Should I stay in Padova, Italy?
Feb 6th, 2012, 05:03 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Should I stay in Padova, Italy?
Has anyone stayed in Padova (just outside of Venice) before? I don't like the idea of carrying my luggage to my hotel in Venice and was thinking about staying in Padova. Also, there seems to be a Mariott chain called "AC Hotels". Anyone know anything about them? How did you travel from Padova to Venice?
Feb 6th, 2012, 05:24 PM
#2
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,067
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I stayed in Padova a few years ago for a week and did day trips to Verona, Vicenza, Bologna, Treviso and also to Venice. However, I had been to Venice twice before in recent years so that was not the focus of my trip. In fact I wasn't even really planning on going to Venice that trip.
First, I loved Padua. It is a beautiful city, with lots to see, but a nice laid back vibe with a LOT less tourists than Venice or even Verona.
It has great train connections to all the places I just listed. Venice is a quick half hour or less train and they are very frequent. Several an hour at least. And only a few euro. So it is quite doable.
However, Venice is at it's best in the early morning and evenings when the cruise ship and other day trippers are gone. The trains run often enough that you certainly could get into Venice early and/or stay late. But that 10-5 time period is not when Venice is at it's best. If the main purpose of your trip is to be in Venice then you should stay in Venice. On my first trip to Venice we stayed right across the Grand Canal from the train station so that is an option if you don't want to schlep bags. But the second time I was there I stayed closer to Piazza San Marco and just took my bag on the vaporetto. How much luggage do you have?
Here is the link to the trip report I wrote. I give the contact info for the hotel I stayed at. http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...d-budapest.cfm
Also, here are my photos - http://www.pbase.com/annforcier/ital...to_and_bologna
First, I loved Padua. It is a beautiful city, with lots to see, but a nice laid back vibe with a LOT less tourists than Venice or even Verona.
It has great train connections to all the places I just listed. Venice is a quick half hour or less train and they are very frequent. Several an hour at least. And only a few euro. So it is quite doable.
However, Venice is at it's best in the early morning and evenings when the cruise ship and other day trippers are gone. The trains run often enough that you certainly could get into Venice early and/or stay late. But that 10-5 time period is not when Venice is at it's best. If the main purpose of your trip is to be in Venice then you should stay in Venice. On my first trip to Venice we stayed right across the Grand Canal from the train station so that is an option if you don't want to schlep bags. But the second time I was there I stayed closer to Piazza San Marco and just took my bag on the vaporetto. How much luggage do you have?
Here is the link to the trip report I wrote. I give the contact info for the hotel I stayed at. http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...d-budapest.cfm
Also, here are my photos - http://www.pbase.com/annforcier/ital...to_and_bologna
Feb 6th, 2012, 05:35 PM
#3
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 10,253
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
" I don't like the idea of carrying my luggage to my hotel in Venice"
Staying in Padova as opposed to Venice may not limit your need to carry your suitcase. In any case, there are many choices in Venice that will not require that you carry your bag that far. My favorite hotel is a less than one-minute walk from the vaporetto stop with no bridges to cross. If you have the funds, you can even pay to have a private water taxi take you directly to your hotel.
If carrying luggage is your only concern, I do not think that justifies staying in Padova to visit Venice.
Staying in Padova as opposed to Venice may not limit your need to carry your suitcase. In any case, there are many choices in Venice that will not require that you carry your bag that far. My favorite hotel is a less than one-minute walk from the vaporetto stop with no bridges to cross. If you have the funds, you can even pay to have a private water taxi take you directly to your hotel.
If carrying luggage is your only concern, I do not think that justifies staying in Padova to visit Venice.
Feb 6th, 2012, 05:43 PM
#4
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Padua gives you options and more time than staying in Venice proper and trying to see the region. We have stayed several times at the Sheraton on the eastern edge of town but have also had a car. Either way, train or car, Padua has lots to offer in itself.
Also some restaurant suggestions
Padua
La Cova *****
Via P.F. Calvi, 20 Piazza Cavour
Osteria Dal Capo *****
Via degli Obizzi, 2
Also some restaurant suggestions
Padua
La Cova *****
Via P.F. Calvi, 20 Piazza Cavour
Osteria Dal Capo *****
Via degli Obizzi, 2
Feb 10th, 2012, 07:19 PM
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thank you so much for your suggestions. I will have my airline tickets purchased by next week and will know more about where I am flying in and out of. We will go to Edinburg, Scotland for a few days to work, then fly to Italy. Want to spend several days in Venice and Florence. I wanted to stay in Vernazza, but understand that that area was flooded.
