Venice: Stay in Mestre or inside Venice?

Stay in Venice! Venice is another city after the tourists leave. It is worth it! Since you are traveling with family, you might want to check out vrbo.com (vacation rental by owner.) They offer lovely apartments, but not sure for a two night stay.

Hi Dave - Absolutely stay in Venice and my suggestion for a Hotel - The Hotel Casanova , directly behind Piazza San Marco. Easy walk to Rialto for the markets, The Grand canal with all it's sights, vendors, and cafes, and, of course, the "Battle of the Bands" each night in San marco Square as the bands from Cafe Florian and Cafe Lavena compete for your attention. A Lot of Fun.
Dario and Stefano at The Hotel casanova take very good care of you - they have a very good , free Breakfast Buffet and, they will also give you free tickets to Murano and Burano by Water Taxi or Vaporetto.
Enjoy Venezia, Ciao, Greg

The place we were looking at in Venice that was only $100 more per night was a place called Hotel Alcyone which had good reviews, but the reviews for the hotel currently booked in Mestre (Al Vivit) has really good reviews.. I really cant decide if it's worth $200 more to stay in that hotel inside of Venice or not. Any more input?

Dave, your question is currently being discussed on another topic thread

go here to read that

Thanks.. I switched to a hotel in Venice for now that I saw a good deal on called Hotel Alcyone in Venice for only $30 more a night. I could always switch back though. Any experience with this place?

Stay in Venice!!! If you can afford it, the late night and early morning experiences in Venice are simply magical and impossible to put a value on.

If one is going to Venice,, one should stay in Venice,, there really is no comparision. Venice after dark is magical.. daytripper crowds thin out a bit, it becomes just nicer. Its only two nights right?!

Definitely in Venice to take advantage of evening strolls down quiet streets with the water lapping against the buildings.

Is there any reason why, if staying in Mestre, one could not be in "magical after-dark Venice" for a few hours before going back to Mestre to fall into bed? It is only for two nights, after all, and a lot of money can be saved to spend on dinner in "magical after-dark Venice".

Venice is a walking city. I found it quite nice to be able to duck into our hotel room for a cup of tea and relaxing break in the middle of the day. This decision probably won't make or break your trip, but in my opinion, the convenience of staying right in Venice and experiencing all it has to offer at all times of the night and day, is worth $30 more a night. I have been twice, and would always choose to stay right in Venice (even if I have to pay a little more). I just wish I could give you a first hand report on the hotel, but if you have checked it out on trip advisor, you are probably fine.

Norma, it's a myth that staying in Mestre saves you a lot of money. There are plenty of reasonably priced places in Venice proper (this board is loaded with them), plus you get the bonus of being able to go back to your room during the day for a little rest, if you want. And you don't have to worry about when the last train leaves.

That said, a part of me wants to encourage people to stay in Mestre so Venice won't be as crowded in the evenings for people like me who fell in love with the city. Heck, everyone (else) should just avoid Venice altogether. You know, it smells really bad and there are huge rats everywhere. And don't get me started about the mosquitos and the high prices. Yep, better to avoid Venice entirely. (^_^)

Michael, I know you are right. I have never stayed in Mestre, actually, only in Venice. I was just getting a little tired of the idea that the magical after dark stuff was not available to you if you stayed in Mestre.

I have stayed both in Mestre and in Venice. Personally I liked hotel in Mestre because it had air conditioning and was not eaten alive by mosquitoes in September. We stayed at Best Western Bologna Hotel. Mestre room was nicer than Venice and so was breakfast buffet. At breakfast one morning they brought a piece of cake with candle because one person in our group had a birthday that day. It was a surprise to us because no one arranged this(had to have been passport). Also while at breakfast they had blood orange juice when I commented on this because I used to live in Sicily server said just a minute she went and brought back fresh squeezed glass of blood orange juice.

Glad to see you switched to Venice! I had thought of also staying in Mestre, and was so glad I didn't. Venice has this magical charm to it that, to me, is incomparable. I can't wait to go back and spend more time there!

Stay in Venice. Stay in Venice.It is a far different city after 7 p.m. when most of the day trippers have departed. We stayed at the Hotel Abbazia in the Canneregio for 2 or 3 nights last year and the evenings were terrific. Venice is not cheap, but the experience is worth the extra cost.

Buon viaggio,

RB

I have stayed in both Venice and Mestre. Of course if money was no object I would def stay in Venice. If you can swing the cost no question stay in Venice, yes you could go back and forth but you will find that your eve/night will end much sooner. if you must go back to Mestre which can take about 1 hr from St Marks sq. with boat ride then bus to your hotel. magical is very magical thru eve and night, stay if you can.