michael

going to visit some glass factories in murano. any nice hotels in murano or bette to stay in venice? any recommendations for hotels in venice? also does anyone know if there is a dirctory or institution that could help me arrange an itinerary on what factories make what, and how I cna arrange scheduled visits ahead of time? I'm trying to find out factories that can make mouth-blown glassware for lighting applications. any help is appreciated.

alan

Hi! Murano is an island in Venice. Its a short boat ride there. Don't know of any acccomodations but if you stay in Venice you can bet you will get a free taxi trip there. The thing is that if you don't buy any glass there you will have to get back on your own.
alan

Rex

Alan makes it sound difficult to get back from Murano. It takes an ordinary vaporetto ticket to get to or back from Murano. And I believe that he is correct about his assertion that there are no hotels on Murano. Murano is about as big as Ellis Island, and it is just one glass factory on top of another.

I wish I knew how to help you with your search. I think it is absolutely true that Murano is an excellent place to look for creatively blown glass for chadeliers or any other lighting application you have in mind. It is also true that Murano is almost like Vegas - - constantly looking for a way to smile in your face and stick their hands in your pocket, trying to get as much of your money as possible for items of as little value as possible. Separating the wheat from the chaff is no easy feat, I suspect - - but I think the "payoff" - - getting something unique and very beautiful could be very real.

Do you already have your trip planned? I think this need as much lead time and prior correspondence as possible.

Best wishes,

Rex Bickers
Westerville, Ohio

Patrick

The first thing I do when I arrive at the train station in Venice is to buy a water pass -- usually three days which runs 35,000 Lira about $15.00. This will take you to Burano and Murano as well as Lido, not to mention hopping on and off all the vaporettos you want to go back and forth through the canals. It is one of the great bargains of Venice. I am dumbfounded about people taking the "free" ride to Murano and getting "stuck" with a sales pitch or held captive in a glass factory because they were too cheap to buy a simple vaporetto ticket or pass.

elaine

Michael
I have notes on Venice including Murano; if you'd like to see them, email me.
As for Murano factories, here is just one website with information
http://www.venice-world.com/category.
html?vars[extract]=10&vars[sid]=106

nina

Hi Michael,
My favorite hotel in Venice is the Academia...it's a small, wonderful hotel. Be sure to look at your room first, though. If it is one of the smallish ones, ask for another facing the canal...or overlooking the garden. I am pretty sure there are no hotels on Murano.

james wyatt

Actually you can stay on Murano, but it is completely unadvisable to do so. Stay in Venice - the previous advice is good. Murano is a day visit, whereas Venice takes a lifetime of visits to scratch the surface.

Bob

Venice: We stayed at the Al Gambero hotel in Venice and were pleased. Rooms were clean and recently remodeled as were baths. Located on Calle dei Fabbri, about midway between Rialto and St Marks. Reasonable rates and our room had window overlooking a small canal.

imissvenice

Look into the Hotel Galleria. It is great, inexpensive and right on the Grand Canal at the Accademia Bridge. Great location, great people, inepensive for the location etc in Venice and the largest room has a great view with chairs and a small table where you will be served your breakfast while watching the canal. At night you can sit there and listen to the Gondoliers' singing. We stayed there in Sept and would go back again. Murano is a half day trip with shopping and then you can hop the vaporetta to Burano, a very colorful island worth the trip. Even if you do not buy the expensive glass on Murano, it is incredible to see the beatiful art created with glass. Arrividerci!

Lisa

You may want to check out the Giorgione in Cannaregio. I haven't stayed here but have been by it many times and it would be in a good location for you. It would be a 5 minute tops walk to Fondamente Nuove where you can take the vaporetto directly to Murano. The hotel is also only about 5 minutes to the Rialto area. The hotel is located in a more neighborhood type of an area so you mix more with locals out walking but are still very close the center of everything.

Rex

A cardinal rule about all travel information is that it is all out of date, sooner or later.

So fresh info is always welcome. And today's NYTimes carries a review of three hotels that I have little heard or nothing about on this message board.

The story is at www.nytimes.com/2000/12/03/travel/VENICE.html - - anyone have personal experience at any of these three hotels?

Julie

My mother has been to Italy at least 10 times and had never heard of Burano. We went there on our first trip to Italy. It was my favorite place to visit. The island is very small and it has several lace shops on it. We bought a bunch of hand made lace there. Don't miss it if you go to Venice.

Beth

I just booked a room at the Locanda San Barnaba because of the New York Times article (12/3). It is a new hotel, just opened this past spring, so perhaps that is why it hasn't had a lot of feedback. I received a prompt e-mail from the owner, and their rates are not quite as high as some of the other places mentioned on this board.

Anna

You should dsefinitely visit both Murano & Burano, but stay in Venice. As for hotels - what is your budget? If money is not an issue - go for the Cipriani or the Gritti Palace. We stayed at the Londra Palace (which is a tier below the Cipriani/Gritti) and loved it!

amik

Yes, definitely stay in Venice (even if Murano/Burano has accommodations).

Here is the hotel we stayed in Venice 2 years ago:

Hotel Albergo Campiello
Fax: 011-39-41-520-57-98

It is a small hotel, has a superb location, about 5 minute walk from San Marco (right by the San Zacharia "bus" stop). I don't remember the rate, but we we're ususally not big spenders, so it's worth a try.
Amik.

Beth Anderson

Hi Ami,

You wouldn't happen to know the phone number for your hotel? thanks!

B

amik

No, sorry. But check Rick Steve's book, I just learned here on this site a few minutes ago, that he listed this hotel in his book. Or just fax them a note.
Amik.