Venice on a Budget

Venice, Italy: On A Budget
ByCindy-Lou Dale, Freelance Writer

The combination of its romantic location and its legendary historic buildin View from St. Mark's Bell Tower, which still sounds to this day. gs rising from the waters of the lagoon makes Venice one of the most sought-after and only fully pedestrianized travel destination in the world. Nobody can fail to be touched by its beauty and everyone comes away entranced.

Although St. Mark’s Square is Venice’s infamous tourist attractions, there is a whole city, consisting of well-known places and others of lesser renown, to explore: superb palaces, humble working-class homes, narrow lanes and large squares.

You need to wander away from the well-trodden tourist routes, allowing its history to unfold so that you may fully appreciate the Venetian way of life, the history and traditions of this remarkable city and admire the splendour of the Gothic and Renaissance palaces.

Where to stay

A 20-minute waterbus ride away from the city of Venice is the mainland of Venice, which boasts numerous holiday parks of varying standards. Marina di Venezia is enclosed within a pine-wood forest and has a large private beach, where you can either relax on a recliner or sit under cover of large beach umbrellas at one of their three beach bars. The accommodation on offer ranges from basic tents to deluxe air-conditioned bungalows. Their facilities are immense - an Olympic size pool, a paddling pool, an assortment of bars (two of which offer wireless broadband internet access), several very good restaurants, grocery stores, clothing stores, hairdresser, an assortment of gift shops, video games, playgrounds, mini-golf and night-time entertainment for the children. The only need to venture outside of these idyllic surroundings is to visit the palatial city of Venice.

It may look like a crumbling shack from the outside, but a peek through the open door reveals the palatial interiors of an aristocrat's home.

Alternatively, let Enrico and his family spoil you at Honey House, a spacious B&B on the Venetian Lagoon, and be served a sumptuous buffet breakfast. The accommodation is light, bright and airy, with all the modern conveniences of home, including a large garden, children’s playground and patio.

Where to eat

Eat at wine bars, or "baccari." These bars often offer a selection of simple, tasty foods, usually served in small portions much like Spanish tapas and fill up on "tramezzini," which are sandwiches available all over Venice. They make a great lunch - just remember to eat standing up at the bar as in some Italian restaurants, you will find three levels of charges: one price for standing at the bar, another price for sitting inside and yet another for sitting at a patio table.

Look for establishments that post a tourist menu outside. You will often get a fixed price three- or four-course meal for much less than if you ordered from the à la carte menu. Choices are limited, but the savings are worthwhile. Learn the difference between a pizzeria, a trattoria and a ristorante. A pizzeria will be your most inexpensive choice, while a ristorante will be the most expensive; a trattoria falls somewhere in between.

Remember to put your map away sometimes and just wander until you find a place that seems to be busy serving the locals. You'll make some of your best discoveries in Venice when you are completely lost.

Avoid tourist trap areas if you're trying to eat on the cheap. Restaurants and cafés a block or so away from the heart of the action may be a lot cheaper. A coffee at Piazza San Marco's Florian’s may be worth the high price, though, since it gives you a front row seat in one of the world’s most famous locations.

Remember that a service charge and a cover charge are almost always automatically a Relaxing in a doorway, local cats portray the Venetian lifestyle. dded to your bill in Italian restaurants; tipping over and above the included service charge is optional, though it is customary to leave some small change on the table

What to see

The Doges Palace is a majestic gothic masterpiece and is the symbol of the city which formerly housed the Doge and state magistrates, the highest institutions of all aspects of the Venetician civilization. Visit the Doges Palace as early as possible to avoid the tourist rush.

Visit Peggy Guggenheim’s spectacular collection of modern and avant-garde art, along with her sculptured garden and pet cemetery.

The Bell Tower of San Marco has evocative views over Venice and the adjoining islands. Take the inexpensive elevator ride to the top of the bell tower in the Piazza de San Marco. It's the best view in town. Avoid queues and get an early start.

Basilic of San Marco is certainly the icon of Venice, with more than two square kilometers of beautiful mosaics; it contains inestimable treasures of by-gone eras.

The Venice Naval History Museum is owned by the Italian Navy and keeps a copy of historic ships and some gondolas together with many other treasures of the ancient seafaring city.

Mocenfgo’s Palace is the center for historic Venetian fabrics and costumes.

The Accademia Gallery of Venice is one of the most prestigious art gallery’s in Italy and displays paintings dating from the Middle Ages to the masters of the Renaissance.

The isle of Burano has ornately coloured homes and a lace museum which documents the evolution in the art of lace-making in Venice between the sixteenth and twentieth centuries.

Wander through th The pastel homes and shimmering canal entice both the heart and soul. e various Murano glasswork factories and shops and watch a centuries-old tradition in the hands of masters.

Venice Travel Tips

Getting around Venice is an adventure in itself. There is something wonderful about stumbling onto unexpected spots, so wrong turns and flawed directions may be a blessing in disguise.

Get lost! It's easy in Venice, but it's also easy to find your way again, since there are directional signs painted on many walls, and most people are helpful and quick to offer directions Check the sign at the vaporetto stop to be sure the line you want really does stop there and at your destination. The lines are all numbered and colour-coded, but the colours on the maps and the actual stops sometimes differ, and sometimes a line with a single number will have more than one route. Take route 1 if you want to take your time getting along the canal. It stops at every stop, and you'll spend about 45 minutes getting from the train station to San Marco.

Get a good budget guidebook with extensive listings of affordable restaurants and cafés. Peruse different guidebooks at your local library, make photocopies of the pages you really need, and then leave the heavy books at home. Make sure your guide contains information about specifically Venetian foods, since there are some dishes (such as pasta with 'seppie,' or squid-ink) that you may find only in Venice.

Use the traghetto if you need to get across the Grand Canal, rather than along it. There are only three bridges that cross the canal, but seven places where you can catch a traghetto. A traghetto is a gondola that will take you across the canal for a very small fee.

The stairs and bridges in Venice can hinder disabled travelers, so if you're in a wheelchair or are traveling with someone who is, ask at the tourist information center about accessible routes through the city. There are also wheelchair-accessible vaporetto stops, marked on maps with the international symbol.