My husband and I are planning our 1st trip to Italy in Sept-Oct.Would like opinions on whether we should spend the extra $ to book a hotel on the Grand Canal. Also is San Marco the best area to be?

It's really a very personal choice. Between Ferrovia and Rialto birdge, I wouldn't pay a penny extra (you might not have to). I personally wouldn't choose around Rialto, but I could see paying a little more for Grand Canal facing if you are in that area. Beyond Academia bridge, I might pay 20 extra, perhaps.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

I thought that on my first trip it would be great..and it was. We stayed by the Rialto at the Locando Leon Bianco and have a lovely room with windows that opened onto the Grand Canal. I loved watching the traffic in the morning..my kind of rush hour. On my next vist however, I'd like to choose a quieter, side canal, just for a change of scenery and perspective.

Been to Venice twice.<BR>I would stay in St Mark's area but not bother with the canal.<BR>Near the canal is obviously good for transportation (vaporetto) purposes. How much time will you spend in the hotel?<BR>

HI, Hally.<BR>It depends on your own tastes and budget really. If you are prone to paying extra money for an ocean front room in Hawaii, for example, then you might like to pay the extra Euros for a Grande Canal view. I am the kind of traveler that doesn't care much about a view, as I am usually not in the hotel from early morning until time for bed. If you won't stay in your room enough to stare out the window, it may not be worth the cost so save the money for nicer meals--Venice is very expensive compared to Rome and other areas. I personally stayed right near the Rialto Bridge, but not on the Canal. I found it to be very convenient for shopping, touring and transportation. Our hotel was about a 2 minute walk from the Vaporetti stop, which is a real plus in Venice with no taxis to get you to your hotel doorstep.<BR><BR>Ron

Hally---<BR>I think this just has to be your own personal decision, based on whether you are a "waterfront" kind of person or not. As others said, you probably won't be in your hotel very many hours in the day, and occasionally the Grand Canal traffic could be a bit noisy for those who want peace and quiet in their rooms. And no matter where you stay in Venice, you are only a few steps or a short stroll from the Grand Canal or a dozen other canals. I've been to Venice many times, and I love it; but I think the whole city is what's appealing, not just the water. The canals make Venice what it is, but there are so many other things--the art, the 70 cathedrals in this one small city, the architecture, the history, the people, the shops, and the overall ambience. So just make up your mind, because you won't be disappointed no matter what you do.

Well said Wayne.

to the top<BR>

I have stayed twice at the Rialto Hotel right at the Rialto Bridge. Both times I requested and got one of the very few rooms with a balcony facing the Grand Canal. It was a small extra charge, but would have been worth paying double. Normally, we would have been out in the late afternoon or early evening having cocktails or wine somewhere, but at this hotel we sat every evening for a couple of hours with the sun setting while we did cocktails on our own balcony, watching the activity. Some people would have hated all the busy-ness of the area, but we loved it. I can't imagine spending those couple of hours anywhere in Venice any better than right there. In the mornings, I enjoyed getting up, sitting on the balcony and watching the deliveries by gondola of all the supplies, drinks, produce, etc to the stores and restaurants below and behind us. It was an exciting bit of the uniqueness of Venice. So to me, it was worth the extra money.