scouring the web for good deals on venice hotels, i’ve learned that if you are on a budget:

Lonely Planet Venice (Lonely Planet Venice) 1. do not go during the peak seasons, i.e., during carnival in february, and from the months of may til august. while hotel rates may be as low as €35 during winter months, the same room may jack up to more than three times during peak season.
2. book early. venice is one of the, if not THE, ultimate tourist trap in europe, and while there are a few “cheap” sleeps, these are quickly snatched. indeed, i have been to websites of some which are already fully booked for the may and june. that’s about half a year in advance!
3. if you’re staying long, consider getting a flat. their rates (minimum of 3 nights) can be cheaper. you take care of your own breakfast, though. verify whether the end-of-stay cleaning is included in the rates.
4. do not assume that hotel rooms have private bathrooms. especially in lesser-starred hotels, shared bathrooms are common. i have seen one funny ad for a “double room with canal view, without bathroom”, as if one compensates for the other, eh?
5. verify the location of the hotel in a map. if you want to be on walking distance or a short vaporetto ride to the sights and scenes, get a hotel within these sestiere, or quarters, of the city: san marco, dorsoduro, san polo/santa croce, cannaregio and castello. i was originally limited my hotel search in san marco, but i realized that as long as it is within these quarters, it cannot be more than half an hour away from piazza san marco.

the long and short is, i’ve booked a hotel. it had mixed reviews, and offers just a continental breakfast (which is probably just coffee and toast). but heck, if venice is as enchanting as they say, i don’t intend to spend my time indoors anyway!

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