Traveling solo to Venice... suggestions

I stayed at the hotel ai do more. It was a number of years ago but the location was great. One street from st marks. Great area beside the McDonald (makes an easy landmark)

Wendy

While on the Venice, Florence, Rome tour, we stayed at the Pensione Guerrato near the fish market and Rialto. The location was good, hotel quiet - at least my room was. I arrived a few days early and was travelling solo. I would stay there again. There are numerous small restaurants in the area and small grocery stores.

All of the island of Venice is safe. We have loved Pensione Guerrato in San Polo as well as Casa Rezzonico in Dorsoduro. Have fun.

thank you all!

If I do this.... the part to figure out is: Venice before Salzburg.... or after Charmonix.

Venice is one of the safest places on earth. I've also stayed at the Hotel Ai Do Mori - very budget friendly and one block back from San Marco - however it's nowhere near a McDonalds so not sure where that came from.
If you are interested in this hotel, ask for the Painter's Room which is in a loft (lots of stairs) but has a private terrace with views over the domes of St Mark's Basilica. The bathroom in this room also has spectacular views of the basilica. This room is only 130 euro per night - very cheap for Venice.

Stayed at Pensione Guerrato several times. It's in a great location and I'll not hesitate to stay there again. If you decide to stay there, send me a PM and I can give you specific directions for a "back door" way to get there that will save a lot of time and walking to get to the hotel. Venice is a very safe place -- enjoy!

I've travelled in Venice as a solo female, and felt comfortable there day and night. Night is lovely - I hope you won't sequester yourself after dark.

I think it's probably easier to fly into Venice, then train to Salzburg and fly out of Geneva. That gives you a larger arrival airport. Also it seems that most departures from Venice leave early in the morning in a city that it's particularly difficult to get to the airport at that time. And it's a somewhat shorter, easier trip between Venice and Salzburg than from Chamonix.

Besides, Venice is a great place to soak up the atmosphere while you get over jetlag.

I've been to Venice 3 times solo. It's quite safe day or night. I've stayed in the Dorsoduro quarter and been very happy with it. It's quieter and more residential than other areas but still very close to sights and vaporetto (water bus) stops. The nicest place I stayed was La Calcina. Their current rate is pushing the upper limit for you, at €161.50/night prepaid, no refund. They raised prices considerably after I stayed there. This year I stayed at the Santa Marguerita Guest House. It's not quite a hotel, no breakfast, but there was a kitchen and some package foods provided, plus and electric kettle and minifridge in the room. The owner was very helpful. The high season rate (during Carnevale) was €90 for a single. I'd stay there again.

I would choose Venice to Salzburg as I am a fan of taking the train either directly to S or north through the Dolomites and Innsbruck and then to S.

I see there are two May dates for this tour. If you are signed up for the first one, you can actually be on site in Venice for a large annual event, the Vogalonga: http://www.carnifest.com/events/italy/venice/319/venice-vogalonga-2016.aspx.

I have not visited during this event, but if the dates align, it might be fun.

We stayed in Venice late Oct. 2015 at Hotel Mignon. Not fancy, clean and very welcoming, with a fine breakfast buffet. In late Oct. we paid 82euros. Lovely for walking. Close to water taxi's in the Cannaregio district. It's a great area away from the crowds, where locals live, eat and shop. Not issues with safety.

Wow.... thank you all so much!!!! This will be my first trip to Europe.
I think I'll go to Venice before Salzburg.

The Alpine tour I'm looking at starts on may 23rd.... but I'll want to get to Salzburg a couple of days before the tour starts because Ive ALWAYS wanted to see the city..... so, Ill be looking at possibility May 16th, 17th for Venice....
I don't know what day of the week, to fly international, costs less ( if there's such a thing )

Another question..... *Minimum days needed to enjoy Venice? ----- I'm thinking of 3 days.

Appreciate all the help!

Three days would be good for Venice, so you could have 2 1/2 days of actual time in Venice. Salzburg is a wonderful city, too. We were there again last September. Check out their Salzburg Card which gives you free entrance (after card purchase) to several sites and free use of their buses. Be sure to go up to the castle for some nice views of the city, and there's an elevator (covered by the card) near the modern museum which also has terrific views of the city. There's a small Christmas museum that I really enjoyed, too, along with the major items covered by the card. We stayed at the hotel, Altstadthotel Weisse Taube - fantastic central location.

Enjoy your trip!

Good choice. Do be sure to buy the Rick Steves' Venice book as it is chock full of interesting things to see and do, for all budgets. It will help you decide whether you might want to take a day trip to the islands of Murano, Burano, Torcello, for example. It will also help you avoid the very popular places at peak time (Ponte Rialto and Piazza San Marco, in particular).

Thank you.... Jean and Michael! Will do!

I would recommend 4 nights in Venice, so you have 3 full days. You'll be pretty limp on the 1st day and you'll need most of the 5th day just to get to Salzburg. 2 nights before the tour will give you almost 3 full days to see Salzburg - the day after you arrive, the day the tour starts (be back at hotel at 5 p.m. for meet-up), and the 1st day of the tour.

I was there in October for five nights and never felt unsafe day or night, and I walked around quite a bit at night. Theft might be a bigger problem but common sense takes care of that. Check out Locanda Fiorita, hotel off a small plaza. It's in San Marco near Piazza San Stefano, closer to the Accademia Bridge than Piazza San Marco. It was 80e per night for a single with shared bath, but the bath was only shared with staff so no problem waiting for a shower in the morning. 10 minute walk at the most (depending on how crowded it is) to Rialto and to San Marco, and less over to Dorsoduro. Desk staff speaks English and are happy to help with directions, etc. Just be aware that from their vaporetto stop (Sant'Angelo) to the train station can take about 40 minutes when it's busy. Unless you're on your way out of town with luggage, walking is better.

Agree with Chani about 4 nights in Venice, so that you have 3 full days there. That will also give you about 3 full days in Salzburg if you include the arrival day, the day the tour meets, and the day of the tour in Salzburg.

just my 2 cents:

• if you like crowds: stay between the train station and Piazza San Marco
• if you want to avoid crowds: stay east of San Marco

and my 2 cents.... if you have trouble with directions and finding your way in a city that does not have traditional "blocks", book a hotel VERY near a vaparetto stop or major sight. Each time I have been in Venice I wince when I see people wandering around with the suitcases trying to find their hotel. Many maps do not show the smaller calle. I think I have a very good sense of direction but even with a "Streetwise" map, I find often find myself saying "Well this is NOT where I expected myself to be". As much as I enjoy Venice for the ability to just wander the smaller calle and canals, I would not want to be searching endlessly for my hotel.
Edit: But, DO go. Venice is magical and safe. Ignore the street vendors!

Good point. Get clear concise directions from your hotel. Once you dump your luggage, then wander and get lost - it's one of the joys of Venice. You never get very lost - it's a small place.