Been There Done That Too... » Venice http://www.beentheredonethattoo.com Real Life Travel Advice and Tips From a Real Traveller Sun, 06 Sep 2009 00:48:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.1 en hourly 1 Vaporettos – Venice’s Water Bus http://www.beentheredonethattoo.com/venice-water-bus/ http://www.beentheredonethattoo.com/venice-water-bus/#comments Sat, 16 May 2009 08:05:40 +0000 admin http://www.beentheredonethattoo.com/?p=67 Without a doubt one of the biggest rip offs in Venice, Italy – their “Vaporettos” ie PUBLIC waterbus service.  Talk about gouging the tourists.  ONE TRIP – regardless of length, it can be 1 stop or 10 stops, is 6.5 Euros (approximately $8.5 – 9 US).  When compared to, oh, the 20 minute bus trip from Venice to the Airport which is a very reasonable 3 Euros, or the THREE DAY PASS (bus and metro) in Rome for 11 Euros it makes you want to bend over and grab your ankles when you hand them the money for the vaporetto ticket. This has got to be directed at visitors, they’re the only ones that don’t know how to walk to get where they want to go in Venice and ALL the guidebooks tell them to take the vaporetto because it’s so “easy” and “convenient”, and the water taxis are such a “rip off”… Locals also have a special card that gives them discounts on alot of stuff in Venice, my guess is they get a BIG discount on public transport… SHAME ON YOU VENICE!

]]> http://www.beentheredonethattoo.com/venice-water-bus/feed/ 0 Amadeus Hotel, Venice, Italy http://www.beentheredonethattoo.com/amadeus-hotel-venice-italy/ http://www.beentheredonethattoo.com/amadeus-hotel-venice-italy/#comments Sat, 16 May 2009 07:56:55 +0000 admin http://www.beentheredonethattoo.com/?p=66 After my recent trip to Venice I’m trying to figure out why all the guidebooks lead everyone to believe the area by the (SMN) train station is dangerous and a dump with seedy hotels…  It’s not.  In fact the Amadeus Hotel is a wonderful 4 star hotel less than a 5 minute walk from the train station (SMN). Which in Venice is important – you’ll either arrive by bus or train (I recommend the train, less stairs) and you have to lug your luggage to your hotel. The waterbus is a complete rip off (6.5 Euros PER TRIP PER PERSON even if it’s just one stop, and if you have more than 1 bag it’s even more!), the water taxis are even worse. By staying near where you arrive – you can avoid both!  Walk Venice, you won’t regret it. San Marco is about a 15 minute walk from the Amadeus (Piazzale Roma). Oh, they have a wonderful patio area that I’m sure is great in warmer weather.

The next time I’m back in Venice, I’ll be staying at the Amadeus again.  The area’s great too – nice restaurants and shops, and they’re all cheaper than what you’ll find near San Marco.  Oh – the “bad area” is actually next to the BUS depot… not the TRAIN station.

I got a wonderful deal on this hotel through Orbitz, I paid approximately $95 per night – and our room had a balcony with a nice cafe table. The rooms have great character without being too kitchy, and have all the amenities you’d expect from a 4 star hotel.

Check the Amadeus out click here

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