Hi - I'm heading to Venice next week (end of Oct) and noticed that the prices of hotels on the Lido are very inexpensive (I'm assuming because of the time of year)

Never having been before, does it make sense to stay out there and just use the vaporetto & water taxis to go to Venice?

Thanks!

In general, I would say no. I have stayed on the Lido twice and in Venice three times. The one time that it made sense was with a bunch of teenagers on a very tight budget - - staying on the Lido made it possible to stay two nights when the budget would not have allowed that in Venice.

But so much of the magic is IN Venice - - and the two best hours of the day are literally the first hour after awakening (get out and see the city wake up before you even shower or have breakfast) - - and the last hour before you go to bed. That's when you will truly understand "La Serenissima".

Best wishes,

Rex

Rex is 100% right.

Hi sc,

A water taxi will use up all of the money you saved by staying on the Lido.

If your budget militates staying on the Lido, it's better than nothing--though I might go with something on Murano instead of the Lido. The Lido is a beach resort with a totally different feel from historic Venice. I agree with the prior posters that it is a much better experience to stay in historic Venice if you can at all afford it, even if you stay in a more basic hotel to reduce costs.

I agree with the previous posters.
If you try venere.com or veniceby.com you will find hotels/B&B in every price category.

When I visit New York I don't stay in Newark.

I don't see the comparison at all between New York and Newark. The Lido is a nice safe area that would make a good base - buy a boat pass good for all of the Venice area and commuting costs are not much. Not all hotels in Venice have great canal views, the inexpensive ones I've stayed in have views of dark alleys.

I'd stay in Venice. I've stayed in Lido before, a and the room was inexpensive and fine. But, it takes a long time to get back and forth to Venice. By the time you wait for the boat, and take the boat, it can be 45 minutes. That can be a long time when you are tired and just want to rest in your room for a while.