Venice was Amazing

[Beaker's Fluff]

We have just returned from a 3 day break to Venice and it was amazing. It was a trip for our 31st wedding anniversary, we stayed at Hotel L'Orologio Venezia on the Grand Canal. This hotel was perfect and was 3 minutes from the Rialto Bridge. We booked a private speed boat transfer from the airport for both ways, this was one of the highlights and I would recommend this. This meant that we did not have to carry our cases anywhere as we got dropped/picked at the hotel jetty. Whilst on the speed boat we got a message from out youngest DS to say he had passed his driving test, this made it even more memorable. We did all the tourist things but had time to pretty much explore everywhere.
We did the Douges Palace, the tower in St Marks square, a Gondola ride. The gondola we did on our own, it’s 80 euros as a set price but you can travel with others to keep the cost down. Venice did not smell, we were told that if you go in the summer it smells, we did not smell anything at all. We also did not find it overly expensive, we had lots of breaks with coffee or Aperol spritz, coffee ranged from 1.70 euros to 6.00 euros(sat next to the Rialto) Aperol from 4 euros to 6 euros. We found a nice pizza/bakery called Farini where you buy pizza by the slice, you can sit in at no extra charge and they sell alcohol too, we did visit there a bit for snacks.
It was so clean in Venice, we did not see one piece of litter the whole time we were there. The bridges are so beautiful along with the narrow alleyways that twist and turn into beautiful courtyards.
We did get caught up in the Gatwick power outage issue last night, we were due to take off at 6pm and land back at 7-05 pm, we taxied at 6 and then sat, and sat, then we got told that we could not take off. British Airways kept us as informed as they could. We sat next to the runway in holding bays for a quick take off, we were warned that we might have to go to Stansted or Bournemouth. I am glad that we sat on the runway for 2 and a half hours as when it was ok we got to go to Gatwick as planned. We landed at 9.45.
Fantastic trip.

[DisneyDaffodil]

So pleased you enjoyed it, I know we fell in love with the city last year on our trip too. We also went in July and didn’t find it smelly at all, or dirty in any parts and we wandered very much off the tourist routes too as we were there for a week. Prices we felt were certainly no higher than a UK city and it was possible to eat cheaply if you avoided the fancy restaurants and St Mark’s area to eat. Shame about the delay coming home but these things happen (we had a two and half hour delay going to Split Croatia a few weeks ago, I much prefer a delay coming home not going out and missing some holiday time. We also had a two hour delay when we went to Venice too)

[Minnie18]

Your holiday sounds amazing. Glad you had a good time 😊

[ERICSMUM]

Glad you enjoyed Venice, it’s one of my favourite places.

As you found, it’s possible to eat & drink for reasonable prices in the streets just behind and beyond St Marks Square although I can’t resist having a coffee at a pavement cafe in St Marks Sq just for the tourist experience !

[Beaker's Fluff]

Hi Disneydaffodil.
I think people may get off cruise ships, enter at St Marks square and get a coffee there, it’s busy and overpriced there and that is then their opinion. We went to Croatia in May too, but we could not even leave the hotel for 3 days due to the rain, on the two days we had sun it was lovely, but this made hubby realise how much he likes his USA holidays. He loved Venice though.

[owens5558]

We love Venice too. There is lots to see off the beaten track and we didn't find it to expensive away from St. Marks Sq. The last time for a change we stayed in Jesolo which is a beach resort across the lagoon and we got the ferry across. I can recommend that too.

[DisneyDaffodil]

Originally Posted by Beaker's Fluff

Hi Disneydaffodil.
I think people may get off cruise ships, enter at St Marks square and get a coffee there, it’s busy and overpriced there and that is then their opinion. We went to Croatia in May too, but we could not even leave the hotel for 3 days due to the rain, on the two days we had sun it was lovely, but this made hubby realise how much he likes his USA holidays. He loved Venice though.

See more...

Such a shame you had rain in Croatia, we had endless sunshine for our week in June and it was very hot. We found Split to be very similar in many ways to Venice so loved it there too. I do agree that a holiday is disappointing if the weather isn’t so good, maybe you could try Croatia again in one of the main summer months 😀

[HiddenMickey35]

Glad to hear that you had a fab times.

I love Venice and hope go back there one day.

[ClaireNJ]

We went in October for our 30th Anniversary, absolutely loved it too ❤️🙊was worried as never been to Italy before & obviously love the US.
People said you’ll find it dirty & smelly, which we didn’t, the Canal was so clean, saw one bit of rubbish in 3 days would definitely go again, it was so so pretty

[Col&Ali]

Fab mini-trippie there Klare - sounds like a wonderful anniversary break.

We went to Venice when Ry was 11 months old and he is 19 on Monday! I want to go back after reading your post

Well done to DS for passing his test! Is that both of them driving now?