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Original poster

I'm scared about taking my mum to Venice

109 replies

Goingonagondola · 15/06/2019 00:01

I really want to take my mum to Venice for her 70th birthday in October. She's never been - and always wanted to. But I'm nervous for various reasons. I've hardly ever been abroad (no money till fairly recently) and the rare times I've been I haven't booked or organised anything. My mum is a nervous, 'flappy' kind of traveller. I have anxiety as well.

I so want to do this for her. She's single and a foster carer who really deserves a break. If I don't take her she'll probably never go. It would be lovely to have the memories to share. I just feel like I need to be a different, totally confident and capable person to do this and I'm not. Sad

Do you think I can do it, or is it a disastrous idea? Please be kind - I know I sound totally lame. Does anyone have any specific tips for how to make the trip easier? I thought we'd stay in a hotel so staff can help if there are any problems. Does anyone know Venice enough to give some tips about how to make the trip as easy as possible please?

OP posts:
redastherose · 15/06/2019 00:07

Its perfectly doable. A good travel agent is what you need, someone who will not only book the flights and hotel but also arrange for the water taxi transfer from the airport to the city. It's a beautiful place and worth visiting. I'd recommend walking away from the canal side restaurants as the ones visited by locals are better and cheaper also don't sit down in the main square for a coffee to listen to the orchestra's unless you want to take out a mortgage.

KatherineJaneway · 15/06/2019 00:12

Do lots of research in advance so you know all the basics I.e. How to get from the airport to your hotel, how to get around, details about all the nail sites so you know what you want to see / do while there.

tenlittlecygnets · 15/06/2019 00:14

You could also take the night train from Paris to Venice if you don’t want to fly... romantic and you get a great view of Venice when the train pulls into the station!

Look at Thello trains

Mac47 · 15/06/2019 00:25

It is perfectly doable. Pps have given good suggestions.
There is a lot of walking, which for my father necessitated a lot of sitting. Take bottles of water with you in cross body bags, cafes can be very expensive. Look at where you want to go and block out areas into your days, ie do one bit one day, then the next bit tomorrow.
To be honest, if she really wants go, most people love Venice because of gondola and canals. Do that (it's expensive, 40 euro ish o think for 30 min) and have coffee in San Marco piazza (10 euro ish each) but then she's done her big ticket things! Enjoy, I adore Venice.

Original poster
Goingonagondola · 15/06/2019 00:25

Thank you all for the ideas so far. I do really want to do this but am nervous, and I don't want to book it and then be panicking and dreading it. I know how spoiled that sounds!

I've never left my kids before either, which is another huge thing I forgot to mention. It totally freaks me out thinking about being thousands of miles away from them. (They are both in primary school so not babies!)

OP posts:
Hmmmbop · 15/06/2019 00:26

I'd normally say book everything separately for the best deals, but in your case you need a good travel agent who can organise everything for you - that will make it easier and more enjoyable for you.

Original poster
Goingonagondola · 15/06/2019 00:27

By the way, I'm a totally capable woman with a full time professional job - not the gibbering wreck I sound here! Blush

OP posts:
purpleboy · 15/06/2019 00:27

Yes you can do it. Just put the time into researching the city and hotels. It's a beautiful place, you'll love it. Really recommend the murano and burano tours. Watching the live glass blowing is a treat and the serenity of burano with the beautifully coloured houses are amazing. Be prepared for lots of walking though. Apart from expensive water taxis there is no other way to get around.

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 15/06/2019 00:31

It's absolutely doable and utterly wonderful. Third the idea of getting a travel agent to just book everything for you. Get a good guide book (remember them?) and have a good read before you go.

Venice is so compact, walking is actually easy. When you look at the map you'll see there's a wee triangle around St Marks - that's the big ticket bit that gets stupidly busy and where the food is really £££ for a load of shite. That's where you need to be smart - nip in to see St Mark's square, maybe plan to have one coffee or one drink in the square, then honestly, back over the Rialto on the other side of the Grand Canal in October is perfect, quiet, and totally manageable.

We were there last October and had just the best time. Just don't get stuck in a st mark's loop and all will be well.

PerspicaciaTick · 15/06/2019 00:32

If you are both nervous travellers, would it be worth considering a guided holiday? So someone else has done the planning and there is someone on site to give advice and help?

Original poster
Goingonagondola · 15/06/2019 00:40

Thank you all, I'm reading and taking notes - and really appreciating the kindness.

