My husband and I are planning on spending 3 nights in the dolomites in May 2004. Is it crazy to spend 2 nights in the dolomites and drive to venice for one day. I looked up the train schedule but it is 90.00 one way for the both of us. What about a bus for the day.

Not at all -- it is an easy drive. I always thought the most amazing visually stimulating day I ever had was the day we drove through the Dolomites and ended up on Vaporetto #1 cruising down the Grand Canal at sunset. But since you're STARTING in the mountains, you should have an easy daytrip to Venice if you leave early in the AM.

Anitas - Where are you staying in the Dolomites? I'm not sure where you got your rail fares from (Rail Europe, perhaps?) but they are WAY out!

Bolzano-Venice one way fares are:
€ 12.34 2nd class OR
€ 17.77 if you use Eurostar

- so your cheapest roundtrip fare is less than € 25.00 per person.

Journey time is approx 3.5 hours - so you'd need to make an early start.
For timetables go to
www.trenitalia.it

It's also viable by public transport from Cortina.

If you have a car the drive is one of the best in Europe!

Hope this helps ...

Steve

Thanks for the train info. I got my info from eurorail. I guess I read it wrong. Not sure where to stay in the dolomites. Any suggestions?

Anitas - Will you have a car? If yes, one of the best places to stay IMO is CORVARA. Lovely setting and ideal for touring as it's very central.

Steve