Venice - Suggestions?

[Ikemi]

The OH's Birthday is coming up and I thought it would be nice to have a long weekend in Venice to celebrate Fortunately her Birthday is in March, which I have heard is a good time to visit Venice ... warm, but without the tourists!

I've never done holidays to countries who do not speak English as a first language and I must admit, I'm worried I won't be able to organise days out, get around the city or order food! I'll be taking a phrase book and giving it a go, but generally, is it easy to get about?

Any suggestions for what we should do to get the best of Venice in 4 days? We're staying in the centre of the city to make travelling easier ... If anyone can recommend a good hotel, please do I have one lined up, but open to any recommendations.

Cheers!

[Stuart]

Depends on your budget really - you can spend a fortune on trying to get something with a lagoon view, but I thought it was worth it...

My top tips would be:

1) Don't worry about the language. You'll be fine with english and a smattering of Italian for please and thank you. They're used to it.

2) Splash out (no pun intended) on a water taxi into venice rather than the water bus. Absolutely great fun, and you'll feel like a hero rolling up to your hotel in it.

3) Expect to feel overcharged and disappointed by a gondola ride.

4) I wouldn't bother with Murano or the other Island, particularly not the farthest one away which takes ages and is full of tat.

5) Take a river bus ride down the grand canal at night. Costs pennies, and you'll get fantastic views.

6) It's a small place - buy a map book and walk it. You'll be amazed at how much ground you can cover.

7) Don't expect cheap or particularly good food. It just isn't a reason to go to Venice - they have no real food tradition of their own and you'll eat adequately, but not particularly memorably.

ETA - we stayed here http://www.baglionihotels.com/pages/eng_hp_venezia...

[satans worm]

Stuart said:

.

7) Don't expect cheap or particularly good food. It just isn't a reason to go to Venice - they have no real food tradition of their own and you'll eat adequately, but not particularly memorably.

Actualy 'caparccio' was 'invented' ar Harrys bar i beleive?

We went in may last year and stayed here with a 'canal view', dont expect too much of the view but it was a fantastic place in a great location

http://www.alpontedeisospiri.it/en/home.php

Edited by satans worm on Tuesday 20th January 09:43

[Neil_H]

Ikemi said:

I've never done holidays to countries who do not speak English as a first language and I must admit, I'm worried I won't be able to organise days out, get around the city or order food!

You've never been to a non-English speaking country before??

[Ikemi]

Neil_H said:

Ikemi said:

I've never done holidays to countries who do not speak English as a first language and I must admit, I'm worried I won't be able to organise days out, get around the city or order food!

You've never been to a non-English speaking country before??

I have, but as a child with my parents ... So I didn't have to do much in the way of talking! I'm only 22 years old, but done some bits of America already

Stuart said:

Depends on your budget really - you can spend a fortune on trying to get something with a lagoon view, but I thought it was worth it...

I was looking at approximately £100/night as a budget - I guess it depends how much more a lagoon view would cost. Is it really worth it and which hotels should I be looking at for a lagoon view? Hotels.com doesn't give much information into rooms/views!

Cheers again - I'm a bit out of depth! (No pun intended)

[cjs]

The Vaporetto (Water Bus) is a great way to get around. Buy a 12 or 24 hour pass. One route, I can't remember which, does a big circle up the Grand Canal and back to St Marks Sq. Taxis and Gondolas are expensive. €75 last time I was there for a Gondola.

You will walk a lot!

http://europeforvisitors.com/venice/articles/venic...

Also I found the nightlife limited, it appears to shut down at midnight. I'm sure there are a few places if you want a late night.

Eating out is expensive the nearer you get to St Marks. Out of the centre a Pizza is around €8. A coffee in St Marks was €10!!

Regular shopping was not too bad, cloths etc are the same as elsewhere in Europe/UK

[Stuart]

Ikemi said:

Neil_H said:

Ikemi said:

I've never done holidays to countries who do not speak English as a first language and I must admit, I'm worried I won't be able to organise days out, get around the city or order food!

You've never been to a non-English speaking country before??

I have, but as a child with my parents ... So I didn't have to do much in the way of talking! I'm only 22 years old, but done some bits of America already

Stuart said:

Depends on your budget really - you can spend a fortune on trying to get something with a lagoon view, but I thought it was worth it...

