Guys please Help, Italy areas, where to stay. Running out of time.
#1
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Guys please Help, Italy areas, where to stay. Running out of time.
Hey guys I need major help. I will be taking my soon to be wife to Italy for are honeymoon and I am running out of time. The plan is Venice from the 13th to the 16th of October then 16th to 19th in Florence then 19th through 24th in Rome. I am struggling with venice badly. See I can't figure out where to stay in which area to have the best access to everything. It seems so complicated getting from the airport to a hotel so I need help and I need to book something. Please help me. Also if you can give any recommendations for florence or rome on which areas that would be great. I have spent the last month everyday trying to figure this out and I just can't.
#2
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If you have spent a month, is it possible that you don't have criteria to choose accommodations? For the same reason, others coming from all different angles can only muddle the water further.
Others would not know what it means to you by "best" access. Best in what? And to which things are you looking for "best" access? Others would not know your budget, as well as what you look for in an accommodation: quietness, view, price, luxury, close to actions, close to restaurants, away from tourist routes, etc, etc.
Which tools have you used?
Once you have defined what you are looking for, you can ask others in more meaningful way in addition to giving you the direction.
If you still have no idea, start from what you are doing in Venice. Do you use google maps? Sign in so you can mark your map. Locate all things you want to have "best" access with stars. Look at the map. Where are logical places to stay? Then open a booking app such as www.booking.com or www.hrs.com, etc. Turn on map view. Hover your cursor over accommodations with availability. Which ones have decent ratings and within your price target? Read the reviews. This should narrow your choices to just a handful. Come back with the list to this forum. Others can weigh on how well they satisfy your "best" access criteria, other factors not mentioned or seem biased or anecdotal in reviews.
How you get to the accommodation from the airport depends on where the accommodation is located as well as your view of the budget/speed/comfort/simplicity trade-off.
Others would not know what it means to you by "best" access. Best in what? And to which things are you looking for "best" access? Others would not know your budget, as well as what you look for in an accommodation: quietness, view, price, luxury, close to actions, close to restaurants, away from tourist routes, etc, etc.
Which tools have you used?
Once you have defined what you are looking for, you can ask others in more meaningful way in addition to giving you the direction.
If you still have no idea, start from what you are doing in Venice. Do you use google maps? Sign in so you can mark your map. Locate all things you want to have "best" access with stars. Look at the map. Where are logical places to stay? Then open a booking app such as www.booking.com or www.hrs.com, etc. Turn on map view. Hover your cursor over accommodations with availability. Which ones have decent ratings and within your price target? Read the reviews. This should narrow your choices to just a handful. Come back with the list to this forum. Others can weigh on how well they satisfy your "best" access criteria, other factors not mentioned or seem biased or anecdotal in reviews.
How you get to the accommodation from the airport depends on where the accommodation is located as well as your view of the budget/speed/comfort/simplicity trade-off.
#3
Ok, so it is October, so no need to stay on the Lido.
Getting around you need to be close to the Vap stops. Restaurants (at reasonable prices) are generally meh (hears the shouts coming so hides ) but not bad, so basically for meals you can stay just about anywhere on the lagoon. I've found if you want great fish stay or eat in Chiogga (which is not Venice and I'm not recommending it as a base).
So get up google map, make sure you can see the stops and then trip advisor and choose by money and facilities you want.
Getting in from the airport, loads of threads on that. For your honeymoon, I'd splash out on the water taxi if I had the cash. But you can catch the bus but then get onto the vap system, don't drag bags through the alleys with jet lag.
Getting around you need to be close to the Vap stops. Restaurants (at reasonable prices) are generally meh (hears the shouts coming so hides ) but not bad, so basically for meals you can stay just about anywhere on the lagoon. I've found if you want great fish stay or eat in Chiogga (which is not Venice and I'm not recommending it as a base).
So get up google map, make sure you can see the stops and then trip advisor and choose by money and facilities you want.
Getting in from the airport, loads of threads on that. For your honeymoon, I'd splash out on the water taxi if I had the cash. But you can catch the bus but then get onto the vap system, don't drag bags through the alleys with jet lag.
#4
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Venice is not very big and you can walk most everywhere, so not many locations are really inconvenient. You can also use the vaporetto to travel around from stop to stop. Venice has one major canal winding through the middle with lots of little ones and tons of little bridges. You can get a bus or taxi from the airport to Piazzale Roma near the train station (Santa Lucia) and take a vaporetto (water bus) from there to the stop nearest your hotel. You can also splurge and get a water taxi from the airport to your hotel or from the train station to your hotel.
The main vaporetto stop (and place to buy tickets) is directly outside the train station - impossible to miss. The station is not big. As you walk from Piazzale Roma towards the station, the station will be on your left, the Grand Canal and the vaporettos will be to your right. Print out a little map of Venice to help you visualize this. It is so much easier than it seems.
