A Month In Venice

The city of Mestre is on the mainland that connects to the Venetian lagoon. For many travelers to Venice you will not stay in this part of Italy. This is not really such a bad thing as there really is not too much to do and see in this city. Rather Mestre is more of a jumping off point to get to Venice.

So then why devote an entire blog post to this non descript city? Well for many that want a
cheap romantic vacation in Venice but do not want to spend loads of money you have the option of staying in Mestre. Mestre caters to the budget Venice traveler as many of the hotels are a fraction of the cost then what you will stay in Venice. So you see a romantic stay in Venice is possible if you are willing to venture out a bit and stay in the less glamorous sections of this lagoon.

Here are just some of the places you can stay in Mestre that is sure to be kind ot your wallet.

Bw Hotel Bologna
Via Fiave 214, Mestre, VE 30175
One of the better rated hotels this is a sure bet to have your cake and eat it as well while you enjoy your stay.

Ambasciatori Hotel
Corso Del Popolo, Mestre, VE 30172
Another fine establishment that is sure to please many if not most. Certainly worth a visit if you are in the area.

Hotel Paris
Via Venezia, 11, , Mestre, Veneto 30171
I have not heard any negative reviews of this hotel yet so I am very confident that you should enjoy your stay here.

Kappa Hotel
Via Trezzo 8, Mestre, VE 30174
A quaint place that is sometimes well received by some. Since the reviews are hit and miss I might venture someplace else but it is worth mentioning.

There are many other places to stay because as I said that Mestre caters to the budget traveler and there seems to be an endless supply of those in the world. Besides who wants to spend an enormous amount of money when your eyes are closed anyways? I am sure you understand what I mean. If you are planning on going to Venice at some point make sure you check out Mestre as it will sure save your wallet some bucks.

Jack from Eyeflare.com did a great post on resources to plan a Venice trip and I want to continue on what he has done with a post of my own. There are thousands upon thousands of webpages dedicated to the city of venice so how does one decide which one is better then the next? Well that is more up to personal opinion then anything else but there are some factors to consider such as how often a website is updated and how accurate it is.

For instance I have found that the Venice City Guide from Time Out Travel to be one of the best resources online that you can find. Not only is the site comprehensive but it is also accurate and timely to boot.

The website of world 66 is also a great site if you plan on visiting Venice or any other city they may cover. The information covers all the bases to eating out to the history to day trips to and from Venice. Definitely worth a look.

Lastly I would recommend a website i recently just came across called Living Venice where it is from two people who actually live in Venice right now. You will not find a more up to date blog then this one. Well perhaps mine can come in a close second place.

The island of Burano is not really in Venice but it is in the Venetian lagoon. Like Murano this island has its specialty craft, in this case hand made lace. Burano is not just a single island but a network of islands or an archipelago. Many have equated Burano to be the Lego land version of Venice. This is mostly because all of the buildings are much smaller and the place is much more brightly painted then the main city of Venice giving it a almost toy like feel to the place.

The origins of this island are still in doubt and the name of the city has two very distinct stories as well. Some believe the island of Burano came from people who settled from an other island called Buranello which is five miles south of the city. Others however believe that this island was settled by members of the Buriana family. The island did not gain any prominence until the 16th century when the craft of lace making was refined here. A school was later built to teach the craft and much of the work of the island was exported to all parts of Europe who were eager to buy the lace.

So what is there to do on the island of Burano? Well unlike Venice this island is not swamped with as many tourists and hence it is much easier to get around. If you wanted to know what Venice felt like earlier this century then visit this island as it is like stepping back in time. The island is very popular with artists who prefer the brightly colored homes over the contrasted stark nature of the buildings in the city of Venice. There are a few attractions to see on this island such as the Church of San Martino and the Museum and School of Lacemaking.

I certainly would not consider this island to be hub of a bustling young nightlife as it is truly an Italian city which is pretty laid back as most people just enjoy a night out with friends and family. However if you should get the time to see this island I am sure that most will enjoy it.

If you have ever visited Venice then you are surely aware that the area around the Rialto Bridge is the shopping hub for tourists. However have you ever wondered about where the locals go to shop? I know I have and fortunately I have discovered a few places where you can pick up the necessities of life while you are staying in this city.