With regards to this: If you are both nervous travellers, would it be worth considering a guided holiday? - I'd love to do this but we are restricted to very specific dates as her foster child needs specific care so I haven't been able to find one that fits.

OP posts:
PerspicaciaTick · 15/06/2019 00:42

That's a shame, but I second pps who say that Venice is very compact and easy to visit.I'm sure you'll both have an amazing time.

Original poster
Goingonagondola · 15/06/2019 00:48

The hotel I've found that is best so far is in this pic (the blue dotted square) - does anyone know if this is a good location? I hoped to be near stuff in case mum isn't mobile (she's a good walker but her health has been a bit up and down).

I'm scared about taking my mum to Venice
OP posts:
Original poster
Goingonagondola · 15/06/2019 00:50

LonnyVonny thanks for all the brilliant advice and for sounding so cheerful and reassuring. I do get really excited about the thought of it (I really haven't been anywhere!) but just find it so daunting.

OP posts:
Original poster
Goingonagondola · 15/06/2019 00:51

Really recommend the murano and burano tours. Watching the live glass blowing is a treat and the serenity of burano with the beautifully coloured houses are amazing

That sounds like something mum would LOVE! Thank you.

OP posts:
tenlittlecygnets · 15/06/2019 00:52

Too touristy, if you ask me. Go for something closer to the train station, but where you can. Easily walk... Venice is very easy to walk around. Just avoid the really touristy bits.

MontyPythonsFlyingFuck · 15/06/2019 00:52

OK -so what do you want to do? For example, I think it's worth sitting through a service at San Marco just to be able to be in that amazing building- if you are early risers there's a mass at ??7.30 which isn't all that packed out. And once you're off the serious tourist route, lots of places are much less crowded than you'd think - e.g the Madonna dell'Orto church is only about 20 mins walk from San Marco, but it's relatively quiet and full of tributes to Tintoretto. Also get a vaporetto ticket for however long you're going to be there - if you are tired but have FOMO just go up and down the Grand Canal as many times as possible!

Just being there is the prize, really - just wander around, have a coffee, marvel at the fact that some of this stuff has been here for 800 years.

SpoonBlender · 15/06/2019 00:57

That's a good location - short or shortish walk to loads of tourist things, the boat stop right nearby - couldn't ask for more. It's a lovely place! If you are early risers, that's the best time to pop over to St Marks and check the place out - gets a bit full during the day/evening.

PenguinsRabbits · 15/06/2019 01:01

It will be fine. Pretty easy to book yourself. For cheap flights you can fly with Ryanair then there's a bus from there into Venice.

We have stayed at 3 hotels there, can book via Booking.com. Most central we had was Hotel Marconi which was fine. Villa Edera is also lovely and on Venice Lido, you get vaporetto in from there.

Easiest way to get around Venice is the vaporetto - you can buy a vaporetto travelcard from the bus station then there's not much walking. You can get vaporetto to Murano, Burano and another island as well as Lido and central Venice. Ask hotel for restaurant recommendations. Just wandering round is lovely. We also did a classical concert in a church by candlelight. Its a wonderful place, you will have a great time. Lovely ice creams. Many people speak English.

Original poster
Goingonagondola · 15/06/2019 01:02

Yes I think just being there is the main aim. Gondola ride is probably a must (pricey I know). Wandering and looking at beautiful things. I can't claim to be an early riser (well, look at what time I stay up till!) but could make an exception to beat the crowds.

OP posts:
PenguinsRabbits · 15/06/2019 01:08

You can get tickets for St Marks in advance here:

basilicasanmarco.insidecom.it/en/

purpleboy · 15/06/2019 01:11

I think it's cheaper if you don't have a singing gondola Wink
Location of the hotel is totally central so really easy to access everything.
Be wary of ladies dressed in opera costumes, they grab you to take a picture with them then demand you pay themShock

Flower777 · 15/06/2019 01:13

Venice is so beautiful. It is also full of tourists so you won’t be the only ones. The main bits are kind of designed for tourists.

I would say do what you need to do to manage your anxiety. So for example for me I like to fly in the morning for various reasons. So I always go for a morning flight.

Pick a hotel where they speak English.

I think you will have an amazing time!

Flower777 · 15/06/2019 01:14

Lonely planet guides tend to be very sensible and down to earth.

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 15/06/2019 01:22

That looks like a good location, we were further up between San Polo and Frari. The Peggy Guggenheim museum looked fab but we didn't manage to get there. You're near water taxi stops which is fab - honestly you could just go up and down the grand canal on a taxi and be happy.