Venice Hotels

A virtually insatiable demand for accommodation in Venice can make it both difficult and expensive to get a hotel room anywhere at short notice in the high summer season. Also note that the high summer season in Venice lasts longer than anywhere else in Italy. In the centre of the city it practically lasts all year round.

Strangely, you can sometimes pick up a bargain in August when the city becomes very hot and sticky and Italians themselves stay well clear. Otherwise it is a case of booking well in advance and expecting to pay premium prices for basic hotel accommodation.

The alternative is to stop at hotels on the mainland Mestre or on other lagoon island and take a daily trip into Venice itself. The latter is less of an option over winter when resorts such as the Lido close down, making alternative hotel accommodation even more scarce.

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There are about 200 hotels in Venice itself and they range from luxurious to basic. Although the star system is pretty reliable on the whole, it tends to count for less in the San Marco region where hotel owners can basically charge what they like. San Marco may be the centre of Venice but the city is so small, and the vaporetto service so good, it hardly matters where you stay as you are never far from the main sights.

It can sometimes be a relief to escape the crowds in a hotel located in areas such as the Dorsoduro where there are fewer visitors out on the tourist trail. A Continental breakfast is usually included in hotel charges and by law the price of a room must be displayed on the back of the door.

Venice hostels

Venice has one large hostel and several smaller ones that double as student accommodation during university terms but are let to tourists in the holidays. Tourist offices have lists of these hostels that are dotted all over the city and on nearby islets.

Many budget hotels offer clean and simple rooms for singles, couples or families at very good-value rates. Many are in converted city centre villas or restored palazzo that simply ooze atmosphere. Others are on popular canal routes or within easy walking distance for Venice top sights.

Check out this site for Venice Hostels

Venice bed and breakfast

The huge demand for Venice accommodation and a relaxation in city regulations has led to a recent rise in the number of bed and breakfast guest houses. The best of these are usually termed laconda and are family-run affairs, often in attractive locations, and offering pretty good value.

Venice apartments

The high cost of Venice hotel rooms makes self catering an attractive option for those on a Venice city break. Several package holiday firms offer a few apartments but most can be found through travel firms that specialize in this area.

Venice camping

There are no campsites in Venice itself but there are several on the mainland and the outer reaches of the lagoon. There are two sites near Marco Polo Airport, with frequent and regular buses into Venice, and there is a good site at Fusina with water bus links to the city. More attractive sites can be found around the lagoon along the Litorale del Cavallino and at Sottomarina near Choggia, but the journey into Venice takes about an hour.