Last minute plans for Venice - Where to stay one night?

Patty, everywhere in Venice "proper" is within easy walking distance to everything else. For accomodations, try venere.com, which is a very user-friendly site to help you search based on what you define as "not too expensive". You can further research your choice(s) by looking for user reviews on tripadvisor.com.

I was hoping to stay in Venezia proper for under 200€ a night. All the prices I see are much more .

A lot depends on time of year. We went in October, and called Hotel d'Art (I think one of Rick's recommended hotels) the morning before we arrived. We ended up with a decent apartment not far from Rialto bridge for a decent price. In high season (including September), I'm not sure I'd go without reserving something. Not everywhere does online reservations so some phone calls may net you a decent place at a good price.

We are planning on going next Saturday.

Patty, using 9/25/11 as the date on venere.com, I found more than a few that are less than or around 200 euro for one night.

Carrie, but they are not in Venice - I see some in Lido ... Is that what you see?

I tried again and came up with Santa Croce hotel - is that a decent hotel?

Residenza Ca' San Marco looks nice. Last room at $221 US dollars.

Locando Antico Fiore looks nice, too! $240-$280 us dollars, last rooms. Patty, are you finding them as well and am I looking under the correct date (9/25/11)?

I was planning on staying Saturday the 24th and checking out on the morning of the 25th.
I did plug in the 25th as a date and there are so many more options :o(

Hotel San Giorgio, $222 US dollars, good reviews! Good luck, Patty, I know you will find something!

What frustrates me about veneer.com is that i get different results every time I do a search with the same parameters. Very odd.

Oh, I see the problem. You could consider staying in the Mestre area, which is a short and cheap bus ride across the causeway. Hotel Venezia looks great and is very inexpensive. Since it is just a day trip, you only have to make the journey once each way. Food for thought.......

Just to throw one more wrench into things............ When I was trying to make reservations on the hotel websites using their online "availability request" link, I found that many were unavailable, even though it was many months in advance. I took the time to email a whole group of hotels directly, rather than using their online reservation system and SURPRISE, received emails (from about half) in response that they DID have rooms available. So, persistence does pay off. Maybe send direct emails (do one large email by blindcopying all of the recipients) to as many hotels as you think are in your price range, a request for availability. You may get a hit or two.

Forgive me, Carrie, but I have to strongly disagree with your advice to stay in Mestre. Much of the charm of Venice is being able to wander around in the evening or early morning. Unfortunately you're looking at a date that's coming up so soon that your options will be limited. Good luck and happy travels.

Michael, if there are no rooms available in Venice proper in the price range of the OP's budget, then what is she supposed to do? Not go to Venice at all just because she can't wander around in the early morning and late evening????? Sorry, but that's ridiculous. If you are going on short notice, you have to take what is available, even if it is in Mestre. I'd rather stay in Mestre than not go at all, if my budget didn't support $400+ per night.

hi Patty, try La Chicca B&B. They reply very promptly to emails, and if they are full they might recommend another B&B to you. I was there in summer and despite rave reviews on tripadvisor, not all its 3 rooms were occupied. This past summer I emailed a few B&Bs to check availability and one or two which were already full, recommended other B&Bs.

Patty, I had the same problem and could only find a hostal called Youth Venice Home in a decent price range in Venice itself. Doesn't look too fancy but it's a place to stay. Single is 80 euros, I'm staying next Friday night.

Thank you everyone fir the help - I was able to book a room finally.
There were several double rooms available at the hotel I booked at, and when I went back to look later they were all booked up! Elaine, We will be in Venice at the same time! Thanks again for the help!