Car in Venice
May 26th, 2008, 05:25 PM
#21
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No, we can't agree on that, if you have one day to see Venice, then by all means, I think you should go, you can see quite a lot in one day.
I don't know about the "we" get it-I do know there are many people on this board who love Padova, and not enough people bother to go and see its many treasures. Instead, they get frustrated by being on over-clogged vaporettos in Venice, and being down on the Piazza San Marco area unable to move because of the crush of tourists-since there are no less than TEN MILLION TOURISTS A MONTH to go through Venice, an unsustainable figure.
I don't know about the "we" get it-I do know there are many people on this board who love Padova, and not enough people bother to go and see its many treasures. Instead, they get frustrated by being on over-clogged vaporettos in Venice, and being down on the Piazza San Marco area unable to move because of the crush of tourists-since there are no less than TEN MILLION TOURISTS A MONTH to go through Venice, an unsustainable figure.
May 26th, 2008, 05:49 PM
#23
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tuscanlifefedit
I emphasized the strictly for the view of Venice as one exits the train station. One of my treasured memories.
For first timers, I would place that above the bus (assuming the schedules are similar).
I emphasized the strictly for the view of Venice as one exits the train station. One of my treasured memories.
For first timers, I would place that above the bus (assuming the schedules are similar).
May 26th, 2008, 06:04 PM
#25
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The two best times in Venice are before about 9 or so in the morning and after 7 or 8 in the evening. Part of the reason for that is that all the people staying outside the city aren't jamming the city during those times. Staying outside Venice and missing those best times would surely be a sad mistake to me! In fact I could more easily understand someone staying IN Venice, but leaving to other towns for the bulk of most days, rather than the other way around.
May 26th, 2008, 11:48 PM
#26
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Wow, thanks everyone. Certainly a wide range of views here. Maybe we should look at a compromise. If we are 3 days in the area, we could stay 2 nights in Padua (Padova), using some of the time to drive up to Asolo, Feltra & Belluno as well as see Padua. Then we could go into Venice early the 3rd day, park at Mestre, and stay a night in the centre to experience the quieter period after the day-trippers leave.
Just an idea, and I do take the point that staying right in (at least some of the time) has its merits. The first time we ever visited Paris (we've been several times since) we had a car, so day-tripped in from Chartres. And it was limiting, so I understand what everyone means.
Just an idea, and I do take the point that staying right in (at least some of the time) has its merits. The first time we ever visited Paris (we've been several times since) we had a car, so day-tripped in from Chartres. And it was limiting, so I understand what everyone means.
May 27th, 2008, 04:16 AM
#27
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Girlspy;
You don't agree that Venice is worthy of more than just a day trip? Read my original comment.
Of course, if a day is all you have (that would be some pretty shaky trip planning too, considering where Venice is and it is hard to be just passing through) you should go anyway, but it is worth more.
Clearly you are just spoiling to argue. Padua good, Venice over-touristed.
We appreciate your factual analysis on the unsustainability of tourism in the area.
Twoflower never asked how great Padua was, did she?
You don't agree that Venice is worthy of more than just a day trip? Read my original comment.
Of course, if a day is all you have (that would be some pretty shaky trip planning too, considering where Venice is and it is hard to be just passing through) you should go anyway, but it is worth more.
Clearly you are just spoiling to argue. Padua good, Venice over-touristed.
We appreciate your factual analysis on the unsustainability of tourism in the area.
Twoflower never asked how great Padua was, did she?
May 27th, 2008, 04:20 AM
#28
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twoflower, I do like Padua and have spent a fair amount of time there, but I guess I don't understand the idea of using it as a base to go other places during the day and then return to Padua for the night. Compared to returning in the evenings to Venice -- well, there simply IS no comparison to that. Of course if it's to save money on accomodations, I guess I can understand that OK. If you're not actually spending a lot of time in Padua but leaving most of the time during the day, my choice would be to stay IN Venice the whole time and do day trips from there for the places you mention visiting -- including a full day in Padua. But maybe that's just me.
May 27th, 2008, 06:31 AM
#29
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Excuse me, I'm not "spoiling" to say anything of the sort, what a peevish notion! Do you just like to argue for argument's sake? Sheesh! I know it may seem extremely odd to some people, but people DO stay in Padova, ALL THE TIME to base themselves to see Venice and to be in a more central location to go to other places in the Veneto BESIDES Venice. And furthermore, not everyone thinks staying in Venice at night is so great, they really don't! A lot of people complain that there's nothing to do at night there! Padova is a wonderful art city, and if you have a car, you can park it right there in the city and not pay 24 Euro a day as you will have to do to park in Venice's Tronchetto. You also will not pay as much for accomodation. I think Padova is an excellent choice IF that is what the OP is looking for, particularly if the OP is keeping the car and wants to save on expenses.
