Camp site near Venice - Union lido or Marina de Venezia?

[MadameJosephine]

Looking at getting an early booking for a campsite for next may half term. So far I’ve been to Camping Fabulous near Rome and Villanova Park near Barcelona both on Mumsnet recommendations and this time I’d like to visit Venice. Just me and my DD who’ll be 7 by then. Can’t make my mind up between Union Lido or Marina de Venezia, any advice/experience?

I've been to union lido about 15 times since I was a child, and now take my children there! We love it there, so I would always choose it over anywhere else!!

Thanks for such a quick reply! Can I ask who you book with please?

Union Lido is fabulous! Lots of different activities, pool ares, the restaurants are lovely too.

We've been with canvas holidays, Eurocamp and also stayed in the hotel that is on the site also (part of site's own accommodation) ...

They were all great, but prob wouldn't take a child to the hotel as the social aspect wouldn't be as good. My children have made dozens of friends from all over Europe just playing outside the mobile homes.

Bolero always have good reviews too- they are also the most centrally based on the campsite. However, our Eurocamp pitch was literally 30 seconds walk from the newest water park and a lovely restaurant so it's swings and roundabouts really...

You can buy tickets for Venice from the site information office, and the bus either comes right into the site, or you walk to just outside it. It's very easy. We've always tended to head into Venice at about 4pm as the crowds of tourists are disappearing then. We have tea at a nice pizzeria that we know, then catch the no. 1 vaporetto from San Marco which takes you the length of the grand canal.. Good way to see lots in a short time.

Sounds fab! I couldn’t get the bolero website to work so I’ve messaged them for prices as they do seem to get good reviews. Sun camp and gusto camp also seem to have good prices. Flights st the minute are only £150 from my local airport so might not work out too expensive. Is it expensive when you are there? Camping fabulous/Rome was quite expensive so wondering whether that’s true of other Italian sites?

I don't remember it being too bad. An ice cream was €1.20, pizza prob comparable to pizza express... Supermarkets on the site were pricey for some things- Kellogg's cereal for eg. was a lot, but you can just choose their own versions. You can't get squash for love nor money- take your own if you don't like water. We took baked beans, some cereal and the little squeezy squash things with us... They have a good bakery and the olive bread is to die for..

The meal out in Venice was about €90 for 4 of us, with puddings and alcohol- so not too bad.. Nice restaurant too with clean toilets etc..

We were last there 2 years ago, so I guess the exchange rate may have altered things slightly since..

We were at Union Lido in June staying with Bolero and we loved it. It is a massive site, just the right side of busy...not sure how it would be in July/August. The two pool areas are super, loads to do and the beach is gorgeous. My kids loved the wee arcade area.

We didn’t go to Venice as it was during the European heatwave and we couldn’t face it but it would be an amazing day out.
Eating out and drinks were expensive but supermarket not too bad...we enjoyed eating together on our verandah. We would definitely go back.

Thanks everyone, looking forward to it now!

Went to marina di Venezia in 2017 with al fresco. Tbh was a bit disappointed with the mobile - nothing particularly wrong with it but not quite as well equipped as those belonging to other companies. Very busy, all nationalities, loads of kids on bikes, scooters zipping around. Excellent water park and 10 minute walk from the beach. The camp has its own mobiles and bungalows which seem better located and more green space around them. There’s a nice big play area, tennis court and crazy golf but the last two weren’t free. Iirc supermarket was pretty well stocked and not that expensive. We went to Venice by bus then boat, landing on the main square ? St marks which was a great day out, hired bikes for the day and cycled out into the countryside and also watched a huge firework display from the beach. Tbh it wasn’t that different from prai delle tori which we visited probably 6 or 7 years ago - I think they’re all much of a muchness and because most of the clientele are German standards are fairly high.