andreadee

We are staying in the same place as you in Florence...it gets great reviews. Try Laconda lacorte in Venice. It's in castello area 10 minutes from ST. Marks and 10- from rialto...typing fast. sorry

amamax2

We stayed at Arco del Lauro in 2006 - it was hands-down our favorite place on our three-week trip. Large room, large bathroom, FLUFFY thick towels, very convenient to everything - we walked everywhere from there, including the Colosseum and St Peter's, although there is a bus close by, lots of wonderful neighborhood restaurants. Where the B&B is located, it is very quiet, but you are only a couple of blocks from main streets. Only caveat is it is a little hard to find initially....but after the first time, we hard no problems.

amamax2

Sorry, our trip was 2007 (not that is really makes a difference....)

ggreen

The Venice Biennale - wow, that's something I've always wanted to go to! It's one of the largest, well-established contemporary art shows in the world. Of course, that might not be your reason to go to Venice! LOL. (Though when I was a college student, my first visit to the Peggy Guggenheim museum in Venice was one of those life-transforming moments for me!)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venice_Biennale

And I agree: all the *tough* decisions between great options in Italy are so hard on a gal!

k9korps

Personally, for Venice, I always stay in the city, but here's another budget option (which no doubt will draw heavy criticism from the MUST-stay-in-the-city crowd): The Titian Inn near the airport. It's in your price range, is very nice, and is convenient to the bus to Venice, which takes just a few minutes and cost less than 2 euros, I think.

We stayed there the night before catching our plane home, and I can recommend it. Again, just another option in case you're really stuck for a place to stay.