Venice in March
 

My fiance and I are going to Venice in late March and are wondering if anybody could help us with hotels?<BR>I would like a hotel for $50 or under a night. I have only four requirements, 1) safe 2) clean 3) I do not want a toilet down the hall 4) in the center of the action.<BR>Being the off season I wouldn't think this would be a problem.

Think again!

I was in Venice in March as a student four years ago and we stayed at a nunnery which only allows women and the price was pretty close to $50. I don't think you'll find a hotel for that price especially with the criteria you have.

No hotel in Venice will meet all your criteria. Look at book called "Bed & Blessings" which provides information on convents & monasteries in Italy. SOME of these accommadations do allow both men & women. I know there is a convent centrally located in Venice; can't recall exact name, don't know if it's same one already mentioned.

I hate to pile on here - but that's completely impossible - maybe for twice that much. You might want to check over on Lido for something slightly less expensive - but if you really want your own toilet - bank on around $100/night...

Ditto to all of the above! $25 pp is not going to get you a clean room in central Venice with a private bath. I stayed in Venice in March '94 and '01. In '94, I stayed in a convent in Giudecca island (definitely off the beaten path, not the most central location) called Suora Cassiano. It was only for girls, and we all slept in a huge room (30 beds). Communal showers were very clean. It only cost $10 per person. <BR><BR>So definitely look into booking a convent stay. There are several books with monasteries and convent lodgings. Although some may frown on unmarried couples - you may want to buy fake rings and wear them during your stay. <BR><BR>If you can raise your budget to $100 per night, there's a good book called Hello Italy, that features hotels for under 100 euros per night (although prices have increased since it's publication).

OOOhh, unless your thinking of Venice, California and a motel 6 it is not bloody likely you'll find that rate. For a halfway decent hotel (and be prepared because the rooms will be small) you will be E100-E125 at least US100/per night. I don't know if it might be cheaper to say in Mestre, but then there is the hassle of taking the train over to see Venice proper.

Thanks for the help, but why so expensive? I thought the off season was affordable?

Really isn't an "off season" in Venice. It's a very popular destination. Plus being a small island, there isn't much space for new hotels to be built. When there is a "new" place, it's really an old villa or apt building that gets converted into a hotel.

Perhaps the following fact may give you some insight into the increasing popularity of Venice as a mass tourism destination: thirty years ago, there were two nonstop flights daily between Paris and Venice. Today, there are ten. Not to mention the hourly IC trains from Milan to Venice..........

GAC - Perhaps you could give me some insight as to the popularity of Vegas and Orlando as mass tourism destinations. Any stats on the number of nonstops between LAX and LAS 30 years ago and today? What is the number of nonstops between NYC and MCO from 30 years ago and today?<BR>I think I would have no problem finding $50 rooms in either location of mass tourism.<BR>I would venture to say that Venice 30 years ago has changed little in comparison to Vegas and Orlando.

Well, having grown up on an island and having being a resident of Manhattan for the last 7 years, I may be able to give you some insight. Venice is really not that big. You can walk from Cannaregio to St. Marks in 15-20 minutes or from Dorsoduro to St. marks in 10-15. The historic buildings are all on a series of islets connected by bridges. There's NO place to expand. If you want to stay in Venice proper, then the price will be more expensive than staying in one of the towns nearby (like Padova or Vicenza), which are 35-60 minutes away by train.<BR><BR>It is akin to NYC visitors who want to stay in Manhattan, south of Harlem, in a room with a private bath for less than $100. Very tough. And there are tons of places to stay in Orlando, but if you want to stay in the Disney complex you will likely pay more than $50 for a double.<BR><BR>You will definitely be able to find a better price if you are willing to stay at a place with a shared shower and toilet or if you are willing to stay away from the center of Venice.

oops! Hit post unintentionally...<BR><BR>if you are willing to share a bath, the Albergo Corona has been mentioned as a very cheap place. For nice rooms with private baths, and inexpensive by Venice standards the Ai Do Mori gets good reviews, as well as the Riva. Good luck and let us know if you find something.

Bethany: all of the above replys to your question were telling you how it is. Stop being an prick, it's time for your nap now dud.

If you're going this March (as in next month), then you'll encounter challenge of an early Easter holiday -- on March 31st. Even it's outside the Carnevale or Easter season, Venice is a busy place & cheap hotel rooms at any time of year, a rarity. The price range you've identified might get you a one-star hotel, unlikely a private bath. Safety is not a problem as there really isn't a bad section in Venice (the island itself or the Lido). Have you looked at http://www.venere.com ? Website lists a few one star accommadations. One of them, Noemi, actually shows a double w/bath for 68 Euros, as a "minimum" price. My question, of course, when is it available at that price.

Bethany, you can't compare Venice to Orlando or Vegas; Venice has significant building restrictions, and there is nowhere to expand. Thus, the increase in demand outstripped the increase in supply of hotel rooms over the last 30 years. It's a bloody nuisance, but there it is.<BR>