I have stayed in Venezia for a week at a time on 2 different occasions. To me what is most special about Venezia is the lack of cars. The only mechanical noises you will hear are the vaporetti and construction noises. There is something wonderful about this and the pace in Venezia is much slower for that. So to me each day in Venezia gets better because my pace and activity level slow down. After 2 days I am just beginning to feel like I am operating on Veneziana time. <BR><BR>To reduce the cost, rent an apartment. If you love to cook there is nothing like cooking fresh fish from the Venetian lagoon. You will get to cook all sorts of shellfish and fin fish that you will never see anywhere else. Trying to figure out how to eat canocchie was a fun experience. The scallops in the shell with the roe still attached were superb. And we overdosed on scampi loaded with roe. Here is the URL for our favorite apartment (a double bedroom and a sofa bed in the living room):<BR><BR>http://www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/pages/doc01447.htm<BR><BR>The owners are Paola and Marco. She has other apartments she also rents.<BR><BR>In addition to the things to do Dayle mentions there are many more things to do:<BR><BR>The Jewish Ghetto and the synagogue tour<BR><BR>Torcello<BR><BR>Lido and Giudecca<BR><BR>San Georgio especially if there is an ehibition there<BR><BR>Taking the 82 Vaporetto around the entire route sitting up front in the spray<BR><BR>Visiting the Pescaria Rialto in the early morning. Same with the Erboria.<BR><BR>The Redentore.<BR><BR>Scuola Grande di San Gerogio degli Schiavoni<BR><BR>The Museo Correr <BR><BR>Sitting on P San Marco listening to the bands. We also loved sitting at Chioggia listening to the piano player. It was worth the $12 for a tea and a cappucino.<BR><BR>Wandering the back alleyways of San Polo and Cannaregio.<BR><BR>Wandering the art galleries in the area between the accademia and the guggenheim. Also on P San Zaccaria. <BR><BR>Wandering into assorted Bacari and trying a chicchetti and un'Ombra (a snack of glorious bar food and a small glass of wine).<BR><BR>The Frari and Zannipolo<BR><BR>Hunting down as many Tiziano's (Titian's) as you can. Or Tintoretto's if your tastes run that way!).<BR><BR>As you can see, you can easily fill a week in Venezia!<BR>

Count me among the "you can never spend enough time in Venice" group. Mary Hope's comments have captured the real experience of Venice so very well. (My compliments, Mary Hope!)<BR>MR, go and enjoy one of the most enchanting cities in the world.

Therefore, in the spirit of consensus...<BR><BR>Four.

There is no ideal number of days in Venice.<BR><BR>Some people hate it after two days, some people could spend a lifetime.<BR><BR>Truman Capote described it as "a box of bon bons".

Thank you for your response Anne.<BR>I will look into your suggestions, however I don't like my chances at such late notice!<BR><BR>I have in the meantime had a travel agent book me into the Hotel Panada. I don't know much about it, all I know is that it sounds pretty expensive for something that is not meant to be very flash at all! I figure that if I can find something better, I will cancel there and move my reservation across.<BR><BR>Does anyone else on this board know anything about the 'Hotel Panada'?<BR><BR>Regards,<BR>Jade.<BR>Regards,<BR>J ade.<BR><BR>

Hi Jade,<BR><BR>Don't know anything about the hotel you ask about, but based on the strong recommendation of an Italian friend who has lived in Venice, we are staying at the Pensione Accademia. Also, I just booked a hotel room in Rome on Orbitz because some hotels are slashing their rates as the date of travel approaches. Didn't seem to work as well for Venice, but is worth a shot.