I am looking for advice on where to stay for one night in Venice in July. We'll be arriving in the morning after a red-eye from New York, staying for one night, and leaving the next day by train to Trieste for our cruise embarkation. There will be five of us - myself, my parents, and my aunt and uncle. They are all in their late 50s/60s and reasonably mobile.
I'm considering staying near Venezia Santa Lucia for proximity to the train, but I'm also thinking about staying somewhere more touristy (closer to San Marco) and using the vaporetto to reach the station. My parents and I have visited Venice before, but my aunt and uncle want to explore the highlights in San Marco on that day.
Additionally, I'll likely be working remotely on US EST hours (3 to 11 PM in Venice) from the hotel, so I'd like to stay in an area where I can easily step out and enjoy the ambiance and people-watching during breaks or after work.
Any suggestions? We're aiming to spend under 450 euros per room for 2 rooms.