UNCalum

I will be taking a class of college students to Venice in May 2014. I was hoping we could stay in Venice Proper, but with a budget of about 50-60 Euros per student, doing so appears impossible. The alternative appears to be Mestre.

The students can easily stay in triples or even quads; however, because they are adults, each will need his or her own bed. Naturally, this requirement complicates things. Safety is a huge consideration as well, although I can't imagine that would be too great an issue.

I posed this question here a few months ago, but the suggestions did not work out for one reason or another. At that time, I was hoping to avoid Mestre, but now realize that might be the only affordable option. We are not interested in hostels, by the way.

If anyone has new thoughts, please send them along. As always, I very much appreciate your taking the time to respond.

stevewith

How many in the group?

I would be tempted to look in Padova instead of Mestre. Padova is a university town, so that in itself should have some interest for the students. You will also find more favorable prices on meals as well as lodgings. The train is only 10 minutes longer.

Have you looked on the Lido?

I've nothing against Mestre, but if you strike out there, those are my suggestions of other options.

adrienne

Is the E50-60 pp for lodging only or does it include food and sightseeing?

Here's a hotel that is central but not at all fancy. A bit worn down but clean midway between Rialto and San Marco. They have triple and quad rooms for E30 to E40 per person, including continental breakfast. I'm sure I've seen other comparably priced hotels mentioned on this board.

You should check Let's Go guide book for other recommendations.

http://www.hotelcaneva.com/eng/albergo.html

annhig

another alternative is to stay in a monastery or convent - you could try looking here:

http://www.monasterystays.com/

UNCalum

Thanks so much for the replies so far. I will pursue all suggestions!

To clarify, the budget of 50-60 Euros is for lodging only. I expect about 21 students, and we will have two leaders.

I was thinking that Mestre would be better than going farther away because with bus/vaporetto passes, the students could come and go as they please when our work is finished each day. They enjoy having some unstructured time.

Again, thanks, and please keep ideas coming!

kappa1

Did you check youth hostels? There is one on Giudecca Island facing Venice (great view). It should have bank bed rooms.

rialtogrl

Have you checked out booking.com? You can find places with triple and quad rooms that seem to be in your price range there...

Lido is a really good suggestion. The students might get a kick out of going back to the hotel at night on a boat rather than a train or bus, and Lido has inexpensive rooms (inexpensive compared to Venice.)

But try to find something in Venice, if you can.

Peter_S_Aus

A couple of months ago, the Youth Hostel on Giudecca was closed for renovations - but maybe it has re-opened. It would be a better location for your group than Mestre - easier transport to "Down-town" Venice.

Sassafrass

Here are three possibilities. I have stayed in two, but not recently. You can look them up on TA.

Domus Cavanis in Dorsoduro. (first choice based on location)
This is an absolute bare bones kind of place with sparse furnishings and no charm - dorm like, with double, triples and quads. However, it was very clean when I was there and has one huge plus: perfect location - short walk to Academia Bridge and the vaporetto stop. Breakfast is included and is served in the lovely hotel (Belle Arti) across the calle. There are some good sandwich stands nearby. It is a short walk to Campo Santa Margherita where your students will find pizza places, etc. It is one of the quietest places I have ever stayed. Your students could stay out as late as they wish and walk all over Venice safely. They could also easily take late vaporetto rides and have a two minute walk to their room. They could spend every minute in Venice - no time wasted going back and forth.

Hotel Belvedere on the Lido.
When I stayed there, it was kind of shabby (I think it has since been renovated), but nice dining room and decent food and near (only a couple of blocks) to the beach. I would certainly pick this over Mestre.

Have not stayed here, but fits your needs:
Foresteria della Chiesa Valdese, www.foresteriavenezia.it. You must make reservations by phone.

For students (or even myself) I would choose Paduva over Mestre anytime.

UNCalum

Your ideas have been very helpful. I had not considered the Lido, but will check it out.

Annhig, do you have any personal experience with the hotel you mentioned? It is basic, but certainly well located.

As I mentioned, we are not interested in hostels. Many are fine, but others have issues with keeping students' belongings safe. We have decided that a hotel might be better, even though no accommodation comes with guarantees!

