What an interesting place! Historic, fascinating and vibrant. When you first step into the Grand Canal, you can’t help to try and keep up with the hustle and bustle of what’s going on. There are so many moving parts to Venice- it’s like organized chaos!
You feel as if you’re on a set of a movie, with boats, gondolas and people moving in all sorts of directions. If you were to look down on the scene from above, it would be like one of those ant farms you had a as a kid.
It still amazes me how this city was built on water with only oak and pine wood pilings. Over the years Venice has kept it’s character and personality, but unfortunately the prices haven’t been so nice.
It still amazes me how this city was built on water with only oak and pine wood pilings. Over the years Venice has kept it’s character and personality, but unfortunately the prices haven’t been so nice.
Expect to pay $10-15 euro for a simple meal for lunch and $20+ for dinner. I recommend you stay away from ST Marks Square for eating and shopping; the further out you go from the main hub the cheaper it gets.
We’re even starting to see more and more “Made in China” souvenirs, so if you’re a mask collector, watch out for non-local made products! The fake designer bags have even found their way to Venezia.
Venice, Italy is definitely a place you need to see at least once in your lifetime. Enjoy a gelato, sample an authentic pasta dish and take plenty of pictures! You seriously can’t take a bad photo in this place. Everything seems picture perfect.
I highly recommend you get lost in the narrow streets and alleys. If you have time, don’t worry about a map! You will always eventually run into the Grand Canal (the center point) of Venice island at some time or another. So get lost and have an adventure! Venice is the best place for this.
Lanai’s Travel Club does this trip once a year; so if you are interested, send us an email! We need 12 people to make it happen, so invite your ‘Ohana and friends and make this a once in a lifetime type trip. We have a great layaway plan in case you’re a baller on a budget. Don’t wait till you can’t see or walk anymore to travel, come and LIVE life with us!
Lanai’s Quick Tips & Facts about Venice:
- Public water taxis are about $7 euro one-way.
- Private water taxis, (the cool brown boats) are $70 euro one-way. But you can take these taxis as far as the canal will go.
- Center point or meeting point is the Roma bus station at the beginning of the canal.
- If you are a coffee fanatic, try the Illy, or my favorite the Lavazza. You won’t find Starbucks here.
- Wear good running shoes.
- I highly recommend NOT staying on Venice in the hotels unless you have a boat or can afford water taxis. It’s expensive and a pain in the ass (pardon my French) to lug around luggage on cobble stone roads, over bridges and across water.
- I always stay at the Antony Hotel between the airport and Venice island.
