Accommodations in Venice

After a 3-week tour (No. “CE-2”) of Central Europe in May ‘12 with Adventures Abroad (Blaine, WA; 800/665-3998), which was wonderful, my husband, Bob, and I flew from Prague to Venice on Air One ($100 for both tickets) for a 5-day stay.

We took a vaporetto into the city, getting off at the San Zaccaria stop. It was about a 3-block walk to our hotel, Locanda “Al Leon” (Campo Santi Filippoe e Giacome, 4270, 30122 Venice, Italy; phone +39 041 2770393, fax 5210348).

We were about a 5-minute walk from St. Mark’s Square, yet it was very quiet. We stayed in the Locanda annex, across from the main building, and the rooms were large, comfortable and very nicely decorated. The rooms had outside wooden shutters, which we closed at night. There was an air-conditioner, but we used it only in late afternoon.

The floor above ours had three rooms. We were on the second floor, together with the breakfast room and a very attractive deck/patio — a perfect place to enjoy some wine and several light dinners that we purchased at shops in the area. Including breakfast, the price was €150 (near $184) per night, which in Venice is definitely not overly expensive.

Since we needed to be at the airport by 7:30 a.m., we spent our last night, May 31, at the Park Hotel Annia (Via Triestina, 11, 30173 Tessera, Venice; phone +39 041 5415200, fax 5416620), which provided free shuttle service to the airport. We paid €120 ($158); breakfast was not included.

It is true that Venice is expensive and very crowded, but it also is unique and extremely beautiful. You will be hauling your suitcases more than you usually do, but if you pack lightly and try to avoid the main tourist attractions in the middle of the day when they are most crowded, I can almost promise that you will love Venice.

MARJORIE M. RHOADS
Sullivan, MO