Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Three and half days in Venice

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I'd learn a few words of Italian. Please, thank you, I'm sorry I don't speak Italian and do you speak English will create a good impression.
Also, it's important to greet people when you go into a shop and to ask permission before touching anything.

MissPrism, thank you for the tip. I did not know about the permission needed to touch things.

We really enjoyed taking a vaporetto over to the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, going up the little elevator in the church for stunning views of Venice.

Favorite restaurant was Alle Testiere, a tiny place that wasn't easy for us to find but serves delicious, fresh seafood.

Thanks, drchris and Annealex5. I have to tell you guys, I'm pretty miffed.

What a condescending "apology", dulciusexasperis. You have been on this board for all of....4 months???? Just long enough to join board bullies.

And Wandering_for_Fun, thanks for throwing me under the bridge after I took time to help you with actual concrete suggestions.

AZ

You're welcome. I've been going to Italy for years. I knew about the greeting and not touching without permission. However, it took me some time to realise that it isn't "done" to hand money to a shop assistant. There's usually a hollow bit in the counter where you are supposed to put t

" Some people lead such busy lives that they don't have the endless hours it takes to plan a trip completely on their own,"

Huh? Endless hours? Here's how I plan a trip. I pick a place, I buy a ticket to that place, I go. There is no endless hours of planning every little detail unless you CHOSE to do that. As for creating spreadsheets, you must be joking. It's a vacation, not a war campaign.

"You have been on this board for all of....4 months????"

Please explain to me the signifigance of how long someone has been on THIS forum Alessandro. Does it indicate how much knowledge they have or do not have of travel?

Does your having been a member longer mean what you have to say on a subject is of more value?

Try not to make such obviously silly comments.

MissPrism, we have noticed the "not handing money" practice. Do you have any idea why this is so?

Filthy lucre or whatever?

Alessandra, I'm sorry if it came across that way. I explained that I was looking for guide books to have more knowledge and if I wanted somebody to hold my hand I would go on a tour and would not have been asking question s here. I am truly grateful of all the information you have provided on this post. By no means I meant to throw you under the bus.

Yes, I wonder about the no handing money thing. Germs? The assistant has to handle the money anyway.

"I hesitate to say this on a Fodor's forum post but I like the Rick Steves guidebooks as they give very specific information that is easy to follow."

It's very important to ignore the stalking haters on this board who love to spew their venom. They are not worth any time or effort.

Rick Steves absolutely adores Venice. Any traveler with that kind of love and passion is bound to possess worthwhile information. I don't own any of Rick's products, but I think he is a major talent in the industry. He also is very smart to employ Karel Bauer, an award-winning cameraman, one of the industry's best.

Any suggestion that Rick Steves ruined the Cinque Terre is silly. The Cinque Terre is very much like Venice: tourists dream of seeing this special place at least once in their lifetime. Tourism exploded in Italy in the late 90's and early 2000's. People from all over the world had money to travel. Naturally, these authentic locations in Italy, which were on everyone's bucket list, received a ton of attention. With or without the help of RS, the Cinque Terre was destined to be visited by millions of people a year.

"I think that with three or four days only, Murano/Burano/Torcello is not viable"

It amazes me that certain first-time tourists would consider stealing precious time away from rich and glorious Venice to visit one of these islands during a short stay. To each his own.

"Venice is not noted for night life"

It exists, but you have to know where to go, and sometimes an invite is required.

"the budget for food is 150 euros per day for 4 people."

That's not a lot of money for food in Venice. That amount may pay for a diet of pizza, fruit, and yogurt. You will not be eating in any of Venice's top 40 for lunch or dinner.

"Can you recommend a good map"

Printed maps are a dead industry. You can thank the digital age and the penny-pinching publishing industry. The best map of Venice is no longer published. And it's a shame. If your vision is good, Streetwise is decent. If you have difficulty reading it, get color laser blow-ups of each neighborhood and use that.

"What about the attire in the summer. Are capris and Bermuda shorts with a nice top appropriate?"

Tourists far outnumber residents in Venice. Tourists come in all shapes, styles, and taste levels. For many among the selfish, anything goes. As a general rule, exposing too much skin in a Christian country can raise red flags. Italian women tend to love dresses. Italian men rarely wear shorts in public. There are exceptions, like living life at a beach.

"Since there is a lot of walking we are thinking of nice walking sandals."

Certain sandal strap styles will encourage blisters in humid, heavy walking agendas. The ground is rarely super smooth or super flat in an ancient city, so the straps may rub your skin in a way that you will not experience elsewhere.

"You will not be eating in any of Venice's top 40 for lunch or dinner."

I'm guessing the OP already had that part all figured out.

Based on the information from you guys, we will increase our food budget. It is better to know beforehand what to expect than to be surprised later.
Thanks regarding the information on clothing and shoes. This will help decide what to pack.

Whatever footwear you choose, the footwear should be already broken in, comfortable walking long distances, and securely on your foot. Every Italian city, including Venice, has uneven sidewalks, walkways, and streets, often cobbled with stones. In Venice, most people are surprised by the sheer number of bridges, which means visitors are constantly walking up or down the steps of a bridge. Choose your footwear with this in mind.

Regarding footwear, both my husband and I wear shoes from the Clark's WaveWalk collection - very comfortable, good support. I wear the Wave Cruise. I don't see the one my husband has bought in the past but it looks similar to the Wave Helix. On our trip to Switzerland, he splurged on shoes from REI but ended up using the Clarks Wave shoes and has done so ever since. They also last a long time. I also bought a pair of Clarks Unstructured sandals but given NYCFoodSnob's advice I am wondering whether I should take them.

drchris over the weekend I bought a pair of Clarks Wave Coast sandals. I loved the way the feel and they were made for walking according to the reviews. I might get a pair of the wave cruise, and carry 2 pairs of shoes. If somebody has other suggestions regarding other brand please let me know.

I hope you enjoy wearing the Clarks. I would encourage you to wear a pair of shoes (the heavier ones) and pack a pair (the lighter ones). It's helpful to let one pair breathe while wearing the other, and if you get caught in the rain or the aqua alta if in Venice, you have a pair to wear while the other pair dries out.

Speaking of rain, you can buy disposable rain ponchos for $1-3 at some sporting goods stores. They can be handy in a pinch. Be sure to pack a small travel size umbrella.

Been to both numerous times and LOVE both. I would take time away from Barcelona and add to Venice. We will be in Venice in October and are taking gondola lessons which should be fun and loved all the outer islands especially Burano.

Acqua alta is unlikely in June. Mostly it occurs in late fall, winter, and early spring.