Maire

Thanks James. Haven't made reservations yet, but at some point I do have to make up my mind. I do hate intense heat, and I hate crowds. This could definitely be a problem for me, but I'm trying to keep a good attitude (much easier to do in my comfortable house than amidst a throng of sweaty travelers, I'm sure.) Decisions, decisions....I'm sick of decisions.

GeorgeW

FOUR!

SHADRACH

I went to Venice last year and stayed for 4 nights. I did a daytrip to the isles of the lagoon on one day and spend the other 2 full days in Venice.

I didn't have time to see the Peggy Guggenheim or the Accademy museum, and I also would've liked to visit La Giudecca, so I really think I could've used an extra day.

I stayed in Cannaregio, near Madonna dell'Orto church. The area is extremely quiet and I think I only ran into a couple of tourists once near the church.

Rialto, Le Mercerie and Piazza San Marco are crowded, but, as many others have already said, the farther you go from those areas, the less tourists you'll run into and the more charming and authentic you'll find the city.

Besides, Rialto, Le Mercerie and Piazza San Marco are commercial areas, so it is understandable to find these places packed with people. All commercial areas are packed everywhere in the world, so I really don't understand how can anybody expect to find just a couple of people in these places.

Getting lost is the best in Venice. Last year, I got lost in San Polo for about an hour and it was the best. I was walking down narrow alleys and bridges when I suddenly ended up on Ponte delle Tette (the bridge of breasts), which is part of the former red district of Venice. You'll discover the most charming and unforgettable places roaming the city.

So I also vote for 5 nights (4 days). You won't be bored at all and, in case you are (which I doubt) you can always daytrip to Verona.

lov2judge

We've been to Venice twice. It was my kids favorite city in Europe. Both times we stayed 2 nights on mainland venice and took the bus to the island. We just spent one long day in Venice. For us that was enough. We toured Italy last summer (2005). Great trip. Italy is amazing.

FlyingMaltese

I also prefer four days for Venice.

Have you considered staying near Piazza San Marco. Yes, there are some crowds during the day. But, even the most touristy area of Venice--Piazza San Marco--could be dreamy if visited during the right time of day.

Maire, try to consider booking a room near Piazza San Marco. We did that on our last trip to Venice and did not regret it. Our evening entertainment was the dueling orchestras in front of the Cafe Quaddri and Cafe Fiore.

Once the sun sets, the daytrippers leave, and Venice is once again serene. I also enjoyed walking around Piazza San Marco early in the morning, and it is magnificent.

The Doge's Palace could also be hectic. But, if you book the secret itineraries tour of the Doge's Palace, you and nine other tourist get a private tour of the important back rooms that are off-limits to the general public.

The other islands of Murano and Burano are well worth a visit. If you are not shopping for glass, you could skip Murano because Burano is much prettier and more charming.

Also, please visit Dorsoduro and San Polo. The neighborhoods are charming, and I really enjoyed the Tintorettos in Scuola Grande di San Rocco. www.sanrocco.it

As for your itinerary, I was in Florence and found that it is really overcrowded. You might shave off a day there to spend 2 days in the Cinque Terre.

Maire

Thank you all for your great information. I appreciate all your help.

I'm getting a little closer (I hope) to booking hotel. I asked this on another thread, but do you think it's worth spending an extra 30 euros per nite for a canal view?

suze

One person's "disgusting" is another person's adventure, local color, dose of reality (re the vaporettos).

anamaria

Maire, You've got quite a post going, good job! Our family is going to be in Venice also for 3 days, also in August.I hope it is enough but I have already booked. I hope I'm not intruding, but this is the perfect place to ask this question.For everyone that has been in Venice..what is your most memorable restaurant or place you had lunch, dinner or breakfast in Venice?

Maire

Suze - you're so right; I just hope when I'm there, I fall into the adventure catagory.

Ana - thanks. May I ask what hotel you booked. I'm hoping to book mine TODAY so I can quit driving myself crazy and annoying all the wonderful Fodorites who have helped me. (Well, about Venice, anyway...I still have the rest of the country to plan - plenty of annoying questions left .

