Page 230 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Venice & The Veneto

228  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS

WHERE TO STAY

Venice’s enduring appeal to romantics while the mountainous north of the
and art lovers means that it has an Veneto is a year-round holiday destination
astonishing number of hotels for its size, with accommodation of all types. These
many of them in former palazzi. On the include self-catering farmhouses, idyllically
mainland, hotels and pensioni abound, situated and well-equipped campsites and
frequently housed in magnificent old even simple refuges for walkers. Budget
buildings. Those in the smaller towns options in the cities include self-catering
of the region are often run by families flats, hostels and dormitory-style
who take great pride in their hospitality. accommodation. For more information
Lake Garda is a long-established resort on hotels in Venice and the Veneto, see
area with many hotels to choose from, the hotel listings (pp232–5).

Where to Look
Unlike most other cities, Venice
has hardly any “undesirable”
areas. Hotel prices are sometimes
higher in the immediate vicinity
of the Piazza San Marco, but in
such a compact city areas such
as Santa Croce or Cannaregio are
never far from places of interest.
Addresses in Venice can be
immensely confusing (see p282),
but a map reference for each
hotel on the main islands is given
in the listings. These Street Finder
maps can be found on pp290–97.
Remember, if you are travelling
by car, you will have to pay stiff The picturesque Villa Cipriani in Asolo (see p234)
parking charges at the Piazzale
Roma car park or one of its sat­ but Verona’s are fully booked hotels close out of season for
ellite operations for the duration for months ahead in the summer maintenance or staff holidays.
of your stay in Venice (see p280). opera season and during the All reopen for Carnival and raise
Many of the hotels in minor Vinitaly trade fair in early April, their prices accordingly.
inland towns of the Veneto cater so it is essential to plan ahead. July and August are the most
primarily to business travellers, Further north there is more expensive months at the resorts
but visitors planning to explore choice. The hotels are geared along Lake Garda, and the
the region will find lovely villa to holiday makers, with lovely majority of hotels here close
and farm hotels dotted around gardens, swimming pools and over winter. In the Dolomites,
the countryside. Padua and sports facilities. Bear in mind however, both winter and mid­
Verona have a number of hotels, that Italians as well as foreign summer are high seasons, with
tourists holiday in the lakes skiers and outdoor enthusiasts
and mountains, so it is always flocking to the area; hotels close
advisable to book in advance. inbetween those peak times.
Single room rates are higher
than individual rates for two
Hotel Prices
people sharing a double room.
Venice is an expensive place By law all hotel rooms have
to stay and can hardly be said a card on the back of the door
to have a “low season” with the showing current rates. Booking
benefits of lower or negotiable on the Internet is the best bet
prices. It is difficult – but not to securing the cheapest rates.
impossible – to find a basic
double room for less than
€100. Occasionally you can find Hidden Extras
cheaper rooms from November Room prices include tax, but an
to February, when the weather additional tourist tax is levied on
The grandiose Moorish-style Hotel Excelsior is often superbly sunny but accommodation by all ltalian
on the Venice Lido (see p234) chilly. But remember that some local councils. In Venice it is
Pavement cafés lining the Riva del Vin by the Grand Canal in Venice

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