Trip to Venice

[emilymamu]

My boyfriend is taking me to Venice in a couple of weeks, can anyone recommend a good hotel? What are the best things to see and how busy does it get? How much does it cost to hire a gondola? From all the pictures I have seen Venice looks very beautiful so I hope it will be a great trip. Thank you...

[auntiebertie]

Never book a hotel without reading tripadvisor.com - invaluable. Personally I stayed at Antiche Figure which hovers around the #3 positon, I also know that Locanda Orseolo is highly ranked. Gondolas are an expensive rip off for the tourists IMHO.

[doglady]

Gondolas are expensive, but at the same time, if it's the only time you ever go to Venice, you have to go in one! But I would think that the water taxis will do a better tour for less money.

[coccinelle]

I do agree with auntiebertie that check with tripadvisor before booking. I'm booked in with Locanda Orseolo for the carnival and can't wait! The place sounds so amazing. For the experience without being ripped off as the gondoliers have a tendancy to do, cross the Grand Canal on a traghetto (gondola) it's quick and cheap ( a few cents).

[coccinelle]

Another tip, visit St Mark's Square and the Basilica in the afternoon as the cruise tourists add to the other tourists in the morning who leave early afternoon. Don't be tempted to eat in Harry's Bar it's a rip off and even a drink in St Mark's Square as you actually pay for any music being played and your seat!! You'll have a lovely time.

[loonytunes]

I could not afford to stay in Venice so stayed in Mestre, which is nearer the airport. Hop on the train to Venice, takes ten minutes, cheap and often. Don't forget, in Venice itself, that you will be wheeling your luggage through streets and across bridges as there are no taxis (vehicles) in the main part of Venice. The vaporetti (water buses) do not always accommodate people with cases when they are busy. For food, head for a pizzeria for tasty and cheap pizzas. They are always better than those in restaurants or trattorias as pizzerias have proper ovens.