Again, your input is much appreciated. Please send other ideas as you think of them.

annhig

Annhig, do you have any personal experience with the hotel you mentioned? It is basic, but certainly well located.>>

UNCalum - my link was to the Monastery Stays site. I haven't ever stayed at a convent or monastery but generally they get good reports from those who do, and they are reasonably priced. also for groups of young people they often have very useful curfews! [though the night-life in Venice is pretty tame, IME]

basic should be ok for students, IMO, AND the advantage would be that you would be IN Venice.

which hotel/s are you considering in Mestre?

PalenQ

You can easily find proper hotels in the Lido for 30-40 euros a person as it is still off season. I stay there regularly - a short enough vaporetto ride from St Marks. Priceline, etc will have many offerings.

Also the Youth Hostel on an island just opposite St Mark's could be a viable choice as well - I stayed there long ago and it's in an old villa right on the water. recently completely rehabbed.

http://www.hostelvenice.org/

UNCalum

Sorry for the confusion, Ann. The monastery link does look promising, thanks. So far I have found no hotels in Mestre that are both affordable and have enough rooms with separate beds. Mestre was not my first choice, but rather a fallback position since I was having no luck in Venice Proper. Happily, you guys have given me some wonderful options that sound more promising, so I am working on those at this point.

Again, all of you have been such a huge help!

annhig

UNCalum - no probs. Hope that you find something to suit.

do come back and tell us how you get on!

Sassafrass

Not sure if it was clear that Domus Cavanis is a hotel in the Dorsoduro section of Venice "Proper". You absolutely can walk every where to major sights.

www.foresteriavenezia.it is also in Venice "proper."

Belvedere is on the Lido. I stayed there with a big group of my high school students.

UNCalum

Thanks, Sassafras. I am pursuing all leads. However, when I tried to put my May dates in on the Domus Cavanis site, I got the "No availability" message and was transferred onto the site of a much more expensive property. Perhaps it is too early to book that one. I am working my way through the list though and appreciate everyone's suggestions.

YvonneT

A friend (Prof. of Art), always takes his students here when they go to Venice: http://www.gaffaro.com/

UNCalum

As requested, I have returned to post the final decision about accomodations for a group that grew to 34 people. Since college students cannot be asked to share beds, finding enough twin-bedded rooms in a single hotel on the island of Venice was simply impossible--at any price. We opted for the Hotel Centrale in Mestre, about a mile from the station. Though a 3-star, it was pretty basic, but quite adequate, and well-located near a bus stop. Aside from one grumpy night clerk, the staff was friendly and helpful--and nice to my students which is not always the case.

The single unpleasant surprise was the news about two weeks in advance that a 15 Euro per person noise deposit would be collected, and that if a complaint about noise were made, the entire deposit would be kept, not just that of the offenders. Needless to say, this last-minute announcement did not sit well, but what were we to do at that point? I am guessing that the one grumpy man was the source because when we arrived, the subject was not even mentioned.

That said, the kids were as perfect as promised, and no complaints were made. However, the hotel's walls were so thin that when I called someone four rooms away, I could hear the phone ring! Thus, having no noise complaints was a bit of a miracle. Still, the property worked out well for us, and I can recommend it for well-behaved groups.

Thanks again for all of your suggestions!

annhig

UNCalum - thank you so much for coming back to up-date us on your trip and how you solved your problem.

Assuming that you did go into Venice with your group, [and I'm sure that you did!] how was the journey into the city? did it pose any problems not to be staying in Venice itself?

UNCalum

Actually, Annhig, transport into Venice was reasonably convenient. The bus to Pizzale Roma took about 15 minutes, after which we transferred to a Vaporetto. The buses ran about every 15 minutes until 11:00 p.m. when they moved to every half hour.

We bought transportation passes for each member of our group so that when our scheduled activities were over, the students could come and go on their own schedule. The passes allowed them to visit Murano and Burano as well. Since kids that age like to stay on the move, the passes were a good choice.

Being on the island rather than in Mestre would have been much better for sure, but the need for both separate beds and budget constraints forced a compromise. On the whole, everything worked well.