Venice- where to stay and what to buy

[justbefuddleme]

I am going on my first holiday with DC on my own to Venice and I can't wait.
Anyway what I wanted to ask was any advice on where to stay please?

What to buy beauty or food wise?

Where to take my DC aged 8,6 and 4?

Bring back big chunks of Parmesan from the supermarket.
When are you going? The Lido has a beach, it’s very busy and touristy on the grand canal so depends on how well “controlled” your children if you want to stay near there. It’s nicer in the back streets where people live if you can get an air B and B.

We stayed at the Hotel Panorama on the Lido which was great. We spent a lot of time sitting on the ferries that circle around Venice and down the canals, just looking at the city.
We never found anywhere decent to eat, but I think we were unlucky, or didn't do enough research.
I loved Venice - more than I expected.

Thank you.
I have been told to stay in Mestre because it's cheaper and easy to get to Venice each day, don't know how true this is?

As long as it doesn't cost a bomb to stay in Venice though I'm not bothered. I would love an air bnb.

Parmesan is a good shout, I love Italian food so I'm envisioning myself trying to stuff all kinds of food to bring back

we are going the second week of October

When are you going? What time of the year? That will change options and costs. Are your DC used to walking? Because there is a lot of walking to do in Venice. Yes you could get vaporetti everywhere but you would miss a lot.

From Mestre there’s a train that does across the lagoon, it takes only a few minutes. I think there’s also a ferry but the train is quicker and cheap.

I am just back from there with my dh and 2 kids. We staying in an apartment which was reasonable and lovely. It was on the main island of venice about 3 stops on the water bus route from the train station. I can send you on the details of the apartments if you like.

I don't know Mestre, but I'm sure others do. Imo tourism, especially cruises, have sucked the authentic heart out of the city. Shopping is limited to tourist tat, as a rule, and restaurants are dire. But it is so beautiful. Take the boat out to Torcello, then take in The other 2 islands on the say back.

Also with regard to bringing back Parmesan (or grana padano, which is just as good but cheaper), you may not be able to if Brexit happens. If you’re going before November it’s no problem, but after that it could be.

I think staying a bit out but in Venice is lovely. There are still people who actually live in Venice out away from the grand canal.

Do your research on places to eat before you go. There’s some real tourist traps. But again move away from the crowds a bit and there are coffee shops and supermarket.

The boat rides to murano and burano are fun.

It’s easy to get churched out!

The little boats that go across the canals are great fun. The locals stand. The river bus is good too.

Walk around the less busy bits and take it all in.

It’s worth doing some reading first.

If you have time, take the water bus to Murano and Burano islands. Murano is where they do the famous Murano glass - there are glass factories with demonstrations of glass blowing. Burano has the brightly painted buildings. Both islands are far quieter than Venice itself and we found both to be a lot more picturesque, where you can easily walk alongside canals and take in the atmosphere. Far nicer than the hustle, bustle and stress of Venice itself. It's a full day to do both islands, but well worth it. Some much nicer restaurants too!

If you’re prepared to have a curfew (in by 11pm) I’d recommend ‘monastery stays’.
Rooms are clean but basic and the one we stayed in was attached to a convent school with fabulous halls and was right in the centre of Venice. It was cheap enough that I got 2 rooms, but larger rooms were available.

www.monasterystays.com/?d=Italy/Veneto/Venice-accommodation

@MysweetAudrina yes that would be lovely thank you

We stayed in a apartment in Venice. It was great!
I bought lovely myrano glass earrings.

I definitely wouldn't stay in Maestre. It's cheaper but it's just an ordinary boring town - if you go to Venice, you should be in Venice! It's quick to get there but still not worth it.

Lido is nice if you don't want to be in the hussle and bustle. A bit like Venice in many ways - although more like an ordinary town, with cars, etc. - but way nicer than Maestre! It takes a while to get into the city, but it's on a vapparato across the lagoon so it's a nice journey.

I just sign up to give you this suggestion.
Don't stay outside Venice but neither too close to Saint Mark's Plaza, the best option with kids is an apartmen in one of the most quiet area. Look for Campo Santa Margherita area in Dorsoduro, or San Giacomo dell'Orio in Santa Croce or the Ghetto in Cannaregio. These are "campi" where kids can play safe (no canals on the border) and usually in the aftenoon are full of local kids (and there are supermarkets and restaurants). So don't rush, just have some small walks and sit on a bar while the kids play around. Avoid the big museums, go to the top of San Giorgio Island tower bell instead of Saint mark. Don't try to do or to see all, just enjoy.

Me and my DSs stayed at about easy 15 minute walk to centre.
Whilst lots of expensive places to eat about 3 houses down was a chain pasta house with meals at €6 a bowl and prosecco at €2 a glass and 5 mins away was a takeaway pizza shop where a super super large pizza was about €6 or €2 a slice (where slice would feed one person).
Hotel right on canal with a canal boat outside selling fruit and veg so we tended to pick up a punnet of strawberries etc to have as snacks.

We bought a pass for loads of museums and churches. The boys really liked the natural history museum and we paid extra for a secret tour of the doge palace which they loved going in the dungeons etc
A boat ride to the lace and glass islands was well worth it. They particularly enjoyed watching the glass blowing and then you could buy little glass animals for a euro as a token reminder.

We stayed in an AirBnB right in the centre (a few hundred yards from the Rialto Bridge) and loved being in the middle of things (especially after the day visitors leave!) Lots of fun little hidden canals and areas, but if any of your kids like cats, you should go here: thestudioinvenice.com/ We brought back a little picture, which still reminds us of our time in Venice.

I took my son last year. We stayed in a pretty central hotel that was ok but nothing special. The advertised “canal view” wasn’t that great. We did a free walking tour and learned a lot about the city. The guide did expect a tip for her work which was fair enough. She recommended that we buy an authentic handmade mask instead of one that was mass produced and most likely not even made in Venice. My son wanted one for his special souvenir so we found a shop where the man makes them and we love it. As for food just be careful of cover charges and service charges. We found a really nice bar where I had a few aperol spritz’s and we got little paninis that were very nice and a reasonable price but I’m sorry I don’t remember the name at the moment. Oh and do beat the line pre booked tickets for saint marks because the lines might be too much for little kids. We went to a mass in Italian to be able to see inside