topping...Flora, Ala and Giogione all came back with rates between 300 and 400e/night which, given the current exchange rate will be above our budget. A couple of others said to wait until August and contact them then as it was too early. Any other ideas??

The hotel I mentioned above, Locanda SS Giovanni e Paolo, has private bathrooms. And they are nowhere near as pricey as 300+Euros per night! Closer to 135E MAX. Realistically you will not be spending all that much time in the hotel so I would rather spend my excess money on other things. But that is just me :-) Check out their website to see the inside - it looks plenty nice. I have also heard good things about Casa Querini if that helps!

Best to get a place in the main part of the old city, but if all else fails, try Locanda al Soffiador on Murano.
http://www.venicehotel.it/venice_hotel.htm

Two double rooms in March whould be well within your price range including breakfast. The disadvantage is that you have to take a short vaporetto ride to get to the main part city.

I didn't check the vaporetto schedule, but I doubt that it would take much longer to get to P. San Marco from there than from a hotel near the train station.

I booked 2 rooms at La Calcina in August for 205 euros (one double no view but with a terrace & one single no view.) They also have rooms with views of the canal (one room has a view plus a terrace -- it was already booked when we tried to get it), a restaurant on the canal, and a rooftop terrace. I found them through recommendations here and in Karen Brown's Italy book.

Calcina just quoted me 358e for 2 rooms in March 2005. They consider it high season.

That's a big jump from our rate, but August is definitely a low season in Venice! Is that for 2 rooms with or without a view? They may also have an apartment which you could inquire of them. They are usually very helpful in their emails, but I have noticed that you do have to ask very specific questions.

I have been to Venice twice and both times stayed at the Hotel Lisbona. I would definitely stay there again. It was moderately priced, very clean, safe, a 3 minute walk to San Marco and right on the canal. Ask for a room with a balcony. Ahhhhhhhhhh great!!

In the link I gave you was,I think, a description of a b & room at the Gli Agnelli-1 bedroom with a double or queen bed & a smaller bedroom with 2 twins. Not ideal for teens but...

I'd definitely check the Galleria & their other property that I mentioned-I think it's called the Ca Rezzonica. The one that sounded the best (for you) to me in the link I gave above, was the Bernardo Sermi-something in their annex. There's also a b&b called Al Campaniel you should check. The Pensione Accademia I think will be too $$. Have you tried just "shopping" for quads on venere.com to see prices???

I'll do the quad search tonight; other option is to bite the bullet and cash in hotel points. i just didn't think that March was high season in Venice!

Are you opposed to apartments?

no - I've gotten a response from at least one rental firm with three options. All are reasonble in price. Do you have a recommendation?

If your kids are on vacation, so are others'. I went in Dec. for New Year's & paid high season rates.

If you have Starwood/Westin points that could work. I've found ff pts don't go very far for hotels, but you may find otherwise.

No (it was a question of preference), but I'm sure others will once they know its an option. With 2 teens, you might rather enjoy the extra space and kitchen (and laundry?) facilities of an apartment. It might help to post a new thread "Looking for Venice apartment suggestions".

Good luck.

Regarding the Lisbona--the last time we were there, they accomodated our three teenages in one room. Great spot. Good luck---