Looking forward to hearing the answer to the question you asked, Ana.

alan64

Is the view worth an extra 30E/night? Of course that depends on a lot, including what your budget is. Since the canals are seen everywhere you go during the day, If you like to sit in the room in the evening over a glass of wine & look out the window, or breakfast in the room while enjoying the view, then it could be worth it. However, I don't spend much time in the room, so it's not worth it to me. I'd rather spend the extra Euros sitting at a nice cafe with that glass of wine or espresso and enjoying "la dolce far niente."

alan64

My post was a bit mangled. I wrote, "Since the canals are seen everywhere you go during the day..." and should have continued, ..."a view from the room isn't essential IMO."

Mimar

lov2judge, where is mainland Venice? Mestre? That's not Venice. Are the islands Murano, Burano, etc.?

Maire, definitely stay in Venice proper. That's an important part of the Venice experience. But, since you don't like crowds, stay away from San Marco, in someplace like the Castello or Dorsoduro. Our last visit to Venice was in early September. We stayed in the Dorsoduro and avoided the crowded vaporettos on the Grand Canal by taking the vaporettos that go along the Zattere. Venice is pretty small and very walkable.

anamaria

Maire, we are staying in a hotel called the Palace Bonvecchiati.A four star hotel near St. Marks.Actually my 16 year old son found it. He was helping me, and getting into the trip, when he found this hotel.The reviews were good and we fell into this great package they were offering.You get round trip boat trip, enterance to a glass factory, a massage every day it goes on and on. I couldn't believe it.He found it in like 20 minutes. I checked it out with my cousin who is a travel agent in Italy and she says there agency represents the hotel.After all the hours of searching the web, my son finds this hotel...just like that.....I really think he wants to stay there for the massage.Everyone in the room gets one.Do you have any names of restaurants?

anamaria

Maire, I guess I should have typed in Venice restaurants because alot have come up.
Where are all the places you are going to in Italy?We are doing three weeks traveling throughout Italy and ending in the Greek isles. My husband is dying at how expensive its becoming.

Maire

Thanks Ana. That's great your son found a hotel for you..and so quickly too. I'll send them an email. I haven't started researching restaurants yet.

We're going to Perugia, Venice, Como, Cinque, Florence, Siena, and Rome.

It sure is expensive; I feel guilty spending so much money and my hubby isn't even going - but he doesn't want to. He'd rather go to the beach in the US.

Kavey

Maire, I just booked my hotel only recently. My process was as follows, I used sites like veniceby.com to get lists of hotels and then searched the net to find their own direct sites. I narrowed down my list by excluding those that were in the wrong place, that were OBVIOUSLY going to be out my price range, that I jut plain didn't like and that left around 50. I contacted those 50 to ask about availability and prices on my dates. I used that to narrow down to 2 and let all the others (that had expressed availability) know I wasn't interested. I entered more detailed discussions with my two finalists, chose Al Campaniel and confirmed the booking.

anamaria

Maire, I did what Kavey did.I used veniceby.com and venere.com and italby.com.

Maire

Thanks Alan and Mimar – didn’t mean to ignore you earlier.

Kavey and Ana, thanks – that is pretty much the same system I’m using, although I didn’t think I needed to respond to the ones I’m not choosing, but I guess I better. Narrowing down the choices is tough for me, I think because the atmosphere in Venice is so unique, and I want to maximize that.

Kavey

You don't NEED to but I think it's courteous to do so - these are often small businesses with manual bookings systems and they have taken time to respond, are probably holding the room for you for at least a few days to give you time to respond and may just end up missing a booking in the meantime... whilst that's unlikely, I just feel better about myself if I take just a minute to say "thank you very much for your prompt response, however I have since found and booked accommodation for our stay. Thanks for your help" or such.

Maire

I agree, Kavey, and I'm glad you brought it up. With everything else, I just hadn't thought about it really.