venice

When is the trip?

Are you traveling solo?

What is your budget?

We will be visiting in the fall of 2016. 6 people will be visiting.

Nigel asks a great question. Assuming you don't care about budget consider these:

The Bauer
The Gritti Palaca
Hotel Monaco
Hotel Danieli

Have a drink at Harry's Bar, Hemingway's hangout.

Tireste (no one goes there but it has one of the greatest piazza's in Italy, and I think the largest). Padua and Ferrara are close and you could go to the mountains, Bolzano or Ampezzo for example.

With 6 people you might consider renting an apartment if you are going to be there 3+ days. Many rentals have a minimum stay requirement because they are run by individuals. Just be aware that many of the buildings do not have elevators so there could be more stairs involved than at a hotel.

Almost every hotel is on a canal or near one. For other towns nearby, Verona is lovely.

I think the previous poster meant Trieste, which is beautiful, but closer to Benezia are Verona and Padova. Take a look at a guidebook for Northeastern Italy, it will help address what is of interest to you. An apartment or two would be fine, but if this is your first trip to Itsly, perhaps a hotel can have more services for you.

You can google "Veneto wine tours" for suggestions nearby - you are in Prosecco country.

My advice is buy Rick's Venice guidebook - terrific and detailed info about Venice and nearby islands plus detailed descriptions of sites in Padova, Vicenza and Verona - three marvelous towns within short train rides from Venezia. Scrovegni Chapel, one of the most famous art sites in Italy, is in Padova, plus a famous university. The town is fun and full of young people.

It sounds like this is your first trip to Venice. So I'm going to toss in some opinions that contradict your request but may be helpful.

Venice is not a good base for day trips. Unless you are staying very near the train station, it will take you a long time to get to and from it. The only ways to get around are by water (either very slow or very expensive) and on foot, and it's easier to get lost on foot in Venice that to walk in a direct path, especially for a 'beginner.'

St. Mark's Square is crowded and touristy. Many people prefer to stay in a quieter area, like the Dorsoduro. Nothing in Venice is far. To give you an idea, look at La Calcina.

When we stayed in Venice, we went to Padova. There is quite a few things to do, so if you are not planning to stay overnight there, make sure you leave to Padova in the morning.
The University is a must there, but make sure you see it with a guided tour.
More info here:
http://www.unipd.it/en/university/cultural-heritage/visiting-university/guided-tours-palazzo-bo
Also Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padova is not to be missed.