Venice / Florence
 

For a 7 night trip (OCT.2001), does anyone have suggs as to how many days would be reccommended in each city for a Venice & Florence combination? Venice sound very difficult to get around, is this true (i.e. to/from airport and to/from train station to FLR)? Would welcome any hotel sugg in either city for a centrally located hotel (approx. $150 range DBLB). Any and all suggs are very welcome. Thank you in advance your kind assistance. Harlan

Marco Polo airport is about 1/2 hour by land taxi or land bus. It's then somewhat of a hike to get to water buses to get you to the central part of Venice. A water taxi will take a half hour or more from the airport, depending upon where you're staying. The water bus takes around an hour, but if the stops aren't near your hotel, you'll need to take another water bus or taxi from the stop. <BR> <BR>The train station has a water bus stop right out its front door and down the steps. I'm pretty sure there's a water taxi "stand" close by. <BR> <BR>I don't know about train connections from Venice to Florence; the Italian Rail site can help. <BR> <BR>Split the time evenly between the two cities; whether 3/4 or 4/3, you can't go wrong.

I second the Elvira's suggestions on spliting 7 days. There are many trains a day between Florence (Firenze) and Venice (Venezia). make sure you take "express" trains like Eurostar or you will spend a lot of time on the train stopping every little stop along the way. Pay attention to the departure and arrival times - it should be about 3 1/2 to 4 hours. If three or more are traveling together, you can get mini-group discount on Italian trains. There are several 3 star hotel recommendations on this board. <BR>Have a good trip. <BR>Tom

Unless you are disabled, Venice is not particularly difficult to get around in. It is compact, and very walkable. The vaporetti (water buses) are also <BR>very easy to use. There are inexpensive transportation options from the Venice airport to central Venice. <BR>Like anyplace, if you're not being met by a car and driver, you'll have to deal with your luggage, so keep it light and manageable. <BR>If you will be traveling by train from one to the other, inquire about seat reservations in addition to the tickets, so you'll be sure to have a seat. <BR>3-4, 4-3, days won't matter much. You'll be sorry to leave either place. <BR>Florence is Renaissance art and architecture heaven, with glorious museums and churches, in addition to good restaurants and shopping. In Venice you have to choose a bit more carefully when it comes to restaurants as too many are unfortunately only so-so, or downright tourist traps, so do your homework. Venice has some glorious museums as well, but imo the bulk of its greatest art is in the churches. However, the greatest artistic experience in Venice is the unique city itself, a combination of beauty and deterioration. <BR>I have a file on F. and on V.; if you'd like to see them, email me.

No one has mentioned two of the greatest things about Venice. The first is the thrilling view you get of the Grand Canal when you step out of the train station. It's a memory you'll long cherish. <BR>The second is the greatest experience of all in Venice--just walking and walking and walking through the narrow streets and over the small bridges that span the small canals....and then getting lost. Don't worry! That's what you're supposed to do in Venice.

You could spend 7 days in either of those places alone (I know that's not particularly helpful). I recently stayed at the Giorgione in Venice and was extremely pleased -- 4 stars for the price of 3. I arrived at the airport late and night and easily found a water taxi into Venice. It dropped me approximately 20 steps from the front door of the hotel. If you stay at some of the ultra-high end hotels, they will pick you up at the airport. Watch carefully the weather in Venice before you go; I was there in October, and the season actually changed while I was there; it was extremely hot when we arrived, and over dinner one evening and a wind/rain storm came through, and after that, it was winter. Makes for some packing difficulties.

Getting to and around either of the cities isn't all that difficult. The real question here is how to divide up <BR>your time. Both are beautiful places to <BR>spend time, but I personally found Florence to be the best of the two.I <BR>truely thought the Duomo in Florence <BR>surpassed St. Marks. The Baptistry and <BR>view from the Campanile are the best. <BR>Palazzo Vecchio, the Uffizi, and the <BR>Accademia with the original David are all must sees. After this the list still goes on and on. Not that Venice <BR>won't keep you busy, but I'd give Florence the best of my time.