mels

Where is the best location in Venice for 2 nights.

thursdaysd

Define "best".

mels

For hotel location...we are only there 2 nights. Is it good to be by the the Center. My friend stayed at Carnival and told it was too far from everything. Looking for a few opinions.

HappyTrvlr

Do you mean San Marco? It is the most crowded area of Venice, packed with tourists. You might enjoy the Dorsoduro neighborhood across the canal.Venice is small. Your friend was in Canareggio which is where we prefer to stay to get away from the mobs and eat a the top restaurants there.

thursdaysd

Last time I stayed in Sant'Elena. That was a bit far even for me. The Lido is too far unless you want a beach. Pretty much anywhere else reasonably close to a vaporetto stop should be fine, but the closer to the Rialto or St. Marks the busier. Dorsoduro is a good option.

mels

Thanks

rbciao47

We prefer the Sesiere Canneregio, which is the location of the Santa Lucia train station and one vaparetto stop from Piazzale Roma. We do not like humping our luggage over bridges with no ramps or along crowded streets. Years ago we found the Hotel Abazzia and have stayed there ever since. It is a former Carmelite Monastery located on a very quiet calle (alley). The property is very nice and the staff is excellent. To reach Piazza San Marco you can take a vaparetto located nearby or take a 20 minute walk.

Buon viaggio,

DonTopaz

If it's a first-time visit to Venice, then I think that the proximity to a vaporetto (water-bus) stop is more important than the specific neighborhood. Here's why:

There are essentially only two ways to get around Venice: on foot, and by vaporetto. A first trip, especially one as short as 2 nights, is really going to be not much more than an overview, where you'll likely wind up cramming as mostly just a few of the top sites into the time available (San Marco, Rialto, Grand Canal, Doge's Palace, a museum or two). To avoid spending time getting lost, the most efficient strategy is to stay near a vaporetto stop.

Even when you stay near a vaporetto stop, however, you will almost certainly at one point or another get lost and find yourself meandering, maybe aimlessly, through the streets and alleys of Venice. And, ironically, you'll very likely discover that one of the very best ways to appreciate Venice is to be doing exactly that: head off on foot in some general direction, meander and meander down any street that looks interesting, stopping whenever you feel like it for at an outdoor cafe in a piazzetta to enjoy watching Venice pass by.

All of which is to say that your first trip to Venice is actually a scouting trip for your next trip to Venice. For me, I especially like staying in San Polo, though I've also really liked staying in Cannareggio near the Ghetto, and even in the neighborhood across the canal from the train station.

mels

Thanks....meandering works for me. I was looking into staying at Ai Mori d' Ori looks nice. And we have no problem walking anywhere. Also looking at Railto....but it did not get good reviews. Excerpt for location. Trying to stay at 4 star around $300 per night.

AlessandraZoe

Mels--I don't know if this helps, but we were in Venice last year and in 2009. We've now stayed in three different locations and three distinctly different properties:

Hotel Londra Palace in 2014: 4* (I'd call it a 4* +)in a great location (on San Marco close to St. Marks but not plop in the middle of tourists), great views from room overlooking San Giorgio Maggiore, every possible water transport available.

Hotel Antiche Figure in 2014: 3* on Grand Canal close to train station (we were staying here because we had an early train); near Piazza Roma; can get to/from airport in a snap on the cheap or with $$$.

Palace Bonvecchiati in 2009 (not to be confused with Hotel Bonvecchiati): 4* strategically landlocked on San Marco between Rialto and St. Mark's Square.

Now that I look back, I think I liked the location of the Palace Bonvecchiati best. No view, but you can efficiently cut to most areas of Venice easily (we would go to St Mark's every evening in 5 minutes). If you want to arrive by water taxi, you still can--they have a canal dock. Our time was limited in 2009, and we found we could truly "work" Venice from there by hoof or by boat.

Happy shopping!
AZ

mels

Thanks I will check out these hotels.

mels

I just checked hotels Londra $500 per night and palace $450. More than I wanted to spend. But thank you. I am going to check Hotel Abazzia,

arindasue

We enjoyed three nights at the Locando Ca' le Vele, two blocks in from the Ca' d'Oro vaporetto stop. We loved it. There is a small canal at the back and some rooms overlook it with a small balcony. It's small and very Venetian, run by two Venetian brothers. Our room was HUGE. You can easily walk everywhere. In shoulder season I think we paid 150€.

AlessandraZoe

Actually, mels, I guess what I was trying to say--and obviously failed--was not to be afraid to have a more "landlocked" location as long as it gives you quick access to a VARIETY of vaporetto stops (as did the Palace location) or to an all-vaporettos-all-the-time one. With your short stay, that is the type of flexibility that you need.

mels

I was just looking at Hotel Saturnia. I will check your suggestions arindasue.

HappyTrvlr

Land locked hotels are fine. We couldn't sleep at the Londra Palace with the vaporettos noisely slamming into the docks out front.

HappyTrvlr

If you want to be near San Marco but away from the crowds look at Hotel Dlora. It can be accessed from a small canal.

china_cat

HappyTrvlr, that was exactly my experience with Londra palace too. It's a very nice hotel. But we were there during a heat wave, and their so-called air conditioning was a joke. Our choices were closed window and dying of heat and stuffiness, or open window and deal with noise and diesel fumes from the vaporetto. While I really liked the central location and everything else about the hotel was great,I could still never recommend it.

mels

Hotel,Flora is booked. Well one room and I need two.

Peter_S_Aus

Dorsoduro works for us, and we like the area around San Barnaba. Easy to find from the Ca Rezzonico vaporetto stop.