Help with Venice Neighborhoods

Any of the three areas you mentioned would work. Venice is small and you can walk anywhere from anywhere in minutes. All "sestieri" (districts, i.e. 1/6 of the city) work.
http://www.walksofitaly.com/blog/venice/where-to-stay-in-venice-sestieri

Avoid the Giudecca (part of Dorsoduro), which is somewhat inconvenient.

I like one that is nearby to a vaparetto stop also. That way when I'm lost I just jump on the vaparetto and I know how to find my way back.

Our first 3 times in Venice we stayed at Al Campaniel B&B. Within a minute of San Toma vaporetto stop.
http://alcampaniel.tripod.com/

Our last trip (this Sept) we used this airbnb, a nice self catering apartment with kitchen (because my mom was with us and we needed a separate sleeping area)...was a minute walk from San Silvestro vaporetto stop, about a 5 min walk to Rialto, few restaurants right in the Sant Aponal square (we really enjoyed All Amarone http://www.allamarone.com/ )

Neither have canal views tho, but the price was in our budget, and the areas were VERY quiet at night.

(Sorry - I am having an issue with the airbnb site - it doesn't want to come up for me - I'll post a link later when it decides to work)

Just going to throw this out there- I think apartments are great- if you have more than 3 nights. We've done apartment rental in both Paris and Barcelona but for 7 nights each. Both times we were not able to even get into our apartment til late afternoon which was kind of a pain. We had a communication problem with the apartment owner in Paris, arrived on a very rainy day and it was not really a great start to our week there. Not that I assume those sort of things happen all the time- but it can happen!
If you plan to cook at all or just stock your kitchen a bit you have to spend that time shopping, figuring out the appliances, etc. If you don't plan to use the kitchen or laundry then I'd stay in a hotel.

We just returned from 18 nights in Italy- our first time to Italy- Iooked into apartments but in the end I decided that since we only had 3 nights in Venice, 3 nights Florence- we would go with hotel rooms. We were able to check in and get into our room at 11 AM at both locations. We liked that! Also liked that we had a 24 hour resource at the front desk- being new to a foreign city- it was sort of comforting.

Anyway- whatever you decide I would want easy access and to be near a vaporetto stop as well. I don't think you'll have any trouble finding gelato!

We stayed at Hotel Ala- close to all the sights but quiet at night.

Agree with Christine. I will never again arrive from the U.S. and rent an apartment the first day, because I'm dead tired, and want a shower, bathroom and a nap, and apartments and BnB's just aren't available until the previous guests have checked out and the place is clean. There is also no lobby, restroom, cafe, etc.

If Venice is not your first stop, then an apartment may work, but keep in mind, that an apartment is more trouble checking in and
checking out, because you need to get the keys, learn how to work the appliances, and all questions you may have during your
stay probably need to be asked upon arrival, because there's no front desk person. Upon leaving, the check out also takes longer, because in most cases, you pay the electric/power bill separately, and the landlord may need to read the meter, etc.

Now, having said that, I ALWAYS rent apartments when I'm staying 5+ days, because it is so much less expensive.

Re hotels if you change your mind, In Venice I also liked Hotel Ala and Hotel Bel Sito & Berlino.

Hi Diana---maybe I can help. We are your age, and have been to Venice twice, currently planning a third stay for a week next year.

The first time we went in April and stayed at Pensione la Calcina (in Dorsoduro) which was perfect--canal view room, rooftop terrace. We liked being in Dorsoduro.

Last October we returned and spent a full month, so we got a good feel of the neighborhoods. Our apartment was very close to Rialto bridge which is a very central location. I chose it because it had an Altana (rooftop terrace). We loved going up there with a glass of wine for the 6 pm bells all around. We exercised every morning by running the steps at Rialto bridge 12 times, early and before it got crowded. We walked everywhere---only bought one 12-hour vaporetto pass to visit the islands. We bought fish and vegetables at the Rialto market to make dinner almost every night, only going out a few times.

I am now looking at apartments for our next visit and have decided that there is no "best" neighborhood. Each has pluses and minuses.

Of the three you like, I would have to see the apartment before making a recommendation. As to location, Campo San Giacomo dall'Orio was my favorite campo in Venice for sheer beauty. It is well off the tourist path in a very residential area. ( not sure if this is San Polo or Santa Croce). We stumbled across the campo after visiting the natural history museum. I found this website which describes the vibe there:

http://europeforvisitors.com/venice/aerial/campo-san-giacomo-dall-orio.htm

Rialto is very central and may have more tourist traffic, but is close to the main sights. Dorsoduro is more removed from the tourist path but a walk across the Accademia Bridge puts you in the midst of everything. The Zattere is nice for walking (along the wide Giudecca canal) and the views from the point at the end (Punte del Dogana) are classic. I will probably look for a place in Dorsoduro for our next visit.

