2 nights stay at Venice recommendations

Venice is small enough that staying by the train station is not necessary. You can take a vaporetto at almost any hour and reach the station. We like Ca’Angeli as a hotel and also Locanda La Corte as reasonably priced lodging its breakfast included.

Thank Laurel!

I think we will bring one checked bag with us. It might not easy to drag it to cross bridges.

We stayed at a great B&B - we loved it and will stay there again. It was super easy, they were so helpful - gave us maps, taught us about the Vaporetto, cooked us the most amazing breakfast, is close to one of the best restaurants in Venice - must get reservations and our B&B made them for us a couple months out - I just emailed them and asked them to. It is super close to the Vaporetto stop and NO bridges to cross. The B&B is Campiello Zen. The restaurant we loved was Osteria La Zucca. Know that 2 nights only gives you one full day, add more nights if you can. You don't have enough time to explore. Also be sure to download the Rick Steves app for Italy - there are so many free walking tours - be sure to do the Vaporetto tour he does - it is amazing - takes you around the whole canal. Must download before you leave the country, it's free, take your earbuds. We use that app all over Europe. His tours thru the cathedrals and Jewish areas are also great.

Hotel Ala is one hotel that doesn’t require you to cross any bridges from the vaporetto stop. We even saw our former RS tour guide there last time we stayed there!

Plus it’s a beautiful ride down the Grand Canal as you’re leaving in the morning.

The train station is a bit removed from the areas that you are likely to be visiting. I stayed in Cannaregio, at the Ai Mori d’Oriente, which was a good location, but quiet at night.

We easily wheeled our bags back to the bus station. It’s as quick walking as taking the vaporetto in many instances.

Two nights only means one full day there, so you want to stay somewhere south of the train station, I would suggest.

The area near the train station and the old Jewish area is actually a good place to stay. Also, very affordable.

hey hey happylife
what a nice trip to italy but my 3 cents is that you are cutting yourself short in venice. are you flying in from USA and what time is around lunch time? how are you getting to hotel from airport? (bus, train, vaporetto, private water taxi) giving yourself time to go thru customs/passport. you can only go as fast as the slowest person, carrying luggage over steps/stairs bridges. finding your way in unfamiliar territory, trying to settle in, have something to eat, walk around to stay up until evening, get a good night rest and some may be jetlagged in a fog and grumpy the next day. you are in high season with lots of tourists, the heat, busy and crowded. what sites do you plan to see amongst all the daytrippers, standing in long lines (being admission and security). i would take a day or two away from another place and add here, to really enjoy the magic of venice. look for A/C because of heat.
why would you leave so early in the morning next day? do you have early check in at florence hotel or bag storage? if not you will be pushing and pulling luggage thru uneven streets. checkin is usually 2-4pm, packing light is the key. everyone be in charge of their bags especially getting on and off trains. same scenario with rome with early train.
read europeforvisitors.com lots of information about everything. don't use rail europe, use trenitalia.com, italotreno.com or trainline.com i've used trainline, some rides may charge a small fee, use the italian name for stations (venezia SL, firenze SMN, roma termini, napoli centrale)
budget friendly in high summer season means what in euro budget, how many beds (2 or 3), rooms are usually small, mobility issues, may have steps/stairs to climb with luggage, no lift/elevator, private bathroom or shared,
you are moving around too much for me, it's your vacation. time to sit have a gelato, meal,glass of vino, sit and people watch, enjoy the ambience of italy, laundry day, relax. don't think you are adding in travel time, checking in/out, packing up, getting to train station and on board. your amalfi coast is over the top, look at a map and transportation with bus, train, ferries or private driver on two lane skinny road, hairy turns, high above the cliffs.
the posters here give you lots to think about and what is good bad and ugly. don't be in a rush and stress out, not worth it. have plan A ready, but do have Plan B to plan C if a change in plans.
don't want to sound to harsh, just want you prepared. have a fabulous vacation and enjoy.
aloha

Just my humble opinion, but an afternoon (an arrival afternoon at that) and a full day in Venice is really a certain recipe for hating Venice. Venice is not such an easy city to get around, what with bridges, difficult navigation and crowds. So with only really one day, you will experience the worst of Venice and not much of the best of Venice.
With regards to hotels, something near the station, Venezia SL, makes sense.

There seems to be a recurring theme to the advice being offered. Keep in mind how many bridges you have to cross to get to your hotel. When you choose a hotel go on Google maps and check how many bridges there will be from Piazzle Roma (where you probably will arrive at from the airport to) the hotel and how many from the hotel to the train station. Hauling luggage in Venice can be heavy lifting.

Even if you choose a hotel on the Vaparetto route hauling luggage on a loaded ferry is no joy at all and then there is still the issue of how many bridges to the hotel.

If you can I would try to find an extra day for Venice. It is extraordinary.
Venice https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/albums/72157671686432425

And since you are gong to Florence
Florence https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbr54/albums/72157671594102956

I have to respectfully disagree that 2 nights you will hate Venice. That’s is what we did (arrival Day 1 at 11:30 am, then one full day after). We loved it.

The best advice we received and I’ll repeat it was that 1) save St. Marks Square until the late afternoon/evening when the day trippers leave. Also, since it sounds like you like to get up early as we do, get up early the next morning and be back at St. Marks by 8:00. It’s quiet and magical that time of. Day. We did a Doge tour at 9:30. Amazing the crowds at 10:00.

2) after checking into your hotel, walk away from the crowded areas. (The center of the island). Within 2 blocks you will see a quiet Venice. That’s how we walked around that first day. Stopped to eat, walked where people lived, got lost (don’t worry, there are multiple signs to steer you back, it’s just a small island).

We also took the early morning train to our next destination. We like to get up and get going. We really enjoyed the train ride, I feel it’s part of the overall experience since we don’t have that here. One tip fir the trains.

If you can, put your luggage in the racks not right above you, but on the opposite side. That way you can keep an eye on them.

Please consider Hotel Al Ponte Mocenigo. It is not far from the train station, located just steps from the San Stae vaporetto stop. The back door is easily accessed with no bridges to cross with luggage. It is a charming hotel, and our double standard room had absolutely everything we needed. The breakfast provided is wonderful, and you can choose to eat it in the lovely open courtyard or in the quaint breakfast room. The staff is friendly and helpful. The tourist must sees are easily reached by vaporetto, but the back streets around the hotel held the best memories for us. Venice can be overwhelming with crowds, so escaping to the quieter area of San Stae is a welcome relief. We also took an early morning train out, so being closer to the train station for that early vaporetto ride was helpful. Enjoy Venice, and do go walking along the back streets. That's where the magic of Venice is!

We stayed at the Hotel Dalla Mora, in the Santa Croce district. Convenient to the train station. It is right on a canal and close to restaurants, shopping, and not as crowded. Good breakfast and nice staff.
https://www.hoteldallamora.it/english/home_english.html

We loved Hotel Olimpia. Only stayed 1 night between Cruise and early morning flight. Very short walk to train/bus/people mover and waterbus stop.