May 27th, 2008, 06:35 AM
#30
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A lot of people overstate the matter when they say there is nothing to do in Venice at night. But certainly there could be many legitimate reasons for someone to prefer staying outside Venice rather than in the city.
May 27th, 2008, 06:39 AM
#31
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Geez, sorry to offer an alternative. I didn't know that was forbidden here.
I agree Padua is a great museum city, but with only two nights there and leaving to go see Asolo, Feltra, and Belluna, I'm really not sure that they will have any more museum time IN Padua that they would in a full day trip there from elsewhere.
Some people hate the crowds of Venice, you are right. Who are those people? Generalyy they are the people who arrive at 10 or so and leave by 5 to stay elsewhere, including many who only saw it from a day stop of a cruise ship -- or from somewhere else on the day when several huge cruiseships were in town. Of course, some people hate Venice totally. Fine, then they can avoid it.
I'm really not arguing. If someone wants to stay in Padua, that's fine (especially as I said because it can save money if that is an issue) -- but I felt these were a couple of things worth pointing out! Why is that so bad?
Glad to know that there's a lot more to do at night in Padua than in Venice. I guess I missed all that when we were there.
I agree Padua is a great museum city, but with only two nights there and leaving to go see Asolo, Feltra, and Belluna, I'm really not sure that they will have any more museum time IN Padua that they would in a full day trip there from elsewhere.
Some people hate the crowds of Venice, you are right. Who are those people? Generalyy they are the people who arrive at 10 or so and leave by 5 to stay elsewhere, including many who only saw it from a day stop of a cruise ship -- or from somewhere else on the day when several huge cruiseships were in town. Of course, some people hate Venice totally. Fine, then they can avoid it.
I'm really not arguing. If someone wants to stay in Padua, that's fine (especially as I said because it can save money if that is an issue) -- but I felt these were a couple of things worth pointing out! Why is that so bad?
Glad to know that there's a lot more to do at night in Padua than in Venice. I guess I missed all that when we were there.
May 27th, 2008, 02:17 PM
#32
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Girlspy;
A note for the future;
When someone suggests you are just spoiling for an argument, you pretty much prove their point when you reply by asking if they like to argue just for arguments sake and usggesting the original comment is a "peevish notion".
Called it first - no call backs!.
A note for the future;
When someone suggests you are just spoiling for an argument, you pretty much prove their point when you reply by asking if they like to argue just for arguments sake and usggesting the original comment is a "peevish notion".
Called it first - no call backs!.
May 27th, 2008, 02:27 PM
#33
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This is getting silly. Why can't they both be right?!
I'm in the camp that prefers staying IN Venice.
BUT---I also appreciate all the information on Padua, most of which was new to me. It would not be ridiculous for someone to stay in Padua and visit Venice during the day. I might do just that one of these days.
Despite the venting, this has been a helpful thread.
I'm in the camp that prefers staying IN Venice.
BUT---I also appreciate all the information on Padua, most of which was new to me. It would not be ridiculous for someone to stay in Padua and visit Venice during the day. I might do just that one of these days.
Despite the venting, this has been a helpful thread.
May 27th, 2008, 04:34 PM
#34
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twoflower,
fyi, the last vaporetto for the Lido leaves San Marco around midnight, takes 12 minutes and the daily pass is about 10 EU. You can also hop on and off at all the stops around the Grand Canal all the way up to Piazzale Roma (last stop on the other end) and explore all the other areas.
Another thing I liked about using the vaporettos all the way to the Lido is that you really get to mix in with the locals commuting to work, etc.
We were able to spend a lot of time in Venice proper during the best times NeoPatrick suggests, (when trainloads, shiploads and busloads of tourists leave) and take the midnight water bus to the hotel in Lido, which was 100 feet from the vaporetto stop, with the car parked in the garage inside.
That made it roughly equivalent to staying in Venice proper, if you, like us, are more comfortable not parting with the car during stay in Venice.
Also, the car ferry ride to and from Tronchetto is incredibly scenic and adds quite a bit to the experience.
fyi, the last vaporetto for the Lido leaves San Marco around midnight, takes 12 minutes and the daily pass is about 10 EU. You can also hop on and off at all the stops around the Grand Canal all the way up to Piazzale Roma (last stop on the other end) and explore all the other areas.
Another thing I liked about using the vaporettos all the way to the Lido is that you really get to mix in with the locals commuting to work, etc.
