We are planning 5 nights in Venice and would like recs on a villa for my wife and 4 kids ages 13,11,9 and7.Our travel starts on July 5th.Any good experiences out there?

Your header says near Venice. Your message says in Venice. There is a big difference. Since villa rentals are usually seven days, I might recommend near, not in. But what else do you want to be near?<BR>

Matt, check over at www.slowtrav.com and its related message board site, www.slowtalk.com. These boards are non-commercial and there are many people there with a lot of knowledge about villas in Italy.<BR><BR>Buon viaggio

I can share info with you regarding a very nice property on Lake Garda, if you are interested.<BR><BR>About 80 miles from Venice. Close enough to visit.<BR><BR>And no shortage of things nearby to fill all of your other days.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

Two suggestions: Someone recently posted about venicerentals.com and we rented a place in Chianti this Fall through Rentvillas.com. Our experience with rentvillas was a good one. They have properties all over Italy including Venice. Good Luck!

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<BR>For Rex - <BR>May I ask, in what city is the villa where you stay in Lake Guarda. That lake is so beautiful<BR>Thanks,<BR>Lisa

I am pasting the letter we got from the villa outside Venice which we stayed in for a couple of nights. It was very enjoyable- wonderful meals and a fire in the huge fireplace.We got the name from the www.karenbrown.com site.<BR><BR>&quot;I inform you that I can reserve one double room for two people on October 2<BR>and 3,<BR>2000. (Two nights)<BR><BR>I send you the prices for 2000:<BR>- Double room with private bathroom (shower ) B&amp;B, TV Lit. 110.000<BR>- Suite (double-room, sitting-room, with one private bathroom B&amp;B, TV)<BR>Lit. 150.000<BR>- Meal for one person Lit. 38.000 without drinking.<BR><BR>For confirm the rooms I need a traveller's check for 40 U$D. If the<BR>deposit don't arrive in 30 days, I cancell the reservation.<BR>I don't book this reservation, I wait your decision.<BR>No credit card.<BR>Our farm is situated in the countryside just 25 km from Venice, an ideal<BR>choice in the Veneto region because it is a short drive from such marvels as<BR>Padova, Treviso, Vicenza or little medieval town as Asolo, Castelfranco,<BR>Bassano, Marostica, Cittadella. It is possible, also, visit same villas of<BR>the architect Palladio.<BR>Guest are treated to a full breakfast of homebaked cakes and good<BR>dinners prepared by us using all ingredients from our farm. We prepare also<BR>pastas and breads in our kitchen.<BR>We have no problem for park the car.(Free)<BR>When you sent me the deposit I E-mail you the map of our zone.<BR>Thanking you in advance for the confidence, I send our best regards.<BR><BR>Alessandro Calzavara<BR>[email protected]<BR>www.gargan.it<BR> <BR>

Don't stay outside of Venice if you want to see Venice. Lake Garda is great but a VERY inconvenient place to use as a base for travel in the Veneto. If you want a bit of the county villa feel, split your time between central Venice and Villa Cipriani in Asolo.

Lisa,<BR><BR>The villa was just north of the town of Garda proper, overlooking the Punto San Vigilio.<BR><BR>The URL I listed for it on www.rexbickers.italy.com is no longer accurate.<BR><BR>Go to http://rentvillas.com/PropertyDetail...CatalogId=1969 to see it.<BR>

<BR>Thanks Rex,<BR>Have vacationed in a villa outside Torri for the past 10 years. But I'm always interested in seeing new properties.<BR>Have Lago di Garda fever!<BR>Lisa

I understand that fever. Write me sometime.<BR>

I have been to Venice several times and you cant experience Venice unless you sleep there.The nights are fabulous.You can get a room near St.Marks on a canel including breakfast for under l00.8pend three or four nights in venice not miles away.

ttt<BR>