Venice accommodation - island or mainland?

[PoliteSquid]

Accommodation in areas like Mestre is significantly cheaper than areas on the island - is it worth the saving? Or should we stay on the island in the heart of everything?

Looking at a short break at Easter or end of August.

We stayed in Mestre, far cheaper, bus from the main street was a doddle and direct.

The island is right in the thick of things. Venice at night when people have gone is beautiful. Alot of the hotels are like stepping back in time too. It is a different experience to staying off-island and travelling in. I recently stayed in Borgo Ca Del Sospiri in Quarti D'Altino which was about a 20 min train ride into Venice centre. It was also fine, hotel was lovely, but if I went back I would stay on the island for the full experience.

Was it expensive? How long a ride is it?

About 15-20 mins and €4 return I think, but you'll went to check current prices.

Although it is more expensive, I would recommend staying in Venice for the atmosphere, convenience and the local night time culture. Also I would avoid August….the spring or autumn is much better.

I would always stay on the island. Walking in the early morning and late in the evening is quite magical and otherworldly. Staying in a hotel on one of the tiny squares, or with windows opening directly onto a canal is wonderful. Also, the opportunity to observe the mechanics of how it works - deliveries, rubbish collection, just seeing the ordinary stuff going on around you.

We stayed right in the centre on the Grand Canal in December. It was absolutely magical and I was so glad we made the decision to stay where we did.

We stayed on the island and stepping out the door and just walking was fab. If it’s the difference between going or not, well, cut your cloth. It’s worth going though.

I once stayed in Mestre - didn’t like it at all. We always stay in Venice now. It’s totally magical. A classic case of you get what you pay for!

Stay in Venice, it’s a magical experience. But I’d say go off season. We went early February, clear blue skies, it was stunning. Especially if you aren’t sure you’ll be back soon.

Venice is an experience and it's best savoured once the crowds disappear at night and early in ghe morning. Dorsoduro is a good spot, slightly cheaper than St Marco, but still easily walkable. There are some lovely bars and restaurants on the Guidecca canal.

If money is no object, stay in Venice. But accommodation in Mestre is often less than half the price and the tram connection is easy and fast. You can still be in Venice late evening or early morning, they don't kick you out at 5pm.

We stayed on Venice Lido which is an excellent compromise. The vaporetto run regularly and we would get off at a different stop every morning for a new view and to explore.

I have done both. First time with my teen DDs we stayed on Lido. It was fantastic - just a quick and very scenic vaparetto hop over to Venice early morning until the heat and crowds got too much and the. we nipped back to Lido for the afternoon chilling out on the beach. Best of both worlds for the teens.
I returned as a solo traveller a couple of months later and booked myself a tiny little hotel right in the centre of Venice. Absolutely magical in its own right and an experience I shall never forget. I spent hours and hours exploring the side streets and smaller canals, going into every church and interesting building I passed along the way. Felt extremely safe even at night. My favourite place in the whole world. I long to return again!

I stayed in a guest house on the island so we could be in the thick of things and would always do that. They don’t have to be super expensive - I stayed in the Dorsoduro district which is a bit less expensive but still accessible to everything!

I would always stay in Venice itself but always in a quieter area (never near St Marks). It’s just magical late at night or early morning. I like the Jewish Ghetto, plenty of affordable hotels.

This is all so helpful thank you!

I really like the idea of a quiet place to retreat to - thanks for the tips on location.

Venetian here - If you choose Mestre - NOT the station area . There are reasonable priced B&B in venice proper and that early morning stroll in St Marks beore the city wakes up is so worth it - If coming in January city is quiet , no queues great for seeing things - If coming in busy times so Carmival, Easter ( and any weekend until July) then pick something in Cannaregio or Dorsoduro and not San Marco .

Mestre’s ok, there’s a good department store and a few nice cafe’s but I wouldn’t stay there, it just hasn’t got the atmosphere.
The last time we visited, we stayed on Murano, it’s lovely, especially after 4pm when all the day tourists vanish.
There is a fabulous little family run restaurant where I had the best lasagna of my life and a stunning Byzantine church. The boats are very regular and our hotel picked you up at the airport by boat too.
Mestre is good for getting out and about on the train, the station’s a bit less crowded than Venice but if you are only visiting Venice then Stay in Venice!

we were in Venice in the summer and agree with everyone else saying stay on the island, it’s magical. we stayed in cannaregio, which was only 10/15 minutes walk from the centre, but there were lots of great nearby restaurants and bakeries for breakfast and dinner

Stay as centrally as you possibly can - that's the point of Venice. And you need to enjoy it when the day tripper crowds have gone. Some of the hotels have quite small rooms, but worth it. Try Hotel Al Codega, a short walk from the Rialto..... bags of character, and a fantastic buffet breakfast. They will also organise a private taxi transfer for you from the airport - it's the perfect way to arrive, and very glamorous.

Agree with on the island but NOT St Mark’s district. We stayed near the Accademia bridge and it was ideal - close enough to walk everywhere central, near a main vaporetto stop, but without all the tourist trap restaurants of the very centre.

We had our first night on the mainland and got a bus to the island- it took FOREVER so if you do go for mainland, I definitely wouldn’t advise using the bus!

If you were staying in peak summer then I suppose the mainland might be worth it just to have a pool, and because there would be a limit on how long you could traipse around Venice in the heat, but that’s not the case.