trebex

I'm thinking about spending a week in Venice and nearby areas in January. How easy is it to spend a few days in Venice and Padova and then a few days in Slovenia or Croatia and then get back to Venice? Is this possible without spending many hours on ferries, trains and buses?

Also, since Padova is near Venice and is cheaper, is it reasonable to stay there are commute to Venice each day? Has anyone done that?

Thanks

zeppole

If you take the train out to Trieste, you don't need to cross water to get into Slovenia and Croatia, but you are still talking about several hours on ground transport, plus the risk of really lousy weather paralyzing transport.

The weight of opinion about "commuting" to Venice is pretty much solidly against it on this board, even though most people holding that opinion have never done it. The few people who've actually done it sometimes do show up here and say they enjoyed it or were just fine with it. I've never done it, but I would reluctant to recommend it to someone else just because being in Venice late at night or very early in the morning is sometimes the only way to enjoy certain aspects of the city without a clog of tourists. Remember too that in January you will have very short daylight hours in a part of Italy which generally sees overcast days in January. If you can dig around, you can find well-reviewed b&bs that are price competitive with Venice (although food in Padova is cheaper, that is for sure).

tarquin

January is the least congested month in Venice and also the fewest hours of daylight, I would not waste any of them "commuting" from Padua. There are reasonably priced places to stay, do some research.

bellini

I would advise 3-4 days in Venice and a couple in Padova. January could be quite cold but very atmospheric
Padova to Trieste by train in feasible but not sure about the rest of your plans.

qwovadis

Padova lots uglier 60 miles away too far for a day trip.

Otel.com good deals on www.hotelpausania.it

from 59 euros for me in Venice

betterbidding.com also Boscolo Bellini or Hilton Stucky Molino

5 star from $120/nt bidding priceline also great

eurocheapo.com Venice great budget city guides

too cold and and a long slog too far for your other countries

for a few days www.sirmione.com Pearl of Garda Hotel Eden

will still be fairly warm... beautiful lots to do

Happy Travels!

Vttraveler

My husband and I stayed in Padova once during Carnival when we could not find rooms in Venice. It was fine, quite convenient (and amusing to see all the people in costume on the train)but not as magical as Venice in early morning and evening. I would pay the extra money to stay right in Venice.

RJD

Many years ago, we stayed in Padua with the intention of commuting to Venice. It is not only inconvenient but you miss the real life of Venice. Been back many times and always stay in Venice itself.

ellenem

Padova is 30 minutes from Venice by public transportation, a perfect distance for a day trip from Venice. I have done it twice and so can attest to the ease of accomplishing it. Giotto's Scrovegni Chapel is a short walk from the train station.

ladycartel

Venice is the nicest place to stay (although it will be freezing cold and rates are cheaper since it's low season) and worth paying a little more for the B&Bs there. Venice for Rookies guide book has a bunch of great suggestions for budget lodging in Venice and the other cities to visit such as apartments with rentalia.com or hostelsclub.com.

In regards to the train ride,Padova is 30min from Venice and costs 3.45 euros one way. At their train station, there is a tourist office which will lend you free audio tour headsets to take along your site seeing as long as you leave them your ID and return the headsets by 6pm.

If you rent a car, from Padova, I suggest hitting the Euganian Hills which is beautiful as far as the Veneto countryside goes with wineries in Vo and great meat and pasta dishes in agriturismi (farming restaurants where everything is home grown).

For Slovenia, Ljubljana will only take a day to see and then you can enjoy staying at a cheap but nicer hotel with spa services to take advantage of their great saunas and hot tubs. The food is better in Italy though.

adrienne

If you stay in Padua because the prices are less expensive you have to factor in the E13.8 round trip fare for 2 people per day.

I would rather stay in Venice than commute an hour each day (possibly more than an hour since you have to get to and from the train station in each town so it would be closer to 1.5 hours per day).

bardo1

Just to be clear:

Are you planning on spending a week in Venice and then visiting Padova, Slovenia (all of it?) Croatia (all of it?) or is your plan to see everything within 7 nights (or is it actually a 6 night stay?)?

bardo1

Also, a good rule of thumb is if it costs more to stay in a certain area, then that is probably going to be the place area you want to stay. The cheaper areas/neighborhoods/suburbs are cheaper BECAUSE they are less desirable and less sought after (supply and demand).

That absolutely applies to Venice. That is to say you'll want to stay IN Venice (and cut the budget elsewhere if needed).

JBX

Another thread w/ someone seeking to visit ..... (Venice to Padova) -- http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-questions.cfm

TDudette

Hub and I made Venice a base and took a day trip by train to Padua and one to Trieste. Padua was easy but make pre-reservations to the neat church (sorry senior mo about the name). Trieste was a longer trip but we did see Miramar and walk about the Centre.

If you Google Venice to Slovenia or Croatia, you will find tours and ferries. I can't help with 1st-hand experience but people still need to get to those places, even in January so you should find something. I'm sure I saw a Rick Steves show about taking a boat across from Venice-check out his site as well.

International flights out of Venice leave (or did when we were there) early so you might want to spend your last night in Venice to be safe.