Hello and thanks for your help. We will be visiting in late August and would appreciate any help in finding a nice,safe,fun hotel for 2 adults and 3 teenagers(we're brave!!). Thanks and this is our first visit so any other suggestions are much appreciated.

Dear Garylinda,<BR>have you considered renting an apt.?<BR>I have heard great things about venicerentles.com <BR>You might want to do a search under venice apartments.<BR>la dolce Italy,<BR>Fluffy

Hi- also here is another site to try venice apartments.co.uk<BR>Fluffy

Message: <BR>I'd go for an apartment - you get more space for your money and you get a kitchen for coffees and drinks etc.<BR><BR>Try this website http://www.rentagora.net<BR><BR>It's run by the owners I think.<BR>We were two couples and a toddler and stayed in the Lido apartment because it was big and had no stairs. It was great, spacious and spotless. The owner Maurizio Ruzzene was very helpful and friendly. He picked us up at the Vaporetto stop and took us to the supermarket in his car. Highly recommended.<BR>Without the baby we might have stayed more centrally but the rates on all these properties are reasonable.

Hi Garylinda!<BR><BR>There's loads of info on Venice right here if you use the text search box. There's a recent thread on Venice apt rentals with lots of websites. If you'd rather stay in a hotel, think about 2 adjoining rooms or even 2 separate rooms if the teens are old enough. Venice will be hot in August so pay special attention to whether places have a/c! Not all do. One of the popular websites for researching hotels is www.venere.com If you go the hotel route, don't rule out B&amp;Bs as they're usually just hotels without a proper restaurant.<BR>Prices are very high in Venice. If you provide an idea of your budget, people may be able to give you more specific information. Why not do some research &amp; come back with specific questions. Good luck!

I think Fluffy meant to post the following:<BR>www.venicerentals.com<BR>(her spelling was a little off).<BR>I've rented through this agency and would highly recommend them.

Or, if you want a hotel for the services, check here for moderately priced hotels (if that's what you want) such as the Ala, Giorgione, Canada,<BR>American, Locanda Barbarigo,etc etc<BR><BR><BR>Or browse for hotels by doing a search here on Venice hotel, or browse at<BR>www.venere.it<BR><BR>I have a file on Venice; if you'd like to see it, email me at<BR>[email protected]

Hi, garylinda!<BR>I have found the best site for booking apartments in and around Venice is www.veniceandcountry.com. The prices of some of the places slightly out of town which this site features are a fraction of what you'll pay in town!

To each his own, but I would recommend staying within Venice and not outside of it, despite the likely August crowds.<BR>Venice is a special experience, especially in the evening and at night when the day-tripping crowds disappear.<BR>I wouldn't want to have to plan dinner or my evening around getting a train back out to somewhere else. Train fares for 5, plus the time, are a cost as well, imo.

I also think you should stay in Venice proper, not on the outskirts or other islands. An apartment would be a good idea for your family. For hotels, you'd most likely need 2 rooms. You should pick a few hotels that interest you and email them asking what kind of arrangements they may have for a family of 5. We stayed in a quad room (1 queen and 2 twin beds) at Hotel FLora but I don't know if they could squeeze in another bed.