We are considering a few nights in Venice, before we fly home from the Amalfi coast, as we are flying out of Milan.

We are on a limited budget ($250US/night is our max), and considering the following hotels:

Ai Due Fanali Sano Stefano
La Calcina/La Calcina Apartment (Iris)
Novecento
Antico Doge

I am not familiar with these locations, and which would be most "central". We will only have a few days, so would like to be near the shops/restaurants/Piazza San Marco, and major sites.

Has anyone had personal experience with any of these hotels? I know La Calcina gets rave reviews, but it seems a little out of the way.

Have you looked into Pensione Accademia? It's just the other side of hte Accademia Bridge and probably the bests bargain in Venice in that price range. You didn't say when you are going - the Accademia books up far in advance so unless your trip is months away, you might be too late.

Hi
Venice is so small, out-of-the way isn't usually all that far, relatively speaking, but the relative distance has put me off La Calcina. Some like being off the beaten track, I prefer being closer to San Marco, and have found hotels that are close by, but quiet--have you checked current prices at the Flora and the Do Pozzi? Or the Accademia in Dorsoduro? Or the Giorgione?
I've read good comments on the Antico Doge. Location is imo more central than La Calcina, if that's what you want, close to the Rialto Bridge, 10-15 minute walk to San Marco. Do a search on it here by name.

Once again, we have the same tastes!! I am staying at La Calcina in August! This hotel is a definite because we are also providing a room for my sister-in-law, so I can give you a review when I return in September. If you can, book their only terrace room with a view of the canal. It was taken when we booked, so I booked a terrace room without a view. But you should have time on your side to book it.

awbaker, that is too funny!

Can anyone help with good location for first trip to Venice?

Realize everything is close, but there must be some regions that have a better "flavor" than others.

We want something similar to Left Bank in Paris - good shops and restaurants, close to walk to all, not a "high-rent" district, but not run down, out of the way or seedy either.

The best analogy I can think of to the left bank is Dorsoduro. It ranges from busy and student-centric (esp Campo Santa Margherita) to picturesque and "homey". Lots of moderate restaurants, good gelato, mostly smaller hotels and pensiones.La Calcina is there, but on the farther side.

I have a long file on Venice; if you'd like to see it, email me at
[email protected]

I'm a big fan of La Calcina and have stayed there twice. It's a sweet hotel. I love being on the Guidecca canal and in a bit more quiet but still convenient area. It has a vaporetto stop real close. (Hopefully someone will correct me if I'm wrong but...) if memory serves it's only ~10 mins. or so walk over to San Marco by way of Accademia bridge.

I stayed at Hotel Doge in April and found it inexpensive and close to the first valparetto stop from the train station. There is also an excellent small restaurant just a few doors down. It was quiet and central. http://doge.hotelinvenice.com/?source=*1-

The manager is Matteo, and he will take good care of you. They have very clean rooms with and without baths. I think I paid around 165euro for 3 nights for a double with a bath.

wanderer, Locanda Novecento is new, it belongs to the same owners of Hotel Flora, and it's very close to San Marco.. It has been reccommended by some travel magazines, including Travel&Leisure, but I don't recall reading any positive or negative reviews on this board.

Location I think, depends on your personal preferences. I personally love Dorsoduro, a much less crowded area than San Marco, with much more of a local flavor, however, most first timers prefer to stay close to San Marco.

Surlock, funny you mentioned Novecento. I think it is between this hotel (which appears to be San Marco district), and La Calcina, which I believe is Dorsoduro.

I second the vote for staying in dosorduro. We stayed at Locanda San Barnaba for our trip just 2 weeks ago. the location is great, lots of activity but no crowds like near san marco. And it was so central we could just hop on the vaporetto in the middle of the days sightseeing to drop stuff off and freshen up. Also FYI regaridng the pensione accademia just FYI, it is being renovated and is currently covered in scaffolding. Might want to wait and stay there on a future trip when it is all fixed up.

wanderer, Novecento is about half way, between San Marco and the Accademia Bridge, which you'll have to cross to get to Dorsoduro.

I like its location, a bit removed from San Marco's crowds, but still close enough ( Venice is small..), and not far from Accademia and Dorsoduro.

I would consider the Novecento's location ideal, mostly from a first timer point of view.

La Calcina, on the other hand, even if it has a pleasant location by the lagoon, is not close enough to San Marco. And I've read there are some remodeling work going on there, which I'm not sure is completed.

Hi Wanderer,

My husband and I just returned from Italy a few weeks back and just loved venice. Of the 3hotels we booksed, Hotel Antigo Doge was the least expensive, roomy, very easy to get to from the train staion and had the most amamzing staff. Our first night we were bookd in a larg suited room, very, very nice. We arrived late so we decided to walk about the city and see a few things. We enjoyed some fabuous gelato, pizza and beer and wine. Upon returning to our room, we had a fruit basket waiting for us. Everything was perfect.
The following morning, we were to change rooms to a junior suite with a canal view. We would have been more than happy to stay, but our new room was very, very lovely and we fell in love with it.
But the most remarkable part of the hotel stay happened when I was on my tour of the Doges Pallace. I was standing behind a woman and notice her earings. AT that point, I reached up to feel mine and to check that they were fasted properly, I realized I didn't have them on and had left them in the hotel room we had just moved out of. We were in the middle of a tour inside an enclosed area and I had to excuse myself. I wasn't what sure my directions were or how to use the phone , but it all worked out. I dialed 412 and got an operator who didn't speak Inglish at all. So I choose to call a person she recommeded and it workd. I had left my diamond earings (1 Ct each set in platinum) on the table in the first room. When I approached the woman cleaning the room, she told me foun them. I got them back immediately, gave both woemnt a big time, hugged them nd told them that they were very special. What more do I have to say about this place. You can e-mail me at [email protected]

Last year we stayed at Hotel Alla, located between San Marco Square (about 5 blocks) and the Accademia Bridge. Our room was well appointed with antique furniture and with a canal view, for within your price range (but it was low season). Located about a half-block from the Grand Canal, , where there is a tragetto stop and the San Giglio vapporetto stop. Bulgari, Gucci, Fendi and Prada right down the way.

Are you familiar with Locanda Orseolo? It has been well-regarded on this forum and also on tripadvisor.com. too. It's right next to St. Mark's Square, has a small canal so there are nice views. And the management who owns the hotel is very attentive towards the guests. There were two negative comments on tripadvisor.com but one was definitely made up and the management responded with their comments. The second one was just recent and a guest who tried to reserve a whole week or so could only reserve a couple of days and asked to be emailed if a vacancy came up for the room. They were put up in a substiute hotel that was of poor quality so they were not happy. Then in speaking with another guest found out that said guest was able to book last minute so they were surprised and kind of felt slighted by the hotel.

one more vote for the Dorsoduro area. Our first trip last summer, stayed at the Galleria right onthe grand canal. VEry easy to get around.