Venice is divided into several little areas (neighborhoods). I like the Dorsoduro area, but others may prefer San Marco, etc. If you come back with a specific budget, people can make recs for you. You could also pick out a few hotels you think you might like, post them and people can give their opinions.
Don't worry about all the other stuff. It will get sorted out. Concentrate on the hotel.
The main vaporetto stop (and place to buy tickets) is directly outside the train station - impossible to miss. The station is not big. As you walk from Piazzale Roma towards the station, the station will be on your left, the Grand Canal and the vaporettos will be to your right. Print out a little map of Venice to help you visualize this. It is so much easier than it seems.
Venice is divided into several little areas (neighborhoods). I like the Dorsoduro area, but others may prefer San Marco, etc. If you come back with a specific budget, people can make recs for you. You could also pick out a few hotels you think you might like, post them and people can give their opinions.
Don't worry about all the other stuff. It will get sorted out. Concentrate on the hotel.
#5
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For October in Venice, you should stay between the Rialto bridge and the train station (but not too close to the train station) to avoid any possibility of getting caught in tidal flooding at that time of year. Otherwise, Venice is small and you can walk everywhere if you are fit. You don't need to be near a Vaporetto stop. I have been to Venice at least 5 times and usually avoid using the Vaporetti except to get to the other islands.
Since this is your honeymoon, eliminate the stress of having a complicated arrival by booking a water taxi. Make up the "splurge" elsewhere. (Like walk instead of buying expensive vaporetti tickets, or eat pizza one night when you get to Rome).
You can find hotels for all your destinations by looking on booking.com. You can plug in your travel dates, look at where the hotel is on a map, read reviews.
For Florence, you can stay anywhere and its fine. For Rome, either stay a bit north of the Colosseum, or near the piazza Navona, or near the Campo de'Fiori.
Don't stress out! You actually are planning further in advance than I usually do -- but it is good you are planning. Just don't stress.
Since this is your honeymoon, eliminate the stress of having a complicated arrival by booking a water taxi. Make up the "splurge" elsewhere. (Like walk instead of buying expensive vaporetti tickets, or eat pizza one night when you get to Rome).
You can find hotels for all your destinations by looking on booking.com. You can plug in your travel dates, look at where the hotel is on a map, read reviews.
For Florence, you can stay anywhere and its fine. For Rome, either stay a bit north of the Colosseum, or near the piazza Navona, or near the Campo de'Fiori.
Don't stress out! You actually are planning further in advance than I usually do -- but it is good you are planning. Just don't stress.
#6
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Agree with the advice to avoid over-stressing. It's hard to find a bad area to stay in Venice, since the city is small and walkable. I try to avoid the San Marco area and the area up around the train station, as they tend to be more flooded with tourists. But if I were able to get a good deal on accommodations in those areas, I'd take it.
#7
just note that the first time you try to walk in Venice you will suddenly realise
1) there are few signposts (so get a guide note from your hotel)
2) the alleys are narrow (really don't try to walk long distances with big bags, it gets you in the shoulders, hands)
3) people off the tour ships block the place up (aaargh)
luckily they are gone once the supper bell on the ships ring, so the place is great after about 8pm and before about 8am, when the breakfast horn has sounded (so sleep is not ruined by much street noise)
Honeymoons are about romance and price is about position, so if you cannot be just where you want, look back about one alley and there will be a place with almost as good a place just a lower price.
1) there are few signposts (so get a guide note from your hotel)
2) the alleys are narrow (really don't try to walk long distances with big bags, it gets you in the shoulders, hands)
3) people off the tour ships block the place up (aaargh)
luckily they are gone once the supper bell on the ships ring, so the place is great after about 8pm and before about 8am, when the breakfast horn has sounded (so sleep is not ruined by much street noise)
Honeymoons are about romance and price is about position, so if you cannot be just where you want, look back about one alley and there will be a place with almost as good a place just a lower price.
