you will then be given you a token that allows you to get straight in without queuing.

If you wish to get a view of Venice from 'up high' then instead of queuing and paying €8 to go up the campanile in St Mark's Square get the vaporetto over to San Giorgio Maggiore and go up the bell tower there. There were no queues and in fact hardly anyone up at the top and only cost €3 each. From there you can see back to St Mark's Square. It was so peaceful over there.

Just thought of something else - take a ride on the no. 1 vaporetta from the Lido down the Grand Canal to the Piazzale Roma. By getting on at the start you stand a chance (if you are quick) of getting one of the few seats at the front of the vaporetta then just sit and take in the sights and magic of Venice.

If you have time take the vaporetta to Burano and then Murano and just wander around.

We totally loved our time in Venice and will definitely be returning. Hope you have a fab trip.

Neil_Taylor

Cheapskate's Gondola trip.

There are at least three gondola ferries across the Grand Canal - look for the signs "Traghetti"

They are two man gondolas with seating around the edge, and standing room (!) in the middle, and cost very little.

Pee

Try to stay as late as possible one night, just to see it when everyyone else has gone home.

If you get off the beaten track and have a wander around you might just be able to get lost for five minutes before you see another water bus stop.

By the station there are some cheaper, and very good, places to eat. I've heard it said that food in venice is not as good as elsewhere in Italy, say Tuscany, and think i wold probably agree with that, although it is very good. Something like pizza with a bottle of prosecco can be reasonable and yet feel very luxurious. I'd save any sweet tooth for an ice cream wandering about afterwards.

Mostly the best bit is just wandering around. Three days is long enouh for a visit to one of the islands, or all three if you are feeling energetic. Burano, Murano and Toricello. If I was only going to visit one, Burano would get my vote, but ideally you should go to Venice three times and do one each visit!