Venice

Going to Venice, Italy is high on my list of things to do this year. Has anyone been? What was your experience, and do you think 3-4 days in enough time? I was also wondering if anyone has any suggestions on places to stay. Has anyone stayed at any of the LuxuryLink properties? Luxury lodging seems to be really pricey in Venice, especially for Italy. I was looking at this one 5 star hotel that Amex was offering in a third night free promotion, but the rooms started at over 600 euros a night. Yikes!

I think 3-4 nights is a good visit. I stayed at Ca'Pisani about five years ago and we loved it. It's a design hotel, very stylish but not snotty. It's in Dorsoduro behind the Academia which is one one my favorite areas of Venice, close to the action but not solely tourist. Personally I like Dorsoduro and Cannaregio FAR more than the areas around St Marks.

I'm also a big fan of Venice in the winter.

In the winter, really? What's so special about winter time? Is it because there are less crowds? I can imagine it must be slammed with tourists in the summer.

Thanks for the info. I have been eyeing that package at Ca'pisani.

Two things speak for visiting Venice in the winter. The crowds are far less and the prices drop dramatically, except during the Venice Carnival.

It's almost time for Venice's carnival or carnevale season, a time of costume parties, parades, masquerade balls and entertainment culminating on Shrove Tuesday, 40 days before Easter. 2011 Venice Carnival opens on February 19 with a party in Saint Mark's Square and ends March 8 with a finale in Saint Mark's Square that includes a giant group kiss at midnight, entertainment, and fireworks.

Venice is one of the world's top places to celebrate carnival or mardi gras and going to Venice during carnival season is not to be missed. If you're going, be sure you book a hotel in advance.

Wow, great info. Thanks! I will definitely keep this in mind for the future. I didn't know Italy celebrated carnival. I might be going to Cologne for carnival this year. I hear it's pretty big there as well.

~copa

Hi copahc,
Lucky you, going to the Cologne carnival. This is one of the biggest carnival events in Germany. I was there many, many years ago and had an absolute blast.....
You might be interested in this link: Cologne Carnival | Cologne, Germany | Whatsonwhen

Travelfan, Thanks for the link. It was helpful.

Well I booked my train tickets and hotel (one of the last rooms left in the city center) yesterday. I'm going to Cologne next weekend!

I'm kinda nervous because I'm not quite the party animal I used to be.. but the friends that I'm going with are, hahaha. I also don't have a costume and have no time between now and then to try and find one, but I'm hoping to find something there. Maybe a funny hat will do. :) Hopefully it's not freezing.. or raining...

copahc
Have fun, this is an extraordinary festival called "Fasching " that the inhabitants of Cologne (and all of Germany for that matter) put on, always the day before Ash Wednesday. Also enjoy the "Koelsch", the special Cologne Beer Cologne is famous for.
Wish I could be there too this Tuesday - I remember the carnival very fondly and had great fun....