We were able to spend a lot of time in Venice proper during the best times NeoPatrick suggests, (when trainloads, shiploads and busloads of tourists leave) and take the midnight water bus to the hotel in Lido, which was 100 feet from the vaporetto stop, with the car parked in the garage inside.
That made it roughly equivalent to staying in Venice proper, if you, like us, are more comfortable not parting with the car during stay in Venice.
Also, the car ferry ride to and from Tronchetto is incredibly scenic and adds quite a bit to the experience.
May 28th, 2008, 03:33 AM
#35
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I feel a teensy bit guilty at having provoked such heated discussion. On the other hand, I really would like to reinforce JeanneB's verdict that "despite the venting, this has been a helpful thread". Whatever we do (and I'll share this thread with my OH before deciding) it will at least be on the basis of good information from people who've been there and done it. For that I thank everyone - it's what makes this forum so worth while.
May 28th, 2008, 03:48 AM
#36
I just came back from a weekend in Verona, Padua and Venice. We made Verona our base and did day trips by train to the others.
We adored Verona, liked Padua and left Venice longing to see it again in the not all too distant future.
We took one of the last trains out of Venice that stops at Padua and Verona. It was on-time and uneventful.
However, for someone who has never been in the region before, I would definitely advise staying in Venice a few nights. There really isn't anything like it. It's a touristic city, perhaps even a living museum, but very beautiful.
Verona and Padua are bustling, lively cities that are mixed with locals and tourists.
We adored Verona, liked Padua and left Venice longing to see it again in the not all too distant future.
We took one of the last trains out of Venice that stops at Padua and Verona. It was on-time and uneventful.
However, for someone who has never been in the region before, I would definitely advise staying in Venice a few nights. There really isn't anything like it. It's a touristic city, perhaps even a living museum, but very beautiful.
Verona and Padua are bustling, lively cities that are mixed with locals and tourists.
May 29th, 2008, 04:49 AM
#37
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We just returned from Venice and would suggest the following plan. Stay in the town of Padova and take the train to Venice(about 12 Euros round trip). We stayed at the Casa Pellegrino at 75 Euros/night and found Padova even more enjoyable than Venice. There are 2 huge Basillicas and the largest open grass square of any city in the world.
May 29th, 2008, 05:03 AM
#38
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Hi,
Just returned from two nights in Venice. Parked at Tronchetto for about 20 Euros a day (tip: if you park here you want to park at the far end from where you enter, this will save you a long walk). Bought the 48 vaporetto ticket at Tronchetto (be sure to get it punched before you get on boat). Have stayed in Venice proper before. This time stayed on the Lido to save money, and thought the Hotel Cristallo was very nice for a two star price and enjoyed the 20 minute ride to and from. Another tip: if you want to visit Doges Palace buy your ticket at Museum Correr - it is good for both and will save you a long wait in line. However, I think next time I will park in Mestre and take the 1 Euro train into Venice. In terms of other prices, most fixed menus are about 15 Euros, 1 scoop gelato 1 euro, wine 2-3 a glass, panini 2-3 Euros. Enjoy.
Just returned from two nights in Venice. Parked at Tronchetto for about 20 Euros a day (tip: if you park here you want to park at the far end from where you enter, this will save you a long walk). Bought the 48 vaporetto ticket at Tronchetto (be sure to get it punched before you get on boat). Have stayed in Venice proper before. This time stayed on the Lido to save money, and thought the Hotel Cristallo was very nice for a two star price and enjoyed the 20 minute ride to and from. Another tip: if you want to visit Doges Palace buy your ticket at Museum Correr - it is good for both and will save you a long wait in line. However, I think next time I will park in Mestre and take the 1 Euro train into Venice. In terms of other prices, most fixed menus are about 15 Euros, 1 scoop gelato 1 euro, wine 2-3 a glass, panini 2-3 Euros. Enjoy.
May 29th, 2008, 05:56 AM
#39
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We just returned from Venice where we have been 6 times- usually staying in Mestre but this time stayed in Venice as we were taking a cruise to Croatia on a small ship from the Dorsoduro area in Venice and flew in so didn't have a car. Having done both, I would definitely spend the extra and stay in Venice. It was definitely magical and I am now convinced to always stay in the heart of Venice.
May 29th, 2008, 08:55 AM
#40
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To me- you must stay in Venice if able to spend the night. Venice is best seen by night. The romantic lighting and the far fewer people brings out the charm of Venice. By day you see the flaws and the ton of people around St Mark's square and the Rialto Bridge. IF you are staying 3 nights or longer, you may be able to rent an apartment which is cheaper than hotels and B&B's.