Basically, there is no "bad" neighborhood in Venice, unless you make the mistake of thinking Mestre is Venice ( but you have not done that). Everywhere is safe. But some of the edges, especially in Castello and Cannareggio, are so residential, they lack shops and restaurants. The three places you mention do not fall in that category; you should be fine with any of them (although I don't know anything about music in bars in the evening).

Note that a "bar" in Italy is not like a bar in the US. It is a small café that opens in the morning and stays open late, serving beverages from coffee to wine, and maybe pastries and sandwiches, mostly at the stand-up space. Some have some sit-down space, some do not. My husband got his morning cappuchino each morning at Bar Mulino across from our apartment. They had no seating at all, but great coffee and sandwiches. We would sometimes stop for an aperitivo at a place near la Fenice with outside seating (I'll have to look up the name) but still there was no music on offer. Some of the restaurants have music on certain nights---Paradiso Perduto ("Paradise Lost") in Cannaregio comes to mind.

Check out Locanda San Marcuolo. In many visits to Venice, this is the place I will go back to. Fifty meters from a vaporetto stop, quiet area, there's an elevator snd garden, breakfast is included. Near the station (buy a vaporetto pass) and the Ghetto, lots of reasonably priced restaurants and markets.

Actually Mestre is Venice.
It is within the city limits of the City of Venice.
Not suggesting to stay in Mestre, but is is part of Venice.

https://www.airbnb.ca/rooms/1683211

our airbnb in Venice

Thanks for the correction, Roberto. I assumed that since Mestre is not among the six sestrieri, it would not be considered part of "Venice.". But my assumption was wrong---not only is Mestre part of the City of Venice, but also the outlying islands (Giudecca, Murano, Burano, Sant'Erasmo, etc.)

Roberto, what's the term that should be used to refer to what probably most travelers think of when they say "Venice"? You know, the fish-shaped collection of islands?

@ Michael:

What you define as the fish shaped collection of islands most people think when they think of Venice is known to the locals as the "Centro Storico".

I know what you are thinking: "How didn't I think of that?". But sometimes the right answers are the simplest ones. :)

The sestieri are the 6 districts of the Centro Storico of Venice.

Check this article from a local paper on the decreasing population on the historical center:
http://nuovavenezia.gelocal.it/cronaca/2013/05/09/news/centro-storico-gli-abitanti-scendono-sotto-quota-58-mila-1.7023890

Thought I'd check back in & let everyone know that we decided on a hotel instead of an apartment since its only 3 nights in Venice. The name is Hotel Alla Fava, located on a canal near the Rialto (but not too close) - http://www.hotelallafava.com. It was a little bit pricier than the apartments I looked at but the location is excellent and so were most of the reviews, plus it includes breakfast. I booked a room with canal view. So we're all set as far as accommodations! Thanks for the info & suggestions.

I'd like to make a suggestion - which I try to make to most people going...if you are early birds (even if you aren't ) try getting up and heading out at 6:30-7am (breakfast can wait an hour til you get back) and head to Rialto and St Marks Sq and enjoy them almost people free. In '12 when hubby and I went, I made the poor soul get up at 6:30 and go out with me - he is the very definition of NOT a morning person, but he said it was a highlight. This year when we went back, my mom was with us, and she's more of an early bird then me, so both mornings we were up and out by 7am and back by 8:30 or so (to the thankfulness of my husband who was happy to be 'allowed' to sleep in). Usually by 10am, those are already getting crowded, so go and enjoy them before the mobs are out.

We just got back from a lovely stay in Venice. We found our apartment through VRBO ; it was property # 133919.The apartment was situated near Rialto Bridge and very central. Nothing is very far in Venice. Our apartment was in a quiet lane, near Campo San Polo & a 15 minute walk to St. Mark's Square. It had a new well equipped kitchen, laundry, and a modern bathroom. Our landlord Enrico was easy to work with and charming. That being said he took only cash. I am sure there are many charming places out there, but I do recommend this one.

We just got back from a lovely stay in Venice. We found our apartment through VRBO ; it was property # 133919.The apartment was situated near Rialto Bridge and very central. Nothing is very far in Venice. Our apartment was in a quiet lane, near Campo San Polo & a 15 minute walk to St. Mark's Square. It had a new well equipped kitchen, laundry, and a modern bathroom. Our landlord Enrico was easy to work with and charming. That being said he took only cash. I am sure there are many charming places out there, but I do recommend this one.

Diana---that is right around the corner from the apartment where we stayed a month last October. The location is indeed great. Hope you like it too.