For instance if you want to get robbed by buying your bags from the various street vendors feel free. However most Venetians buy their clothes from the COIN department store where the prices are three times cheaper. If you do not know how to find this store simply ask one of the hotel workers or a local where to find it I am sure they are willing to help you out.

If you are into looking for leather goods such as jackets, hand bags and the like the best place to go is called Kalimala which is in the Castello sesteri. And if you shoe should happen to break and want to have it repaired then the best place for that would be Risuola Tutto di Giovanni Dittura which is in the Dorsoduro district. Either store will be surely cheaper then if you bought near the Rialto or St. Mark’s Square.

If you are looking for a place to buy your coffee the most recommend store would be Caffee Costarica which is in the Cannaregio sesteri. For the wine lovers I would recommend the store Cantinone gia Schiavi which is one of the oldest wine shops in the Dorsoduro neighborhood.

Perhaps you are more in the mood for some kitchenware. For that particular need I would recommend L’Arca which is on the island of Santa Croce. Of course most of the other shops that offer glassware are on the island of Murano as that is to be expected. However if you do choose to go to the island I would recommend only shopping at CAM and Carlo Moretti because both have a great reputation for quality and service.

What if you are looking for the genuine Carnavale masks? There is really one or two places that make traditional Venetian masks. One store that still makes the masks the old way is Giorgio Clanetti which is in the Castello sesteri. Since these masks are so rare it is best if you call ahead at the following phone number 041-522-3110. For costumes during Carnvale the only place that I know of is Tragicomica which is in the San Polo neighborhood.

I hope that if you do go to Venice that you check these stores out. They are surely worth a visit as I am sure they will help your wallet out by not catering exclusively to tourists. Since the locals use these stores this is yet another way to soak up the culture of Venice and perhaps even get yourself a good deal as well.

I think I did a pretty good job covering budget hotels in Venice. However now is time for a different perspective on things. Say for instance that you have the money to spare to really treat yourself to a spectacular stay in this very expensive city. Where do you go? Well the most luxurious hotels that this city has to offer of course. This is saying much because this city is very opulent with wealth and seems to cater to the wealthy and well to do.

Here is just a short listing of some of the more notable places to stay if you are so inclined to truly pamper yourself. Who is to say that you need to spend an entire week in one of these hotels? Most people spend at most one or two days in Venice anyways and since you are here, go wild!

Hotel Cipriani
Giudecca 10, Fondamenta San Giovanni
041-520-7744
http://www.orientexpresshotels.com
This hotel has been serving guests since 1993 and has been one of the most luxious places to stay ever since then. Since this hotel is on the island of Giudecca it is very isolated from the rest of the city and has some unique features such as lush garden that you can visit and let your problems drift away. Also since this hotel has an Olympic sized swimming pool and other great amenities you will not be bored if you choose to just sit and relax and soak up what this hotel has to offer.

Hotel Danieli
Castello 4196, Riva degli Schiavoni
041-522-6480
http://www.luxurycollection.com
One of the most famous hotels in the whole of Venice. This hotel has been featured on several travel shows and been a home to many of the travel celebrities such as Samantha Brown. This hotel is just right next to the Palazzo Ducale which is home of the Doge of Venice and is just in the center of the St. Mark’s Square. You certainly will not be too far from all the action if you choose to stay here.

Hotel Des Bains
Lido Lungamare Marconi 17
041-526-5921
http://www.sheraton.com
This is the hotel that the famous writer Thomas Mann stayed in when he was in Venice. Having a salt water pool you need not fret about swimming if you are allergic to chlorine besides this hotel has access to a private beach which is sure different than many other hotels and villas in the area. You can count on having your every whim satisfied while you stay in this hotel as this place prides itself on impeccable service.

Hotel Kette
San Marco 2053
041-520-7766
http://www.hotelkette.com
A fairly large hotel with 63 rooms this is not your average place to rest  your head. You are surrounded in an opulent and luxurious setting that makes you feel like you are one of the elite residents of Venice. This hotel certainly will remind you of “old Venice” as it is decorated just like an old Venetian palace.

Staying in Venice for most is usually a one or two night affair. For some these hotels will be far out of reach because you will most likely have to give up an entire month’s salary just to stay for a night. However if you really want to just live a little then by all means look these hotels up and see if you can afford to take a night at one of these destinations.