I was looking at approximately £100/night as a budget - I guess it depends how much more a lagoon view would cost. Is it really worth it and which hotels should I be looking at for a lagoon view? Hotels.com doesn't give much information into rooms/views!

Cheers again - I'm a bit out of depth! (No pun intended)

You won't get a lagoon view for £100 a night unfortunately, but you should find something. Just get stuck into tripadvisor.com - that's where I tend to go.

Oh, and buy the Venice card before you go. Worth doing and it gets you onto the vaporetto and, I think, a load of toilets and museums free. Google is your friend...

[madala]

.....gumboots if it is a full moon.....

[paoloh]

Do NOT order wine in the square unless you have a large overdraft. 50 euros a bottle is easy.

Food is not great.

You walked the whole place in a day.

[navier_stokes]

Indeed very east to get about as its not that big, can get a bit confusing though if you stray off the beaten path - definitely take a map.

A day trip to Verona is easily possible from Venice - Romeo & Juliet and everything... might be worth doing if you're there for 4 days.

[RVVUNM]

Vastly over rated place,expensive and the same around every corner.

[gmk666]

If you're into arty stuff, the Peggy Guggenheim Museum is one of my favourite galleries in the world.

[grumbledoak]

You can walk around Venice, it is very compact. Get a map.

Do have a gondola ride, they are a little disappointing somehow, but sort of a 'must do' at the same time.

Don't eat anywhere near the "Ponte di Rialto".

hth

[weatherboard]

Venice - we loved it when we were there last summer and once you get off the beaten track it is remarkably quite and a very interesting place.

Get used to using the waterbuses (vaporeto) to get around, although going by foot is very easily done.

Murano, can be full of tat, however if you want to take a look at some very very interesting pieces Vetreria Schiavon is fab - went in out of curiosity and ended up meeting the current Master, Massimiliano Schiavon and brought some incredible beakers and put down a deposit on some amazing fish!

Food can be pricey, but again depends where you eat.

I have heard that the Islands can be very interesting, and we stayed in a great little hotel not far from St Marks Sq Conde La Corte.

Jon

[Neil_H]

Ikemi said:

Neil_H said:

Ikemi said:

I've never done holidays to countries who do not speak English as a first language and I must admit, I'm worried I won't be able to organise days out, get around the city or order food!

You've never been to a non-English speaking country before??

I have, but as a child with my parents ... So I didn't have to do much in the way of talking! I'm only 22 years old, but done some bits of America already

I wouldn't worry too much about the language barrier, you'll find most tourist destinations are used to dealing with.... tourists.

If all else fails talk loudly and point a lot eg "I'LL HAVE SPAAA-GHETTIIII BOL-OG-NESE".

[Ikemi]

gmk666 said:

If you're into arty stuff, the Peggy Guggenheim Museum is one of my favourite galleries in the world.

My g/f is an artist, so definitely one to see! Thanks

Thanks to everyone else for the advice too! I think I'll book it tonight!

[Gylen]

Harry's Bar and Flroians in the Square are musts, really. Been there since forever and during the day, Florian's has a live orchestra outside to accompany your wine...

[blueyes]

Stuart said:

7) Don't expect ....particularly good food. It just isn't a reason to go to Venice - they have no real food tradition of their own and you'll eat adequately, but not particularly memorably.

Utter b0llocks.

EVERY region of Italy has a "food tradition" or speciality.

Venice has the following, to name but a few:

- il "Fegato mantecato alla Veneziana"
- la Polenta e "osei"
- "la Panada"
- "la Faraona al vino rosso"

Your not-so memorable food might have had something to do with your first point:

Stuart said:

1) Don't worry about the language. You'll be fine with english and a smattering of Italian for please and thank you. They're used to it.

Yes, we also love it when you shout slowly at us, in English.

[Bushmaster]

Great place.

My only tip - make sure you watch the Donald Sutherland/ Nick Roag film 'Don't Look Now' before you go. It's an atmospheric place and seeing the film makes it 10x more atmospheric.

[crofty1984]

For reasonable food, just wander round the smaller streets. I use this whenever I'm in a new city. Works well.
Just walk round and take the water bus.
Verona could be a good shout.