Venice or Naples?

I would look into Naples a bit more, a few weeks ago they had an ongoing trash strike and it is piling up on the streets. Not too picturesque!

Have you tried the Lido (island just a short vaporetto trip from Venice) or Venice Mestre (the mainland town just a few minutes by train from Venice)? At Venere.com, look up Venice lodgings and you can sort out these options. Lots of people like Lido, and Mestre is convenient, but lacks Venice's "atmosphere." It tends to have less expensive lodging. Both Lido and Mestre have motorized traffic, so are noisier than Venice. If there is a choice and time-convenience isn't most important, I would choose a room in the Lido.

I'd have to vote for Venice. I just loved it and it such a special unique place. Swan's suggestions are good and have you tried venere and trip advisor web sites?

Definitely Venice unless you have time to explore the Amalfi Coast - then it's worth a look. But you'd need at least 3-4 days to make it worth the trek down there.

Venice is always crowded and expensive but well worth it. I would not recommend staying in Naples, but Sorrento. Sorrento makes a great base to visit Naples, Pompeii, Capri, and the Amalfi Coast.

Carolyn when are you going & have you contacted all RS recommended accomodations in Venice? We stayed in a great RS recommended place & if I can help further just pm me.

Try the Hotel Arcadia. It is reasonably priced, clean, great staff and good size rooms. They are located in the Cannereggio(Spelling??) section of Venice. Nice area, working mans area. Good luck.

I'd also choose Venice over Naples any day--even if the hotel you end up with isn't ideal.

This is like comparing apples to oranges. Naples is ok, but Venice is fantastic!

In July we landed in Naples and could not get out of there fast enough. The trash and resulting fires created an awful site and stench until we were well south of Pompeii. Thank goodness it did not affect Sorrento or the penninsula at all.

You don't say when you are going or for how long. If you can not find a room in Venice try Sorrento and surrounding areas. We stayed in Massa Lubrense and it was perfect. http://www.francischiello.it/index.htm

opinion, both are very enjoyable! Venice is one of a kind, but it is very touristy and in a way reminded me of Disneyland, just not authentic. Go to Murano and Burano for neat day trips. If you want culture, tradition, and experience of authentic Italy go down south. Naples has so much to offer, the people are more inviting, locals reach out you and stop their day to help you more than anywhere else we traveled in Italy. You become a Neapolitan. Have the best pizza in the world at Da Michele's. If you like the ancient world, explore the archaeological museum with the best treasures from Pompeii, go to Pompeii, Pastuem, and the Almalfi Coast-incredible. We read about how crime is so bad in Naples, but we had no problems, just don’t look like a tourist. The further south you go, the more you are welcomed and become apart of the culture, which gives the best stories and memories.

Carolyn, that all depends on where else you're going to be and how you're planning on getting from point A to point B.

We just returned from the Almalfi coast. Loved it. Pompeii is unbelievable. Sorrento is gorgeous. I'd stay in Sorrento and do day trips to Sorrento and Capri. It is beautiful. We were on a cruise so don't know what to recommend to you as to where you stay. Spent one day in Venice in May. It was enough for me as it is very crowded. If you have the time, do the Almalfi coast.

Venice. Most definitely. It's not ALWAYS crowded. At least it wasn't in late September/early October. It also wasn't hot. Or smelly. Rather pleasant I must say.

Naples. Noisy. Crowded. Dirty. But in its defense, I was only there a few hours (on our way to Capri) and found out later that we just missed the really nice parts. I'll give it another chance next time, but until then...

I vote for Venice.

I'd definitely stay in Venice and concur that you can probably find rooms on Lido. Don't stay in Mestre-- too industrial and too far away. There are vaporettos from Lido to San Marco and other Venice destinations on a regular basis, and it's not that far. If you decide to see Naples instead, stay in Sorrento rather than Naples. Although there are definitely things to see in and around Naples, the city itself is very crowded, noisy and intense. Sorrento isn't far away and you can see Pompeii on the way.

Hello and thanks to everyone who responded to my "Venice or Naples". We went to Venice, stayed at a little inn, Locando San Giovanni e Paulo, and had a great time. We did find it touristy but that was expected since it has been a tourist spot for 400 years! I will definitely save the information all of you sent regarding the Naples area for the next time. Thanks again...Carolyn