Venice Accommodations
 

I could use some advice on where to stay in Venice. My family of four (kids age 11 & 8) will be staying for only 2 nights at the end of March before heading to Rome for a week. We will have slightly less than 48 hours which includes our jet-lagged arrival.

Given that scenario, I would prefer to be close to the typical sites, be fairly close to a vaporetto stop to minimize luggage hauling, and like the fact that San Polo, for instance, is closer to the bus/train than say San Marco.

Budget is somewhat flexible, but I'd prefer <= 150 Euros/night for the quad accommodations.

From some research on here and other places, I've found 3 options that I'd like to get your opinion on. Other suggestions welcome:

1) Corte 1321 (B&B, 150 Euros/nt): http://www.corte1321.com/en/index.htm

2) Ca Paradiso (2BR, 130 Euros/nt): http://www.venicehr.com/caparadiso.a...azione=english (seems a little harder to get to)

3) Al Campaniel (2BR, 92 Euros/nt): http://www.alcampaniel.com/ (spartan, further from Rialto & San Marco, not sure I'll get spousal approval on this one . . .).

Thanks for your help.

I’ve not stayed at Al Campaniel, but I know the location very well – walked past there dozens of times. It is about half way between Rialto and San Marco, probably 20 or 25 minutes walk from San Marco, 10 or 15 to Rialto. You can get there easily from the San Toma vaporetto stop, with no bridges to cross, it’s about 50 yards, and easy to find. Being easy to find is no small advantage in Venice – it can save you an hour of wandering around.
Campo Margherita is five minutes away, and there are restaurants, a pizza place and a gelatti shop there, along with a Punto supermarket.
The Campo San Toma is pretty quiet, but the kids can kick a soccer ball around it. The chocolate shop just across the way is tempting in the extreme.

Look at Corte Grimani for apts.

I have stayed at Corte 1321 and highly recommend. The location is great and you will not need to cross any bridges when walking to/from the nearest vaporreto stop with luggage. A good, simple breakfast is served in a lovely and peaceful small courtyard. The hosts are very friendly, warm and helpful. My room (Superior) had lots of space, the bathroom was huge, and the decor was very well done.

Although not a rec for a place to stay, you should take a day or two off of Rome and add it to Venice. Venice is magical a 2 jet-lagged days will not do it justice.

I agree - more time in Venice and less in Rome. It would be much more preferable for your children too as Rome is hectic and it's difficult to escape the crowds whereas Venice is so unique and there are delightful boat trips to entrance your children & wandering away from San Marco and Rialto easily gets away from crowds of tourists.

bob: Thanks for the suggestion. They do look nice. I'll look into them a little more, but they are a little pricier (210 w/o view).

zoecat: thanks. Corte 1321 is probably the leading candidate right now.

MichelleY: so many places and so little time! We'll have to make another trip if we like what we see. Only time for a taste of Venice on this trip. The primary purpose is Rome. Thanks!

Keep the comments coming!

Rome is full of fabulous things to see and experience, even more so for kids. I also think that 2 nights in Venice is enough - then you can decide if it deserves more time in the future. I have never felt the pull personally but have been to Rome a dozen times and never tire of it.

BTW, Indy was my home back when--left in 1974.

Venice is cold the end of March. Make sure you layer and have light gloves and a hat. We are from northern Canada and nearly froze on the vaporetta trip from Murano back to Venice. The wind was nasty and the air was very damp. I would personally stay in Rome. Venice deserves a visit, but maybe with older children or by yourselves. Just my opinion though...

Didn't mean to turn this into a Venice vs. Rome discussion. Any more thoughts on where to stay?

pensione academia...5 minutes from the vaperatto..around the corner from the academia museum......just left there 3 days ago.......it is a restored villa...bkfast included.......LOVED IT.....

I agree- Pensione Academia would be another good choice.

You could check with Anna, the owner of these apartments, and see if she has your 2 nights available. I have stayed in the smaller apartment (Palazzo Foscarini) several times and love it. You would need one of the larger apartments. They are well located (Dorsoduro), quite large and recently renovated.

http://www.palazzofoscarini.com/

<Didn't mean to turn this into a Venice vs. Rome discussion.>

People on this forum just cannot resist providing unasked-for advice...

What are the pros and cons of staying in Dorsoduro vs. San Polo? It seems that much further away from the airport/train station but perhaps that's not a big deal . . .

ttt -- anyone else? Thanks!

Rather than getting the Vap or Bus from Marco Polo airport into Venice I would strongly recommend you stretch to a water-taxi (approx €80 for the family).
It's quick and efficient which is probably just what you want at the end of a long journey but more to the point it'll make you feel like a film star as you skip across the lagoon towards the city. It'll blow those cobwebs away and give you all a badly needed fillip - enough to enable you to make something worthwhile of your first, jet-lagged day.

