Anyone been to Venice

tigger115

Due to our circumstances am planning just a 3 night break for our honeymoon next June. Was thinking about Venice because of its romance;) but have heard its really expensive. Anyone got any tips please? Thanks

WelshWombler

We went to Venice in August 2005 and would highly recommend it. We've been to many places that people class as "expensive" and I would say the same about any of them - they can be expensive but if you look around and spend sensibly you can have a great weekend without blowing a fortune. Gondola rides are pricey but the water bus is cheap (get a 3 day travel pass) and as much fun (if not quite so romantic!) at a fraction of the price. There are hundreds of restaraunts and many do budget priced set meals (3 courses for £10 - £15). We found a few good bars with drinks priced similar to the UK and generally wine could be bought inexpensively. The budget airlines fly there and if you trawl the web you can find a decent standard hotel for around £120 for 3 nights (we stayed in the Scandinavia - old but nicely situated). Hope all this helps! :beer:

Mrs(no)money

Sounds a lovely idea to me ....:D

I went to Venice as a teenager (about twenty five years ago!) on a day trip whilst holidaying in Yugoslavia at the end of May. Aimed at tourists, we went to Piazza San Marco (St. Marks square) where all the pigeons are, and i think there was the opportunity to go into San Marcos Basilica (with the golden domed roof) - we did the shops instead!!

It was very expensive, we were warned that a coffee in one of the pavement cafes in the square could cost a fiver :eek: (very expensive for those days). The tour company had arranged a pizza and ice cream meal instead for around 30,000 lira (£10.00) at what seemed like a back-street restaurant which was actually very good. I suppose Venice is like most places that attract tourists, in that if you go a little further out, its less expensive.

One thing the rep did say was that Venice gets more than its far share of rain, usually raining by midday. Sure enough, just short of noon the heavens opened! (That wont matter to you though on honeymoon;) )

We had a brill time though, and I would welcome the chance to go back. I remember at the time saying i would love to live there - I fell for its charm, and although i know it might not be to everyones taste, i loved it. And at least if you know its expensive you're half prepared!

I am sure for a 3 night break for a honeymoon it would be just perfect. Hope you have a great time wherever you decide upon.

djl

hi

we went to Venice last march its very expensive to eat but its a great place to visit,the grand canal is nice and st marks sq with Doges Palace and the Basilica. we stayed at the Gardena hotel a 3 star which is just a stone throw from the grand canal its basic but hotels are expensive as well . my advice is everyone should see Venice. Hope this helps

grade15

i guess that however expensive the gondola rides are..i guess u will still go..as its your honeymoon! we haggled and haggled..and haggled and brought the price down..so its worthdoing..whatever the price states on their price boards....
if they ask you "do you know who lived in this house..whilst you are onboard? someone famous.."its casanova..the lover" well its very touristy, mind ur pockets and handbags in those narrow alleys..but enjoy ur trip.. :dance:

Burtie_2

Be careful were your hotel is. There's a big difference between Venice Island, Venice Lido and Venice Miestro (??)

Has anyone managed to find an in-expensive hotel on Venice Island? Accoring to TripAdvisore that Scandinavia is $269 per night!!

wigginsmum

Venice is lovely - we always stay at the Giardinetto on Lido (EUR 70 for a double room for a night including breakfast) and get the water-bus everywhere (they're really hot on everyone having tickets for them so do get the 3-day pass (EUR 25) - we always gets ours at Treviso airport - look for the ACTV sign). The Giardinetto is right opposite the stop and very handy as a base.

From the airport it's about 30 minutes by regular coach across the bridge and on to Piazzale Roma where the Grand Canal starts. You can also buy the 3-day passes at Piazzale Roma.

The No. 1 waterbus (vaporetto) runs from Piazzale Roma right round the Grand Canal and across to Lido (takes about and hour and ten), and it runs 24/7. There is another route round the back/eastern side of the peninsula but it's not so scenic and more popular with commuters.

The key is to pick restaurants which are off the tourist-trail. We didn't find nomal food that expensive but then we're used to London prices. Don't do anything food/drinkwise around the Piazza San Marco - it really is hideously expensive. Caffe Florian is the renowned huge cafe in San Marco dating back to 1720 but it's heaving, very expensive, and the waiters are rude; on the plus side you'll often be entertained by a string quartet or similar. Likewise Harry's Bar for a peach bellini - nice idea if you can get through the doors.

Murano is the pretty little island where they do the glass-blowing - well worth a visit but mind the hardselling techniques. There's a food market up near the Rialto bridge which is good fun. I'd recommend getting the Rough Guide book. One thing you'll find is that Venice is spotless - no litter, very little in the way of dog's muck.

Had one of strangest nights of my life in Venice on our first trip - 3 girls together, we got chatting to a couple of drunk English guys who were very sweet. One disappeared off into the night to find cigarettes and we never saw him again. We wandered with the first and found this nightclub with live music where the host was dressed as General Custer; had a lovely night there, came out about 3am and encountered a group of Venetian men singing the most gorgeous harmonies in Piazza San Marco so we stayed and sang with them for a while, and then sang our way across the lagoon on the No. 1 to Lido. The acoustics for Sloop John B have never been better. One of those magical nights you just can't ever repeat.

tigger115

Wow thanks for all your replies - Venice it is then!

Burtie - is Venice Island the main place then?

lionelflare

Dont want to put a downer on it but me and the missus were realy dissapointed with Venice. Gondola rides were not the romantic trip down the canal we were expecting but more like the M25 on a friday afternoon. Gondola traffic jams do not equal romance.

We also found the food to be expensive and poor even though we were going to restaurants that the guidebooks reccomended.

The scenery was nice and it is definately a place that you have to go but certainley wouldnt go back.

If you do go though I hope you have a great time!

AngLangS

My sister and I went for a long weekend a few years ago. We booked a very cheap flight with Ryanair.

We stayed on the Lido in a lovely little hotel 1 minute from the boat stop.

We didn't book the hotel til very late (try https://www.laterooms.co.uk or https://www.hotels.com) we had a really good deal.

By a 3 day pass on the vaporetto, walk everywhere else. Avoid the big tourist hotels and restaurants, there are lots of great restaurants in the smaller side streets who offer great food at good prices. We also ate at the Lido, extremely good prices often including wine.

We made a point of visiting lots of little churches (often no charge).

If you're happy to organise things for yourself you don't need the expensive tourist tours - and you'll have a great time.

Have a great time

shirlgirl2004

I went to Venice this year. We did find reasonably priced places to eat out of the main tourist runs. The gondola rides are cheapest at siesta time and the "roads" are quieter too as there's less "traffic". I didn't go on one because I've got a 2 year old and we'd have lost her overboard but I spoke to someone that said they got the ride for about 60 euros so not too bad.

I hope you have a great time.

Shirl