I am not very "well traveled" in Europe.<BR>I am meeting my son an his wife in Venice<BR>to begin a sailing vacation from Croatia.<BR>I have scheduled two nights... three days<BR>in Venice, alone, to begin with. I am tempted to stay in Murano and travel back and forth. I enjoy the glass shops and things like the fish markets. Back street things. Can anyone recommend moderate priced but good hotel in Murano.... I see lots of advertisements but questionable quality.<BR>

Tom--<BR>I don't know why you'd like to stay in Murano versus Venice, but that's your business. I've been to Murano but have never stayed in a hotel there. The Michelin red guide, which I use as a measure of hotel quality, lists NO hotels in Murano---which would usually mean the ones that are there aren't very good. That isn't to say you can't find a hotel, B&B or a private home that is very pleasant; I just think the chances of doing so aren't very good. I would think you'd enjoy your trip much better by staying in a budget lodging in Venice, then catching a water bus to Murano for your visits to their shops.

I too am at a loss to understand why you;d want to miss out wandering the back streets of Venice- how many glass shops can you visit??<BR>Try staying in Dorsoduro-I'd recommend the Hotel Messner- it's quiet, yet in just 5 minutes by tragetto (gondola ferry) you can cross the Grand Canal and be in Piazza San Marco

Tom, if you like the idea of the islands near Venice, don't miss Torcello which is less touristy than Murano and has a lovely church and some great restaurants. It's an easy boat ride from Venice and the other islands. Don't know of any hotels though.

I was just about talked out of staying in Murano...now convinced. It does not seem like the ideal place to stay. Venice does seem like an easy place to relax and take things at ones own pace.<BR>Venice is going to be followed by two weeks of sailing the coast of Croatia so I will have plenty of activity.

Tom<BR>Glad you've rethought this. Murano is imo the least picturesque of the lagoon islands I've seen and I can see no advantage to staying there. If you want to do some serious glass shopping, then by all means go for a couple of hours.<BR>If you just want some inexpensive glass<BR>souvenirs there are plenty to be had in the main part of Venice.<BR>I am enchanted by Torcello myself, but the boat ride there is about an hour, and with only three days in Venice you may or may not want to make time for that.

I have spent the last couple of hours looking at Hotel websites. Hotel Messner in Dorsoduro is about to get my reservation. The visits to the glass production is educational. I deal partly in "Venetian Type" glassware produced in China. <BR>Thought it would be interesting to have some background on the original pieces.<BR>Idea behind the Venice trip is to get rested and "preped" for sailing the Adriatic from Koper to <BR>Zadar, Croatia. This will be very physical and lots of sightseeing and water. Thanks for the suggestion for Hotel Messner...look very good!!!!