scrb

Grabbed an award ticket as soon as I could for Italy next May, Memorial Day week. Right now, it's going to Venice arriving on a Monday and leaving on a Saturday. Arriving Monday afternoon, 5 PM and leaving early Saturday morning, like 7 AM, connecting both ways through CDG (yes I know, risky).

So effectively, it's 4 full days.

But I can extend by a week if necessary although I would probably extend it at most by 3 or 4 days.

So I was thinking of changing my return to maybe Milan, Nice or Rome. Milan is the only place I haven't been to.

I'm sure most people go for Rome and Venice. Also been to Florence and some of Tuscany this year so that could be an option, go down through Tuscany or Umbria and then fly out of Rome.

Guess it depends on what you like but I like it all, countryside or bigger cities.

What have people been pairing Venice with?

sandi_travelnut

Verona is a beautiful city only 1.5 hours from Venice by rail. Beautiful Adige river running through it, anciet arena in the mmiddle of the central piazza. I wish I had been able to spend more time there.

Neopolitan

Having just spent a full week in Venice (again), I'd be content to just stay there and do some trips to Chioggia, Padua, day trip on the Brenta, Verona, Trieste, etc. But, if you want to branch out a little, I'd consider spending a couple days north of Venice -- a wonderful area -- Asolo, Udine, Bassana del Grappa -- should be wonderful that time of year.

Bailey

We usually go to the Dolomite area in combination with Venezia. Especially that time of year....the cool mountains may be a relief from the city heat.
We have stayed several times at the Hotel Uhrerhof in Pufels, just outside Ortesei. It is a beautiful little property.
www.uhrerhof.com

On our last trip, on a recommendation, we had lunch at another property. The Hotel Turm, in Fie. The meal was outstanding. The owner showed us around the hotel...amazing. My sister & I are going to Venice in November & planning to spend a couple of nights at this hotel.
www.hotelturm.it

The area is so beautiful in May....have a terrific trip!

scrb

OK, so it's good to know there's enough to see beyond Venice in the immediate area.

Now would it be worth extending by a day or two?

Is 4.5 days really enough?

Neopolitan

My first thought is to make it a week. Seven nights is 6 days. Maybe it's just me, but now that we're renting apartments mainly, a full week not only opens up a lot of rental possibilities, but just seems like a nice length of time to stay put in one place.

Bailey

No, it isn't enough time. If it isn't any hardship...extend as long as possible.
But, that's advice from someone that has been to Venice several times...staying several weeks... and I still haven't 'seen it all'!! LOL!!

ira

Hi S,

You can't spend too much time in Venice.

Bailey

Neopolitan....we seem to be on the same Venice wave link.
Have you posted any of your Venice apartment choices??
We usually stay in a friends pensione...but they will be doing some major renovation....I think it's time to find an apartment.

(sorry about the hijack!)

scrb

Unfortunately, flying from the West Coast, and wanting to take no more than 5 days of vacation, it's hard to get more than 4 or 5 full days, unless I extend it to two weeks.

I will have to see how my vacation time is looking.

This year, I will be taking like 5 1-week trips, maxing out my vacation time and using holiday weeks. A two-week trip limits the ability to go on other trips during the year.

Maybe sample Venice and plan to go back.

Bailey

That sounds like a great idea....or...
sometimes we take what we call a 'scouting trip'.....a few days in a couple of places...just to find the places that we want to return!!

A few trips spread throughout the year is a wonderful way to get through a long & tough year of work!!

scrb

Well one of the reasons I did it is to reach status with Delta SkyMiles.

So I will reach their Gold, meaning next year, I get double miles for each trip.

Tempting to take like 4 trips, accumulate 50k, double it to 100k. But the problem is, this Venice trip is already an award ticket so I would have to buy 4 more trips next year (and I will take 6 this year).

Heavy expense though, but it's been nice taking a trip every two months.

Neopolitan

Bailey, I haven't posted any full trip reports yet, but here's the apartment we renting this time in Venice. Some posters may remember that a couple of years ago NYCFoodSnob and I seemed to get into a terrible argument because she recommended this place, and I mentioned it "seemed to good to be true", which she took as an insult to her honesty -- not my intent. Well, we finally stayed there and we were indeed delighted.

http://tinyurl.com/eha63

suze

I would extend it as long as is reasonable for you, and I would stay in Venice with a couple day trips (assumeing about 7-8 is the max we're talking about?).

I don't like 1 week vacations when long air travel and big time change are involved. For me I'd rather take fewer trips and spend more time on each one. To my mind, this maximizes the prices of a plane ticket, which is usually the largest single expense of any foreign trip.

Bailey

Scrb....Yes...it's terrific to jet off every few months. Exploring!!
Whatever you decide...short or long...you will return with enough memories to get you through to the next grand adventure.
I have some Venice/Dolomite photos on my web-site...if you have a minute check them out.
www.pbase.com/baileyzim

Neoplolitan....Thank you so much for sharing the apartment info.
I try to stay behind the scenes here at Fodors....I can't take the heat!! LOL

suze

I like Venice paired with Paris connected by overnight train. But 10 days would be my minimum for that trip.

scrb

Ten days including travel or ten days in Paris and Venice not including travel days?

How long is the train trip? Maybe a cheap flight would be better to save time. I've taken train from Paris to Nice.

I was in Paris a couple of weeks ago. Always something to see in Paris but maybe I would do it for day trips out of Paris this time.

One good thing is I have to fly CDG-SFO and if I don't have to fly out of Italy, I don't have to try to make a very short connection time at CDG.

Bailey

Suze....Last year I did the Paris/Venice combo....it was a wonderful combination. But, I decided on a cheapo MyAir flight instead of the train....someday I'll try the train!!

Neopolitan....That apartment is beautiful...I had looked at the site before...but hadn't checked out the weekly rate......Holy night.....amazing deal!!
When were you there? Planning another trip to Venice this year?

okoshi2002

We took the night train from Venice to Paris and I would not recommend it.

Because it is a "night" trip you do not see any sights, accomodations for sleeping comparment is very expensive.

I would take a cheap flight.

Bailey

Okoshi...That was one of the reasons I decided to fly. It was also so inexpensive to fly ....it was one of those 2cent sales. It was also faster.
BUT, I think many people love taking train trips.