If you were going to Venice, where would you stay?

[Aridane]

I am bewildered by the choice of amazing looking hotels with amazing views (though appreciate individual rooms may not share those views).

If you’ve been to Venice or are planning to go, where would you stay?

@Aridane Italy is currently at 16.6 which is about the same as it was last Sunday so it's looking hopeful to escape going on the list this week!

There's a fantastic restaurant on Murano. It's hidden away on a little square, gets really full of locals at lunchtime. Osteria La Perla Ai Bisatei, but doesn't have anything outside to show it's a restaurant. If you're at the Museo vaporetto stop with the stop behind you, turn left, walk along and take the first alleyway on the right after the Co-op. That takes you up into the square and the restaurant is on the top left corner. It's not fancy, simple proper Italian food, and so cheap. They are cash only I think.

I'm staying somewhere a bit less fancy! But I've been to Venice about 7 times now, I just love it. I don't do anything apart from wander! You can book the Basilica online to get timed entrance, although may not be an issue at the moment. Even when I've been in November it's still been really full of tourists.

@Kelper - I have PM’d you

Thank you, everyone, for all your tips (especially as regards food!).

@Southwest12 - quarantine on return wouldn’t be too much of an issue as we’re having to work from home (office only starting to look at re-opening ). But much prefer not to quarantine .

I hope for Italy after its shocking and distressing start on coronavirus that it’s current track record on keeping under control remains . They went through enough first time

@Aridane wow you did well to get flights at that price.

I am going to book but it is going to cost £155 and that is just with priority boarding and a bag. If we could manage with the tiny bag it would be £62!

Ryanair are such a rip off really.

We are going to go. Have found a lovely apartment in the Canneregio district which gets brilliant reviews. We much prefer staying in apartments to hotels.

@lynsey91 - does it make any difference if you flex by a day? Have you tried Skyscanner?

Ryanair are naughty - much prefer EasyJet !

In March 2019 I stayed at Palazzo Selvadego, literally just on the outskirts of Piazza San Marco. It was very quiet especially when you think of how busy the square is.
It's linked to the Hotel Monaco - we had B&B with the Selvadego & breakfast was at the Monaco so every morning we would eat on the terrace overlooking the Grand Canal!
A off-peak 5 night holiday deal with BA, avoiding the Film Festival, Easter & Carnavale, including all flights, a lovely double room & breakfast came to £700 for two people - one of the best holidays I've ever had & certainly the best value. Magical!

Amazing value, @Jocasta2018

Tip for booking with Ryanair this usually works.
Start booking with small bag only go through entering names and through all other do you want insurance etc.
Before you come to paying there is a screen which says do you want extra bags you can just put one bag on there which sounds as if it will be enough for you.
Ryanair always sit you apart so carry on with unallocated seats they will give you seats but show vacant ones you can move to, if there are loads you can move during flight.
If only a few left often there is a spare one next to the ones they have given you so only need to book for one seat.
Remember each flight is completely separate and you need to do bag trick for both flights.

We stayed on campo Santa margarita, was excellent, student area so good value. Walked every where or water bus from here. Close to amazing Cicchetti places. I want to go back!

@Aridane I tried all different dates and even different airports but could not get it any cheaper.

I would be tempted to try and get our clothes into a tiny bag but DH is not keen (he always takes more clothes than me). Also means we can't choose seats so quite possibly would not be sitting together. Not the end of the world but would prefer to be together.

I guess £155 is not to bad and we will just have to pay that if we want to go.

Just annoys me that they quote such a cheap price and then by the time you add other things on it goes up so much. £20 extra each way would not be so bad but why £20 per person each way? We will still only take 1 bag.

Anyway I hope you have a wonderful time and let us know all about it. I am quite excited especially as we had more or less decided not to have a holiday this year.

I am a bit anxious about the whole airport/flying thing at present but I am sure it will be fine. Also if we did need to isolate on return it would be ok as I don't work and DH is self employed so could do that

Just done a dummy booking to check. It's the screen after choose a seat it gives you a screen with add bags just modify one person a booking to add bags.

We stayed on the Lido. We enjoyed the boat trip into Venice every day.

We stayed at Cima Rosa, gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous. Still follow them on Instagram and get the pangs to go back!

On quiet section of Grand Canal but easy walk to Rialto and gorgeous squares with delicious prosecco etc etc. Heavenly. We went last October just before Aqua Alta hit.

In an AirBnB in Cannaregio. Given that the first time we went was a last-minute decision, and in August, I found it far less expensive that I'd imagined, and found that the people in the local shops and restaurants were very friendly and nice -- when I thought they would be hard-faced robots from being sick of tourists. The Biennale was on, so I had my fill of free art, and the place is a walker's paradise.

@Starisnotanumber thank you for that. I was choosing from the options that come up when you select your outward and return flight.

As you say, if you choose the tiny bag but carry on with all the details it then lets you choose seats and choose different options for bags.

I have got it to £128 which is much better. They are so crafty

Thanks have a drink out on me.
Its knowing your way round their system.

I have never flown with Ryan Air before and have a dim view of them. However, if the flight isn’t cancelled, the plane is clean and mask wearing and orderly embarking / disembarking takes place, then I am good.

Not really as if flights to Venice are awash with choices

@Aridane we have flown with them a few times as they always seem to be the cheapest even though they charge extra for everything.

I know lots of people hate them but I must admit we have never had any problems, the flights have always been on time.

Thanks, @lynsey91 - good to know.

I have to say that I have been surprisingly impressed with easyJet in the last couple of flights I took - courtesy, efficiency, cleanliness and clarity. And dare I say it, charming flight personnel

Just in case you haven't booked yet Ryanair have got a one day sale on with lots of flights 5.00 if you are travelling in September

Goodness - I have been ripped off at £9.99

It’s shocking At the low cost of airfares.

A while back I used Skyscanner for a specific date and you have the option just to see what’s available on a particular date (to get inspiration). Flight prices were almost universally £10 to Europe’s. Cities. I didn’t believe this so we went through booking process to the screen immediately before pay,ents - and, yes, that was the price (well, £9.99 actually)

Make sure you have the right kind of mask for the flight - I believe Italy stipulate that for flights there it has to be a disposable surgical grade mask.

Oh goodness, thank you

We stayed in a small hotel overlooking the Grand Canal only a few minutes walk from the central bus station and train station. Some hotels are difficult to get to and taking luggage on the water busses can be a real pain. We caught the bus in from the airport and were in our hotel without any hassle. We decided it was a special trip and it was worth paying a bit more, we had a view over the Grand Canal and the hotel had a pontoon where we could eat breakfast watching the boats go by, it was magical. The other bonus was being able to see Venice in the morning and evening after all the day-trippers had left.
We got a good deal by booking directly with the hotel www.hotelcontinentalvenice.com/