Ai Pini, Mestre

Advantages: Possibly the most beautiful city on earth
Disadvantages: High tides in autum and perhaps too many tourists in summer months

.... Certainly there are places to avoid, like the 'Via Piave' station area, at night. That is unless you are interested in picking up some young ladies, of course. However, it is good for cheaper accomodation if Venice itself is a little beyond your budget. Hotel 'AI Pini' is a comfortable 3* within walking distance of the mainland train station, and right by a main bus stop. If your in the area go to the 'Chichirichi' pizzeria on via Chiriniago in the Gazzera area. Its a real locals place and often needs booking. However the pizzas are just fantastic, huge and cheap. The piazziolo, Fausto, is renowned in the area and has won numerous competions. Mestre is serviced by international trains and buses that travel as far as the moutains. Deffinately the best serviced in terms of public transport. ACTV runs the local transport service and thier website... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Nice city
Disadvantages: Many tourists

...Since it would not be possible to summarize here the beauties of Venice, I thought it was more useful to give you some useful addresses, if you happen to be there. I would recommend the area called Castello. “Locanda Silva” (tel 5227643) is situated in Fundamenta del remedio 4423. They have singles and doubles without bathroom, which are very clean, and doubles with bathroom. We paid £30 for a double without bathroom. Although many tourists do not leave Venezia, you can do as the Venetians do and stay in Mestre, an industrial city not far from Venezia. There are plenty of reasonably priced restaurants and you can stay at “Giovannina” (tel 926396) in Via Dante. Food is expensive everywhere in Venice. I can only recommend a place I think it is good-value for money. This is “Vino vino” (wine wine) at Ponte Veste, not far from “Teatro la... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Beautiful city
Disadvantages: Smell in winter, and crowds

...The Venice carneval, which has been in existence since the middle ages still draws the crowds in abundance. In fact St Mark's will probably be more packed during the carneval that at most or less anytime of the year. The vaporetto system works well although there are some streets which get clogged up to bursting point, and the order of the day is single pile not single file, so is not recommended for people suffering from claustrophobia. The atmosphere is freindly but relatively there is not that much to see at the carneval, and there are only so many masks that you can admire. Having praised the vaporetto service, if you are armed with a good Freytag and Berndt map of the city you can get from Mestre coach station to St Mark's on foot quicker than by vaporetto, whilst seeing some hidden nooks and crannies of Venice insodoing.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful