A Month In Venice

The sesetri of San Croce is best know because it is just across from the bridge of the Santa Lucia station where many of the tourists of Italy enter the city. This part of town is known by its many older buildings that date to the medieval times. So needless to say that this part of town definitely has its charms. One of the benefits of staying in this district is that there are many small restaurants or trattoria’s all throughout so you know you will find a good place to eat somewhere. Because of the high amount of traffic that this district receives finding budget accommodations can be difficult.

Below is a listing of some of the best budget hotels of the San Croce region in Venice.

Al Ponte Mocenigo
Santa Croce 2063 - Fondamenta de rimpeto a Ca’
Having only 10 rooms does not mean this hotel lacks anything. Quite the opposite as you will find a wealth of antique furnishings and well appointed rooms throughout.
Phone: +39 04 1524 4797
http://www.alpontemocenigo.com

Casa Peron
Santa Croce 85 - Salizzada San Pantalon
A small hotel of only 11 rooms this place is filled with artwork throughout and a very friendly staff as this is a family run establishment.
Phone: +39 04 171 1038
http://www.casaperon.com/

Falier
Santa Croce 130 - Salizzada San Pantalon
Having 19 rooms this is another hotel to check out. Not a hotel lacking anything this place is sure to please even the most picky budget traveler.
Phone: +39 041 710 882
http://www.hotelfalier.com/

Hotel Dalla Mora
Santa Croce 42, Salizzada S. Pantalon
Another small but well appointed and well run hotel of only 14 rooms.
Phone: +39 04 171 0703
http://www.hoteldallamora.it/

Locanda Salieri
Santa Croce 160 - Fondamenta Minotto
A tiny hotel of 11 rooms this place is great if you want to have a balcony view of the Canal del Gaffaro which is sure to please some.
Phone: +39 04 171 0035
http://www.hotelsalieri.com

The Castello sesteri of Venice is the largest of the regions in Venice. Being divided into two parts Castello and Castello Alto it offers a variety of places to stay that should fit within a reasonable budget. Needless to say that staying in Venice is perhaps one of the most expensive hotels in the whole of Italy if not Europe itself. This region is mostly occupied by residents in the area so the level of nightlife might be less then what you can expect in other regions.

However since this region borders San Marco it should be ideal for those that want to see this city but not break the bank. Below is a list of some of the budget accommodations you might find in this wonderful sesteri.

Al Prava
Ruga Giuffa 4838/40, Campo Santa Maria Formosa
This hotel is quite nice with marble floors throughout and a very friendly family and staff are there to serve your needs.
Double Rates: 110 to 210 Euros
Phone: +39 041 528 5174
http://www.hotelalpiave.com/

Ca Del Dose
Castello 3801 (Riva degli Schiavoni)
This is a small cozy hotel that is better suited for an outdoorsy type of personality. Consisting of only five rooms this is perhaps one of the most intimate of hotels that you can
stay in this sesteri. Note that the bathrooms are very small in this hotel.
Double Rates: 70 to 125 Euros
Phone: +39 04 1520 9887
http://www.cadeldose.com

Casa Linger
Castello 3541, Salizzada Sant Antonin
Definitely for the active traveler or hearty student this is a no frills hotel that comes at a
reasonable rate considering.
Double Rates: 60 to 120 Euros
Phone: +39 04 1528 5920
http://www.hotelcasalinger.com/

Casa per Ferie Santa Maria della Pieta
3701 Castello, Calle della Pieta
This hotels seems to cater to the University student as the rooms are outfitted as dorm rooms. There are no televisions or pictures but there is plenty of light and room to move about.
Double Rates: 96 Euros
Phone: +39 04 1244 3639
http://www.pietavenezia.org/

Casa Querini
Castello 4388 - Campo San Zaninovo
A very small hotel with only 11 rooms this is quite an experience. Notably half of these 11 rooms look out onto the Santo Giovanni Novo square. This hotels boasts that it is only 2 minutes from San Marco square so it is definitely worth looking into.
Double Rates: 93 to 197 Euros
Phone: +39 041 241 1294