Have a great trip!

Dr. D

I just spent a week in the Corte 1321 garden flat which does sleep four (two on a sofa bed.) The location is convenient, close to the San Silvestro vaporetto stop with no steps or bridges on the way. The large space of Campo San Polo is not far away for the children to run around, and there's a Coop supermercato just around the corner for essential supplies. Breakfast is unusually good for Italy and the staff are very friendly. Also it is very quiet at night - highly recommended!

Just an observation: Unasked-for advice can be very useful.

<<What are the pros and cons of staying in Dorsoduro vs. San Polo? It seems that much further away from the airport/train station but perhaps that's not a big deal . . .>>

You will need to take the Vaporetto to the train station to either area, taking roughly the same amount of time. The areas are not far apart. I see no pros or cons for one area over the other.

From the airport, you have several options for arrival- private water taxi, bus/vaporetto combo, or public boat/vaporetto combo. Again, no pros or cons with either area.

Venice is not a large city, so either area will be fine for your visit.

Hotel Antiche Figure is directly across from the train station - no vaporetta or water taxi trip needed with your luggage. The rooms are lovely, huge marble bathrooms and the most comfortable beds. Includes a full buffet breakfast with lots of fresh fruit.

Our room was on the second floor with a Juliet balcony, overlooking the canal.

That would be my choice again IF we went back to Venice...

My Sis just stayed in a large roomy with two kids 7&11 at Domus Orsoni and was very happy with it. Don't know the prices in March but you should fit right in your range. Convenient location for transport too.

Domus Orsoni is in Cannareggio as I recall and has gorgeous mosaic in all the rooms. I took a mosaic course at the Orsoni foundry but didn't stay there (but was able to view the rooms). The prices are *very* reasonable as I recall, especially off season. Might be slightly tricky to find at first but many things in Venice are, and I personally love that area.

Can you put the link for the Domus Orsoni?
I'm trying to book our reservations for next June and I'm still debating where to stay.

Also 3 or 4 nights is Venice?

I stayed at Hotel Ai Do Mori, 20 metres from San Marco Square, single was 75 euros, shared bathroom, really nice decor and clean and quiet. Look at their great and informative website

We stayed atthe Ai Do Mori too! Six nights in late December three years ago. Can't remember the price, though.

Hotel was good, clean and comfortable, and the staff were helpful. BUT it is very central to San Marco - maybe too central in June when the crowds are thick.

We had a corner room, with windows onto both streets, and that was fun. WPeople watching, shining a laser pointer onto their maps when they were lost!

In June 2008, We stayed at the Al Ponte Mocenigo in Santa Croce with our 2 daughters, 9 and 13 yrs. We reserved a triple room, and requested an extra bed. (We did this all over Italy, and it opened up many possibilities for affordable rooms) All beds were very comfortable, and each child and their own "space" which made things much easier. The room was spacious, the hotel was lovely, with a great continental breakfast included. The location is just about 100 feet from the San Stae vaparetto stop, and was very easy to find, as well as being out of the hustle of San Marco. Still, an easy vaparetto ride to all the action, which your kids will love, and an easy walk to Rialto too. Finally, only 2 vaparetto stops or so back to the train station for your trip to Rome. Also- I agree with Dr. D - spring for the water taxi ride to your hotel, where ever you stay. With 2 kids and their luggage, it will be a much easier transition.

Sorry pooky just found your request -- here's the link:

http://www.domusorsoni.it/

But my strong favorite remains Locanda Orseolo.

I stayed at Hotel Tiepolo last year...just a few minutes on foot from the San Zaccaria vaparetto stop on Grand Canal (and I believe no bridges to cross w/ luggage). It's not far off Piazza San Marco and rates were very reasonable. Oh, and this rec is coming from a fellow Naptowner ;-)

http://www.hoteltiepolo.com/en/index.htm

Does anyone have any reports on Hotel Rialto?

>>BTW, Indy was my home back when--left in 1974<<

My wife escaped from Indy 4 years before you did. Lived in Broad Ripple

Stu Dudley

foxp3: I stayed at Hotel Rialto last year. Rooms were clean, nice front desk staff, good breakfast in the AM. We had a triple that had a view of a vent shaft, but I'm sure they have better views available. They were very understanding when one of my friends plugged in a flat-iron and caused the lights to go out! Good location...always easy to get back to if you got a little lost since it was right at the base of the Rialto bridge. We had acqua alta one day while we were there and when the tide came in at night we couldn't get in through the front lobby...I believe there was a staff person that told us where the back door was so we could stay dry, but that's part of the fun, right? BTW...this was March, might be a bit more congested around the hotel during a busier time of year since it is right at the foot of one of the landmark bridges???