Hello, <BR><BR>My wife and I will be landing in Rome with another couple April 18th and returning on April 28th.<BR><BR>Our plan is to do Venice and Florence (we did Rome and the Amalfi coast last year). We're staying with friends in Florence.<BR><BR>We were thinking of staying outside of Venice instead of in the city as a contrast. Close enought to get in and out but far enough to do some exploring and relax.<BR><BR>Good idea? Bad idea? <BR><BR>Where might you suggest?<BR><BR>Thanks <BR>

Venice is a great place to explore and relax. It's magical, I think staying there is the way to go, especially if you've never been.

You're right on, Marj. Mike, take the train from Florence to Venice and stay inside the city. It's magical and you wouldn't want to miss late night/early morning opportunities to wander the city's streets if you should want to do this.

Mike--<BR>I'll echo heartily the recommendation to stay INSIDE Venice. There's really not much in the communities outside Venice anyway; and besides, you'd spend an awful lot of time just getting into and out of the city if you stayed somewhere else. There are so many choices of hotels and so many great things to see (for instance, about 70 cathedrals) that you'll hate yourself if you don't stay in the city and wake to the pleasant sounds of Venice as it comes to life each day.

Good morning, Mike have to add to the<BR>above others, stay IN VENICE, enjoy the<BR>sights, the sounds and all...<BR>Richard of LaGrange Park, IL...

Hi<BR><BR>I topped my venice suggestions for you. Venice is wonderful. We ahve been twice and will go back again. The beauty and the lack of cars make it intoxicating. DO go and stay in the city. All my firends who have gone and stayed outside the city have missed the magic that those staying in do. We rent an apartment in the Pescharia Rialto area which is not as touristy as San marco, Accademia etc. The URL is :<BR><BR>http://www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/index.cfm/property/1447<BR><BR>The owners are a young couple. Paola is in charge of the rentals and they have 2 adorable kids you will probably meet when they let you in.

You gotta stay inside Venice! The daytrippers overrun the city in the day and then leave in the evening. That is the great time to see it and explore. If you stay outside the city you are then another day tripper and will never appreciate this great city for its uniqueness.

Mike,<BR><BR>As the others have said, stay in Venice -- it is indeed magic and being in the city enables you to enjoy it at all hours of the day and night (it is a wonderful city to explore at night when crowds have gone away). One other comment: it is likely to be more crowded on weekends than during the week (in the summer, weekend crowds can be unbearable; not sure how it is other times of year). So, you might want to try to see Venice mid-week.<BR><BR>Enjoy!<BR><BR>John H<BR>

Agree with all the above definitely stay in Venice. You can do day trips by local train to nearby towns and it is magical coming out of the station when you get back.

Have to agree with the others. Typically, we like to stay outside the larger cities and day-trip in. But in Venice, I was so glad we stayed in. Venice is most magical when the hordes of daytrippers leave the city. Don't miss going to the Piazza San Marco in the evenings for a drink after dinner.

Ok - not one person replying said to stay outside Venice so I know that's the overwhelming feeling - But - I've read that the train from Mestre is only 5-10 minutes and runs every ten minutes from early morning till very late at night. The hotels in Mestre are significantly less expensive, especially since I am looking for something with air conditioning (will be there in July)and also a room for four. Plus since Venice is the middle of our trip we will have a car that will have to be parked somewhere for the 3 days we will be there. Given all this, is it still such a bad idea. Couldn't we still get in to Venice early, stay late, even go back to the hotel for a siesta if we wanted. It doesn't sound more difficult than taking a metro from one part of a city to another (like NYC or Paris) -and people do that all the time. When people talk about day trippers what kind of times are you talking about, in other words when do they arrive and leave? Please respond to these questions - I am just now in the process of booking something. Thanks.

Despite all your practical reasons for staying outside Venice, it's the intangibles that are more important. It's just the total impact, experience--call it what you will--of being in Venice. Being practical is not the way to enjoy Venice!

I agree with Howard. Typically, I might think the way you do about this (I stayed in downtown Cancun once to save money on a hotel room), and practically you could do it the way you say. Still, Venice is one of those places where you really will miss out on the experience to a degree if you don't stay in a central location. The outskirts just aren't all that attractive either.

choose Venice. You will not regret it. ... I am from venice .. if you need any advice..<BR>greta - zoe

Day trippers leave their htl in Mestre, Marghera, or the resort area like Lignano, Jesolo etc. at 8.30 am, take a boat or vaporetto from Piazzale Roma or Punta Sabbioni and they arrive on san Marco at 10 am and leave at 5pm.<BR>I've been to Venice 15 times, last summer first time in Venice proper.It really made the difference

The best way to ruin the ambiance of a great evening is to head for train station and wait with the riff raff for your train as you have to get there before the train leaves. I do not care what anyone says, train stations are not fun. Do like everyone is recommending: STAY IN VENICE or simply skip the town and go somewhere else.

Related - Is it practical to spend a week staying in Venice with day trips to places outside, example at day to Florence & return to Venice that night?

Answer to Steve: I wouldn't try going too far (Florence) outside Venice for a day trip. Just too much time wasted getting there and back. Verona, however, is not far and very interesting/different from Venice.

Inside Venice-We recommend Hotel Rialto. Great location overlooking the canal and the Rialto Bridge. it was dreamy!

stayed on second floor right off San Marco square. Out our window a street vendor was singing italian opera selling flowers. It was "special". I didn't even notice the crowds.