Pensione la Calcina, Corte Campo B&B, or VRBO 227717 at Dorsoduro 3515 are our last choices - the alternate is wait until closer to our September date and prices may come down?

Would appreciate your comments - how's that neighborhood for the VRBO apartment - to far away?

It might be best to post the link to the apartment

That apartment looks very nice and I would not hesitate to book it. I have stayed twice recently in the Dorsoduro area and it is my favorite part of Venice. We were also close to Campo Santa Margherita and walked everywhere. I have heard good things about La Calcina and it's location is good as well, but I would personally prefer an apt when possible. Have a great trip !

I too have stayed near Campo Santa Margherita.
I loved that area. It was easy to walk almost everywhere. There is a vaporetto stop near it if you are tired.

There square is busy with alot of shops, restaurant, bars, and a grocery store. Gelato too

Try DeChamps Bar for Spritz Apperol. YUMMY

I've stayed at La Calcina twice, loved the hotel, loved the location. I'm not sure what you mean by "last choices"... it would be my 1st pick hotel if I were going to Venice again!

I just meant that I had been looking at choices for quite some time and was ready to make a decision.

What we are thinking is to alter our itinerary and stay in Venice for six nights instead of three - That said - we may go farther afield - Castello district ok? Is this to long to stay - will we get bored?

I doubt that prices will come down. September is high season in Venice.

Any location in Venice proper is really fine. You can walk from one end of Venice to the other in 45 minutes--it'd not that big. Your location matters less if you are staying for the longer period and don't need to maximize time as much or have no mobility restrictions.

I wouldn't get bored with six nights.

By the way, the VRBO location is at campiello del Magazen, right at the northern edge of Dorsoduro.

FYI I was able to pinpoint the location by using the "Venice Civic Number" mapping feature at

http://venicexplorer.net/

This is a wonderful site for pinpointing locations in Venice, by street name, civic number, category . . . many different options.

La Calcina is a nice hotel. My friend Monica stayed there (I was at the Wildner) and I visited her at the hotel one morning for breakfast. Nice location, peaceful views right on the water.

I don't think you would get bored in 6 days, but then again, I don't know your boredom levels!

If you don't have any knowledge of the of Venice history whatsoever, you will get a lot more out of your six days if you do a lot of reading ahead of time. "Venice" by Jan Morris is a good start. "Venice for Pleasure" by JG Links is a good walking guide type of book (even though it is not very new, it's still quite applicable). Read a few novels to get you in the mood - "Miss Garnet's Angel" was delightful and fun to go visit "her church" when we were there...

There are many outlying islands that look interesting. In three to Venice trips I still haven't visited them, so I doubt you'd run out of things to do on Venice itself.

I agree with all those who like the Dorsoduro neighborhood; it is where we stay when we come to Venice (the Accademia). Although we have never stayed at La Calcina, it has a very nice location and discerning friends have given it high praise. 6 days is not at all too long for Venice--we did not run out of things to do when we spent 12 days there for an important birthday.

6 days is not too long. La Calcina is a fabulous place to stay. There's a rooftop deck you can reserve. And a nice breakfast is included in the room price (served either in the dining room off the lobby or out on the patio over the canal).

Thanks so much for all of your help. We have decided to definitely do six days there and forget Florence this trip. Since we are staying longer we will do an apartment so I can cook! I will start looking againto find the apartment with a terrace so we can sit outside and have dinner and wine! Castello district is ok as far as safety?

Venice is all ok as far as safety.

Hmmm ! We will be in an apt. for a week in Castello from 19 to 26 Sep. I think Castello is great, although we will be about 3 minutes from San Marco. When will you be there?

You might like to try http://realvenicevacationflats.com/ in Dorsoduro. We stayed there for nine weeks over Christmas, and there's a terrace to eat on. The location is good,with food shops close by. Castello is fine as far as safety is concerned. All of Venice is safe. I'd endorse the comment above about reading "Venice" by Jan Morris. It is the best guide book for Venice.

We have also stayed at La Calcina twice and enjoyed both of our stays. Take the advice of Suze and book time up on the rooftop. Bring some wine and cheese up there, and then relax after a long day of getting lost.

Bob: We will arrive on the 27th of September and depart on October 3. We should try to meet for a drink.

Peter - thanks for the tip, but the apartment is already rented for our days. Any other sites i should check for apartments? I emailed Franco's apartment but haven't heard back yet. Think I'll look in Castello a bit more. Thanks again everyone!

Sorry, but we do leave on the 26th--off to the Dolomites.