Where to stay: Accademia or San Marco
 

Help!

I'm looking for opinions on just where to stay for my week-long break in Venice in mid-January. I'm travelling alone and, though a student, I'm in the 25-34 demographic and not terribly interested in noisy discos and loud cavorting at 3 am. I've looked for cheap accommodation and two places in my radar seem to be garnering fairly good reviews (for what I can afford to pay: no one wants to give a single traveller a room). One of these is located in the Campo Santa Margherita, the other just a stone's throw from San Marco. Whilst I'm intrigued by the idea of staying in a non-touristy part of town, and also by the reviews promising killer pizza and incredibly gelato, I'm also drawn to the idea of stepping outside my door in the morning and strolling leisurely into the centre of it all.

Both of these locations are roughly the same price, so money is not a motivating factor in that regard. About the only thing I'd really be concerned with is that, as a single traveller (and a female at that), I'd really like the chance to possibly meet other travellers, especially those closer to my age.

Someone sway my opinion!

neither,stay near the sation and walk the
30 mins to san marco..see the everyday buzz of venice.then get the vaporetto back to the station.regards

The area around the Accademia is really nice and you're still able to wake up, step outside your door and be in the middle of a beautiful neighbourhood!

I don't know what your budget is but my husband I recently returned to Venice for our second visit and stayed in Al Campaniel in Dorsoduro. I left a review on tripadvisor (my user name is the same as here).

You really can get to San Marco from Accademia (and many other areas) very quickly indeed yet staying just a short distance away from it makes it easier to find well-priced and good restaurants rather than stumbling into some of the tourist rip-offs. (Note, I'm NOT saying all restaurants in the immediate vicinity of St Mark's Sq are awful, just that the risk is higher).

Al Campaniel is within a minute's walk of the San Tomo vaporetto stop, by the way, which is fantastic.

As you're travelling on a budget I'd definitely go for the Campo Santa Margherita, because it's MUCH easier to find good, cheap, local restaurants around there and also there's a supermarket on the Campo for mineral water and cheap snacks. It's a lively part of Venice as the university is right there, and the Campo is full of cafes where at least some Venetians go (as opposed to the hundreds of tourists in St Marks). It's a much better place to get some glimpse of local life.

Depending on how many annoying slow-moving tourists get in your way, Campo Santa Margherita is only a 10-20 minute walk from St Mark's, and near many of the main tourist spots anyway (the Accademia, Ca'Rezzonico, the Guggenheim, the Frari...). St Mark's is so full of tourists that personally I'd much rather wake up and stroll into the Campo S.M. for my morning cappucino with some locals!

Yes, we found some lovely places both for snacks and meals in and around the Campo Santa Margherita...

Causin gelateria remains one of my very favourites!

We spent a week in an apartment that overlooked Campo Santa Margherita this past January. I have stayed in other areas of Venice but I really prefer this one. A more laid back, homier feel than San Marco. Dorsoduro has a little nightlife. There is a club in the area but I don't know its name. Seemed like it was jazz and catered to 30 something customers. We didn't go (we are 60 somethings) but it looked like a great place to mingle with others. Our favorite restaurant was Casin dei Nobili. A short 10 minute walk takes you to San Marco. We are going in June and will be staying in the Dorsoduro area again. But its Venice. You will love any place you stay.

Recently returned from Venice, where we stayed at the Locanda Ca' Zose, which I recommend for location in the quiet and elegant Dorsoduro and for price (moderate). They do have a website: http://www.hotelcazose.com/. The sisters who own the place are charming, helpful and accommodating. While breakfast is a bit lacking, there is a nice cafe about 5 minutes away for great coffee and pastries. It is very easy to get over to San Marco or Accademia areas, especially if you don't mind walking for several minutes, or if you have a vaporetto pass.

I think you have good advice to stay away from San Marco in order to find less expensive and less touristy dining and markets.

Have you considered the Casa Rezzonico? Address: Dorsoduro, Fondamenta Gherardini 2813, www.casarezzonico.it. It is in a quiet, out-of-the-way location, near a small campo, close to the Accademia. It has an attractive garden area in the center, which some rooms overlook, and where breakfast buffet is served. A good budget choice. My daughter stayed there once and loved it. They found it through hostels.com, I think, but it's a charming little hotel.

Have fun!
:)>-

Thanks so much to all of you who posted replies. The overwhelming majority said Campo Santa Margherita, so it looks like I'll be staying there! I don't mind the walks at all, either: in fact, that's the best part of Venice, really, isn't it? So thanks again for the help.