Where to stay and park in Venice
Discussion
Hi chaps,
I’m one week into a three week holiday road trip in my Boxster. I also have work time in Paris and Luxembourg either side of my holiday before I return to the UK. This year my focus is on Italy. So far I’ve spent the time from leaving Paris where my office is getting to the alps and doing the major passes. You know the drill. Furka. Grimsel, Stelvio and a few of the lesser known ones. Then I’ve spent some time at Lago di Garda and then a day each in Brescia and Verona. My next must see is Florence but as I’m so close, I may as well visit Venice. Never really done anything in Italy other than Milan and Genoa so it’s pretty much all new to me.
Also tomorrow 22nd happens to be my 51st birthday so hopefully Venice will make it a nice one even though I’m travelling solo.
Because of the way I like to travel, I just follow my nose and only book a hotel in the afternoon once I have a good idea where I’m going to be in the evening. But I’ve left it a bit late today. Any recommendations on where to stay and where to park in Venice welcome. I know there are a number of parking garages that charge an arm and a leg. I’d prefer somewhere safer rather than cheaper. Especially since the car is more or less full to cover 6 weeks of travels in total. Budget for accommodation is preferably under £150 a night but can stretch if necessary. I think I need at least two days in Venice especially as I hear from a biker I chatted with in Garda that Venice is absolutely heaving right now…
Thanks!
I’m one week into a three week holiday road trip in my Boxster. I also have work time in Paris and Luxembourg either side of my holiday before I return to the UK. This year my focus is on Italy. So far I’ve spent the time from leaving Paris where my office is getting to the alps and doing the major passes. You know the drill. Furka. Grimsel, Stelvio and a few of the lesser known ones. Then I’ve spent some time at Lago di Garda and then a day each in Brescia and Verona. My next must see is Florence but as I’m so close, I may as well visit Venice. Never really done anything in Italy other than Milan and Genoa so it’s pretty much all new to me.
Also tomorrow 22nd happens to be my 51st birthday so hopefully Venice will make it a nice one even though I’m travelling solo.
Because of the way I like to travel, I just follow my nose and only book a hotel in the afternoon once I have a good idea where I’m going to be in the evening. But I’ve left it a bit late today. Any recommendations on where to stay and where to park in Venice welcome. I know there are a number of parking garages that charge an arm and a leg. I’d prefer somewhere safer rather than cheaper. Especially since the car is more or less full to cover 6 weeks of travels in total. Budget for accommodation is preferably under £150 a night but can stretch if necessary. I think I need at least two days in Venice especially as I hear from a biker I chatted with in Garda that Venice is absolutely heaving right now…
Thanks!
We parked in the main carpark at the end of the road over the lagoon (SR11 I think). It wasn't cheap but it was very convenient. You have to leave your car unlocked and they keys on the dashboard, but it's staffed 24 hours a day. Like you we were on a long (4 weeks+) driving holiday and only took an overnight bag into Venice. The car was (and still is) a Maserati convertible and the boot is miniscule, so most of our luggage was on the back seats.
Absolutely no issues whatsoever.
Just get the water bus in, there's no need to bother with a water taxi
It was a lastminute decision for us too, so we just booked a random hotel that looked like it was in the right location. It turned out fine, but I don't have any record of the hotel name as it wasn't pre-planned - plus it would depend on what's available at short notice. We really loved Venice - we didn't feel like we were ripped off anywhere.
Absolutely no issues whatsoever.
Just get the water bus in, there's no need to bother with a water taxi
It was a lastminute decision for us too, so we just booked a random hotel that looked like it was in the right location. It turned out fine, but I don't have any record of the hotel name as it wasn't pre-planned - plus it would depend on what's available at short notice. We really loved Venice - we didn't feel like we were ripped off anywhere.
Just catching up and sorry this is too late for the OP…hope all went well with your trip by the way.
If it’s of any interest, a few years ago we stayed at Hotel Gardena, a great little place down a side canal nearly opposite the station. We might go again next year but also considering Florence.
If it’s of any interest, a few years ago we stayed at Hotel Gardena, a great little place down a side canal nearly opposite the station. We might go again next year but also considering Florence.
My road trip is over and I’m now back at work. But I have to say that I wasn’t really too bothered about going to Venice as I’d made up my mind that it was one giant tourist trap. And to some extent it’s true. But I was overcome by the sheer majesty of the place. I went on a gondola only to cross the grand canal for €2 and I didn’t try out a water taxi despite being quite tempted by that. I did visit the glass museum on Murano island by Vaporetto (water bus) which was both fascinating and underwhelming at the same time. I’d rather have visited a glass blowing factory but it didn’t fit into my schedule.
I ended up staying in an apartment outside of Venice proper and then either taking the bus in on one day and I went by car the next day as I had to check out of the apartment. I parked in the Tronchetto parking and then got the people mover shuttle thing over to the main bit. Not too expensive that way and the car park had plenty of space.
Speaking of underwhelming, that’s how I’d describe Florence. I’d allocated three days to it. The major attractions like the Duomo had queues so long that I decided not to waste half a day waiting in them.
But I did eventually stop at the foot of mount Vesuvius and spent a day exploring Pompeii. That was the complete opposite of underwhelming. Highly recommended to anyone with a historical bent.
I ended up staying in an apartment outside of Venice proper and then either taking the bus in on one day and I went by car the next day as I had to check out of the apartment. I parked in the Tronchetto parking and then got the people mover shuttle thing over to the main bit. Not too expensive that way and the car park had plenty of space.
Speaking of underwhelming, that’s how I’d describe Florence. I’d allocated three days to it. The major attractions like the Duomo had queues so long that I decided not to waste half a day waiting in them.
But I did eventually stop at the foot of mount Vesuvius and spent a day exploring Pompeii. That was the complete opposite of underwhelming. Highly recommended to anyone with a historical bent.
Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff