Venice on a budget
The beautiful city of venice is not just one of the most expensive cities in italy, it is also one of the most expensive vacation locations in the entire world. here are great money saving tips to make a budget stretch further while visiting Venice.
Getting Around Venice
Transport is actually cheap as long as you stay away from Venice's water Taxis and Gondolas. The network of water busses will get you anywhere, and if you have bought a three day/72 hour ticket (cost 22 euros in December 2005) you can jump on an off these regular boats to your heart's content. Just stamp your ticket the first time you use it.
The tickets are also valid for the three points across the grande canal where the only way to cross is standing up on a stripped down gondola, so you CAN have a gondola ride, even on a budget.
Eating on a budget in Venice
Most trattorias sell very filling sandwiches which will fill you for an entire day. Stay away from the one's closest to St Marks Square where the prices are highest.
Eat and drink standing up. It is considerably cheaper to eat at the bar than to sit at the tables.
Learn at least some words of Italian. A simple friendly 'boungiorno' and some attempt to communicate in italian no matter how clumsy may make someone who was thinking of a high price bring it down by a little.
Buying gifts in Venice
If you want to buy some of that hand-blown glass, then get it from the factory showrooms on Murano Island and not on mainland Venice. The prices on Murano are usually 15% to 20% less.
For the Best view in Venice take a slow Vaparetto ride along the entire length of Venice's Grand Canal, which is lined with amazing palazzos all the way from St Mark's to the Station.
Getting great Photos of Venice
Ok, so not everyone is David Bailey, but as you can see I managed to take at least one great shot with a cheap camera. So if you don't take any good photos, you can cheat. If you want a high res copy (free for non commercial use) of this view of the Gondolas on the Grand Canal, just click here.
Chris Brown 2005-06