#8
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We stayed at B&B Sandra http://www.bbalessandra.com/ several years ago, in her upper room which gave us access to her quaint little upper roof deck-all to ourselves. Breakfasts were to die for and a special little treat in room left mid to late afternoon for us to enjoy each day of our stay. How heavenly to enjoy a wine on your private little deck enjoying the sounds of Venice in quite neighborhood. Even we found our way around Venice, walking and by boat (and we are often a little challenged in that area )
#9
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This may help:
BEST MID-RANGE 3 STAR HOTELS: Prices will vary from 150 to 400E
• www.locandaorseolo.com Rave reviews near San Marco
• www.lacalcina.com Popular hotel in Dorsoduro on Zattere
• www.pensioneaccademia.it A Venice standard near Grand Canal
• www.cadeidogi.it Small hotel in Castello with decent prices
• www.cortegrimani.com Diverse family apts. in good location
• www.hotelflora.it/en/ Love this location and their garden
SMALL HOTELS & B&B: PRICES VARY FROM 100E TO 250E AND BY SEASON
• www.corte1321.com Helpful hosts in San Polo area
• www.alpontemocenigo.com/en/index.htm Popular hotel off-path
• www.guesthouse.it Great value in quiet neighborhood location
NICER 4 STAR HOTELS: prices range from 250 to 500E—vary by season
• www.ponteantico.com Lovely place at Rialto on Grand Canal
• www.capisanihotel.it/ Boutique hotel near Accademia Bridge
• http://www.liassidipalacehotel.com/ Lovely amenities in Castello
WILD CARD OPTIONS: Hotel & apartment options with good prices:
• http://www.aitagliapietra.com/ Well priced B&B in Castello
• http://www.palazzettodaschio.it/ Apts. in a real 16th century villa
• www.locanda-sanbarnaba.com/ Nice 3 star at Ca Rezzonico stop
BEST MID-RANGE 3 STAR HOTELS: Prices will vary from 150 to 400E
• www.locandaorseolo.com Rave reviews near San Marco
• www.lacalcina.com Popular hotel in Dorsoduro on Zattere
• www.pensioneaccademia.it A Venice standard near Grand Canal
• www.cadeidogi.it Small hotel in Castello with decent prices
• www.cortegrimani.com Diverse family apts. in good location
• www.hotelflora.it/en/ Love this location and their garden
SMALL HOTELS & B&B: PRICES VARY FROM 100E TO 250E AND BY SEASON
• www.corte1321.com Helpful hosts in San Polo area
• www.alpontemocenigo.com/en/index.htm Popular hotel off-path
• www.guesthouse.it Great value in quiet neighborhood location
NICER 4 STAR HOTELS: prices range from 250 to 500E—vary by season
• www.ponteantico.com Lovely place at Rialto on Grand Canal
• www.capisanihotel.it/ Boutique hotel near Accademia Bridge
• http://www.liassidipalacehotel.com/ Lovely amenities in Castello
WILD CARD OPTIONS: Hotel & apartment options with good prices:
• http://www.aitagliapietra.com/ Well priced B&B in Castello
• http://www.palazzettodaschio.it/ Apts. in a real 16th century villa
• www.locanda-sanbarnaba.com/ Nice 3 star at Ca Rezzonico stop
#10
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Ok guys I read everything you said so it helped, budget wise trying to stay under 550 a night usd is that enough for a nice hotel? I want to be near the sights more cause I am scared to get lost in some neighborhood. I have found where I want in florence but rome and venice I am stuck on still.
#12
I'll bow out, way above my pay grade
Dukey1 was there this year and stayed in lovely looking place, you might also search on "Honeymoon Venice" in Fodors as someone else was planning to be there this year and had a bulging wallet.
Dukey1 was there this year and stayed in lovely looking place, you might also search on "Honeymoon Venice" in Fodors as someone else was planning to be there this year and had a bulging wallet.
#13
There was this http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...irst-draft.cfm looking at the Marriott on an Island
#14
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Agree that Venice is small and as long as you stay in Venice proper - not Lido or Mestre - getting from one place to another should not be an issue. You WILL get lost. Everyone gets lost. Have a good map and you will soon be unlost. Don;t worry about time to get from one place to another - it's just not an issue as long as you don;t mind walking. We typically stay not far from San Marco since we like the vibe, especially in the evenings, and don;t mind noise (we're used to it). But I know others may prefer someplace quiet.
How to get form the airport to the hotel depends completely on where the hotel is, how much luggage you have and how much you mind schlepping it. We always get a hotel with a private dock (which usually means upscale) and take a water taxi from the airport or Pzle Roma) - but the cost will be about 100 euros. That way the driver of the boat and the bellman of the hotel will deal with luggage and you won;t have to schlep it.
For Rome you should look for places in the historic center - near the Pantheon or Pza Navona. This is most convenient for visiting most sights and gives you easy access to many restaurants as well as a lot of the fountains and piazzas you will want to enjoy in the evenings.
With you budget you should have no trouble finding pleasant upscale hotels - although not the most expensive in town.
How to get form the airport to the hotel depends completely on where the hotel is, how much luggage you have and how much you mind schlepping it. We always get a hotel with a private dock (which usually means upscale) and take a water taxi from the airport or Pzle Roma) - but the cost will be about 100 euros. That way the driver of the boat and the bellman of the hotel will deal with luggage and you won;t have to schlep it.
For Rome you should look for places in the historic center - near the Pantheon or Pza Navona. This is most convenient for visiting most sights and gives you easy access to many restaurants as well as a lot of the fountains and piazzas you will want to enjoy in the evenings.
With you budget you should have no trouble finding pleasant upscale hotels - although not the most expensive in town.