Doni
Calle del Vin 4656 San Zaccaria – Castello
Consisting of only 13 rooms this hotels is replete with narrow hallways and horrible creaky
floors. I would describe this hotel as an acquired taste.
Double Rates: 60 to 120 Euros
Phone: +39 041 522 4267
http://www.albergodoni.it

La Residenza
Castello 3608 - Campo Bandiera e Moro
This is a plush 17th century palazzo that has gone through a restoration process. For those that like this type of architecture I would definitely check this hotel out.
Double Rates: 80 to 160 Euros
Phone: +39 04 1528 5315
http://www.venicelaresidenza.com/

Locanda Silva
Castello 4423 - Fondamenta del Remedio
This is a friendly and hospitable 23 room hotel that is very near to Santa Maria Formosa.
Double Rates: 60 to 115 Euros
Phone: +39 04 1522 7643
http://www.locandasilva.it

Locanda SS. Giovanni e Paolo
Castello 6401 - Calle de l’Ospeaeto
This is a traditional six room hotel run as though in a 18th century palazzo.
Double Rates: 80 to 170 Euros
Phone: +39 041 522 2767

Rio
Castello 4356 - Campo SS. Filippo e Giacomo
This is a small 28 room hotel that has recently gone through a makeover. Larger than some of the other hotels on this list but still with a friendly staff.
Double Rates: 60 to 180 Euros
Phone: +39 04 1 523 4810
http://www.aciugheta-hotelrio.it

When is the best time to visit Venice, Italy? Well that is kind of dependent upon when you can make the time to go and your budget. For true Venetophilles there is no inappropriate time as the city is always rich in culture and events that are sure to delight everyone. In my opinion if you do not like Venice, Italy then there is something seriously wrong with you.

Venice’s peak tourist season is from June through September. Now this usually means higher priced hotels and plenty of crowds. For some this is okay as some are used to throngs of tourists when ever they visit any place.

To avoid the high crowds of the peak tourist season the best time to go is from November through March however as Carnevale occurs in February for ten days avoiding the city then might also be a good idea.

I could go to Venice tomorrow if I had the opportunity to do so. For me there is no time that I would not want to visit. I am just simply enthralled by this wonderful city.

The first rule of thumb before making a move overseas is the old adage of buyer beware. Since many countries are not nearly as regulated as the United States it is always good to get a reference from someone you know and trust to help you find your home overseas.

The second item you must understand when you move overseas is that most banks are not easy to open accounts to foreigners. In many countries you may need to have a reference from someone actually doing business with the bank at the time. In some countries you simply cannot open an account in their country as this is not allowed by law.

The third item would be to get to know intimately the tax system of the country you have your heart set on. This will allow you to deal with your finances accordingly.

Fourth I would keep your expectations low. Many real estate agents will attempt to sell you on a property based on what is proposed to come later. Rather instead focus on what is around the property at that time.

Fifth I would keep a electricity or phone bill handy when applying for anything. Keep it in your pocket, backpack or purse. You will need to prove residency at practically every turn and having this slip at the ready will save you some time and frustration.

The sixth tip and perhaps the most important one is to try out a country for at least four to six months before moving. This is really important as the rose colored glasses become more clear as you begin to see the place you will be living as it truly is.

Seventh would be to buy what you need when you arrive. I would not recommend shipping furniture to any country as this is really not worth it. The shipping costs alone will eat you alive and then you have the possibility of your stuff coming damaged to boot. Do you really want to pay someone to break your things? I did not think so.

The eighth tip would be to relax about the same conveniences you have here in the United States. Let’s face it, we have it great here in the United States. You may not experience the same thing when you move overseas. So relax and become more like the locals and do what they do. Oh and by the way the locals do not want to hear how great the United States is when it comes to this and that. Not the best way to endear yourself to the locals.

The ninth tip would be to understand and get to know the health care system of your desired country. Is there a private health care system available? Is it actually better? What are the pros and cons of each? What do you need to know before you move?

Finally the last tip would be to understand and speak the language fairly well before you move. This can be done by finding a language buddy that you can converse with on skype or some other cheap communications channel. However the immersion method is by far the fastest method of learning any language.

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Using both websites is a great way to potentially save some serious money on your next flight or hotel or even car rental for that matter. Hopefully this might just save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars over time.