My extended family of 9 is flying into Venice on a Thursday morning. Our whole group is in love with La Calcina. However my husband & I have 3 teenage kids; the prices combined with the number of rooms I'll have to rent make it a little rich for my blood. If we stay there, we will check out on Friday (hopefully the hotel will hold our bags until the late afternoon), pick up a rental car in the early evening & drive to Ferrara, en route to Firenza. Whew! Another option is to stay in a cheaper place for a 2nd night and not leave Venice until mid-day on Saturday. If the 2nd option is the best, any suggestions regarding lodging that the rest of the party won't balk at? I am torn between the lovely hotel & the prospect of additional time in Venice. Thanks!!

It's sometimes hard when you find a hotel you really like, isn't it? Kind of like an old friend you don't see very often, but would like to see more of.

Anyway, if you like Venice MORE than you like the hotel (how much time would you spend in it, anyhow?), I'd go for the extra day and spend both days in the cheaper hotel so you won't be kicking yourself for not having stayed as long as you wanted.

Alternatively, maybe you and your husband could stay at La Calcina, and have the 7 others stay somewhere cheaper, but in the general area.

I'm a budget accommodation traveller from way back and as long as the accommodation is clean and comfortable and well located I don't give too hoots about luxury. We stayed at the Orion in Venice. Right on San Marco, breakfast included and though the rooms were on the small side it was modern - all rooms had good modern bathrooms and hey I was only there to sleep (and have breaky). I'd take as much time as I could in Venice - it means the difference between just rushing through the tourist sites and being able to meander off the beaten track.

For sure you will need extra time in Venice. The city is too unique and special to go dashing away. What is the point of going anywhere if all you are going to do is arrive, unpack, repack and leave???

If you like La Calcina so much, as my husband and I do, try one of their "suites/apartments" which might afford more room. There was no space in the main B&B for us last year, so we stayed in what appeared to be a three level house which was sectioned off by floors and rented that way. We were on the top floor which consisted of a LARGE living room, a bedroom and a bathroom. We had a small refrig., coffee maker, TV (big deal - we don't speak Italian) AND two air conditioners. The room on the next floor down had a kitchen, bath and bedroom. This particular unit was a stone's throw from the main hotel, and we were afforded all of the amenities as the other guests, including a lovely breakfast. Actually, we liked it better as we really felt like part of the neighborhood. As I recall, they have about 4 or more of these units, all fairly close. You might be able to afford staying there by going with one of these units. Of course, there was no view of the water, but it was much more private and homey.

Good luck! Ciao!!!

topping

Skip Venice if you have only one or two days--especially if it's the first day you fly into Italy. Venice is a terrible one day destination.

Stay longer or skip now and visit later.

Much too nice a place to frustrate yourself with hurried bag-drags and jetlag. Better to savory it properly at leisure.

Hi luv,

As much as I love Venice, I also suggest that if you cannot spend 2 nights there that you should skip it for now.

Thanks for the advice. I definitly don't want to skip it; We are all looking forward to Venice! I guess I just need to resign myself to the fact that lodgings are more expensive here than elsewhere! If I spend 2 nights/ 3 days there, will that make it worthwhile? Does it make more sense to begin or end in Venice? We're going to fly into either Rome or Venice and fly out of the other.

I'd do whatever I could to have more time in Venice, explain to all that the accommodations may be down a peg but they will be clean and convenient.

I'd start in Rome, which is hectic and noisy, and end in Venice as a calmer end to the trip.

It is worth going to Venice but you should plan to spend at least 3 full days, 4 would be better. If you have not made your plane reservations, visit Venice at the end of your trip.