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Where to Stay

Venice attracts many different kinds of people, who come here for many different reasons. In comparison with other Italian cities, "hospitality" in Venice doesn't come cheap; this may be due to the romantic environment (Venice is known as one of world's "Cities of Love"), or the fact that because Venice has a very particular set up, transport and services are much more expensive, making the hotels more costly.

Venice is crowded throughout the year with tourists; a word of advice; however, if you visit during the Carnevale or the Film Festival, you need to book well in advance. If that doesn't ensure you a room, try the hotels in Treviso, Mestre or Padua.

San Marco

The hotels in this wonderful city have many different qualities: some have historical importance, some offer the best service and some have spawned Italian myths. Many lodgings in the vicinity of Piazza San Marco perfectly fit this category. The Bauer Hotel, the Westin Europa & Regina, the Hotel Gritti Palace and the Hotel Monaco & Grand Canal are some of the best.

Dorsoduro

Are these places a little too pricey for you? There are accommodations with lower prices and bags of charm in this primarily residential part of the city: Pensione Seguso and Pensione La Calcina. These are great options if looking to stay near the museums and attractions.

Castello

Near these hotels is Venice’s Youth Hostel. If this is full there are also hundreds of rooms to rent (popular with students), economical boarding houses and establishments run by religious orders e.g. Foresteria Valdese. If looking for more private accommodation without the curfew (even though there isn't much to do in Venice after 10p), the Hotel La Residenza can offer guests the chance to be close to all.

Lido

L'Hotel des Bains, in Lido, witnessed the disastrous love felt by a middle-aged Dirk Bogarde in the film Death in Venice? And then there's the Westin Excelsior, which has played host to numerous international screen stars during the annual Film Festival. If looking for more affordable accommodate away from the tourist-filled San Marco and the Rialto, but still close enough to all the sites and transportation, the Albergo Quattro Fontane is very popular during Film Festival season and during the summer months.

Outside the City

Still not found a place to suit you? More and more people are choosing to stay in Mestre, just across the lagoon, which is served by many buses and trains. If you choose to stay here, the sense of romance may decrease but so will the prices you pay, and rest assured, you’ll find a wide choice of comfortable hotels.

If you don't mind the distance and you have a car, you could stay in Riviera del Brenta. There are several villas here, which have been transformed into princely residences. This area is also less expensive than Venice.

If you like camping then you have to go to Mestre, or Cavallino to pitch your tent or park your caravan. The sites here are well equipped and are linked to San Marco by motorboats.

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