Royal

The only two rental agencies in Venice I can recommend are Truly Venice and Views on Venice.

JulieVikmanis

Booking.com just listed pretty decent rates at Ca Pisani on the Dorsoduro, Not on a canal but with a rooftop relaxing area where I'd expect you can see the Grand canal in one direction and the water between the Dorsoduro and the Giudecca (can't remember what that's called) We stayed there and loved it--quiet, nice neighborhood, across from a school where parents drop their kids off in the mornings, but a block or so from the Grand Canal and the Accademia Bridge and a block or so in the other direction to the Zattere right near the La Calcina. Unfortunately I never went up to the rooftop to be able to say for sure what it's like up there.

I noted at the same time a place I've never heard of nor seen but that has a 9 rating on Booking.com called Ad Place Venice with very reasonable rates, close to La Fenice. Decor is over the top Venice.

Check them out. And have a great time in Venice.

caroline_edinburgh

Julie, that's the Giudecca Canal and it's my favourite view. I don't think you'd be able to see the Grand Canal from, though, due to all the tight-packed buildings in between. Have you been up the St Mark's Campanile or the Torre d'Orologio ? Not a canal to be seen !

wren

Ok--now I am really frustrated! Calcina and Ca' Angeli are no longer available and the guy at Ala said to book online! (But those rooms are non-refundable only and as i said I don't want to go that route!!) Grrr! Back to square one! Julie, I will check out your recommendation.

caroline_edinburgh

You can search the Truly Venice website by number of bedrooms & having a terrace. Maybe if you look at the 3 bedroom apartments, there are more likely to be 2 doubles ? Your budget should certainly cover that.

Margaretlb

wren, my last visit was in 2009 and it was still lovely then.

TPAYT

Bookmarking----it's on my bucket list

Bob---the website for the Pensione Accademia has one of the best location finding sights I've ever seen. I love the way you close in and get an actual walking path from the vaporetto stop.

Margaretlb----Hotel Foscari Palace looks really nice. Any idea on prices?

What's the best area to stay for a first visit to Venice? Probably 3-4 nights before or after our usual trip to Paris. That said, would you go to Venice and then Paris, or the reverse?

We usually go to Europe in Sept. Sometimes on short notice. It appears that Venice hotels need to be booked way ahead of time. Do you think July is too late to make a decision? That's when we usually start looking at Europe. This thread prompted me to start thinking early.

Surfergirl

Also consider the Hotel American in the same area as Calcina, on a canal by the Accademia Bridge. We liked this place so much we've stayed there twice.

www.hotelamerican.it

lstamu

We stayed at Locanda Orseolo two years ago and absolutely loved it and the people that ran it. It was a great location. I would definitely stay here if I were you!

KarenE

The rooms with "no view" at the Locanda Orseolo will be pretty much like that. A very close view of a wall, not for the claustrophobic ones. Other then the canal view rooms they have courtyard views. The courtyard is very small and not particularly appealing. I would only stay in a canal view room at the Locanda (which we did and loved it). The people running the Locanda are lovely, though. The Pensione Accademia is really nice, too. I recommend the hotel Aqua Palace. They don´t have large outside space, though. Just a small terrace like space on canal level which is really nice to sit with a glass of wine and watch the gondolas go by. For apartment rentals we used "Views on Venice". They are great to deal with but I doubt they will have rentals for less than 5 nights, mostly not less than one week in May.

Keren

Try the following B&B:
http://www.allavitedorata.com/

I found it on tripadvisor, spent wonderful 5 nights there. It's comfortable and in a great location with easy access from the train station, the price is right for Venice, I think. When I go back it will be my first choice. Felt like home.

kickikicki

definitely try http://www.rentalinvenice.com

deedeedee

Hi Karen ... I will be in Venice in November & was wondering which hotel you liked best.

Locanda Oresoso (with canal view) or Aqua Palace ? We would like something with a

canal view. Thanks

Royal

TPAYT- September is an extremely popular month to visit Venice. Our last three trips have been at that time and we have booked anywhere from 9-11months in advance.

We stayed at La Calcina twice in a canal front room and this last time in an apartment in the same location. The Dorsoduro is our favorite area as it has good access to everything but is much quieter than the busy San Marco and Rialto area. In the daytime those areas can be absolutely packed with people and difficult to get around. The Zattere has some good outdoor restaurants and we love walking along the canal and watching all the boat traffic.

Regarding your question about Paris & Venice I guess it would depend on your flight arrangements. Our flight back home from Venice was very early in the morning and it made for a long day home. If the flight back from Paris was later in the morning or early afternoon I would choose then to fly into Venice and home from Paris. The other consideration is weather - Venice was very warm in September - in the 80's.

TPAYT

Royal----thanks for answering my questions. I didn't mean to highjack this thread. I'll definitely check into the areas that you mentioned. 9-11 months out is not our usual plan as we do a few other trips at that time, however, I have noticed in the Venice threads that the places book up quickly. This year Paris was also very warm in Sept.-Oct. More so than other years.

caroline_edinburgh

TPAYT, when we used to stay at La Calcina we would book for the next year as soon as we got home (so nearly always a year ahead), and even then some rooms would be gone. Last year we were in Venice 10-24 Sept and the weather was very mixed: hot the first week (could dine outside) ; cold, windy & rainy the middle weekend; hot in the day but cold at night (couldn't dine outside) the second week. So I'd go to Venice first as I think it's more of an 'outdoor' destintion than Paris.

JulieVikmanis

Caroline, you're right, even though the Ca Pisani is at the narrowest end of the Dorsoduro, it's only the Grand Canal I'm certain you can get a glimpse of from the window of the room we stayed in. But you can view down the street toward the Zattere and the Canale Giudecca along the street named Rio Terra a Foscarini. since the street is pretty straight, it's possible that with really good vision you might pick up a glimpse of water on that side. Regardless, we really liked the Ca Pisani, it seems to be in Wren's price range, and it's in a lovely area. As canalside options are dwindling, it might become an ever more attractive alternative.

jh2011

There are good vacation rentals around Venice. It's not that expensive and the service is really great.

qwovadis

In May for me

www.hotelpausania.it #211 canal view suite 59 euro

www.otel.com

www.bauervenezia.com

www.otel.com from $200 was AWESOME

in the past betterbidding.com

Hotel Hilton Molino Stuky $120/nt bid priceline

AWESOME value for a 5 star best I have ever done.

Good luck!

qwovadis

2 years ago won this $120 bidding priceline.com GREAT

location on canal 1 block from train station

Boscolo Bellini is set in a historic building in Cannareggio ... Priceline.com ensures that its reviews are guests-only ... Ai Due Fanali from $120 (0.1mi) Alloggi Serena from ...travela.priceline.com/boscolo-bellini-hotel-venice.

Apartments best in Dorsoduro carful many scammers

italyby.com sleepinitaly.com reputable agents

eurocheap.com/venice great budt tips hotel values