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Low budget in Venice

Venice on a small budget

Hello, my name is Claire. I’m a Dutch employee of Hostelsclub.com, working at the train station in Venice. I help you book last minute low budget accommodations in Venice and anywhere else.

As a worker in the train station in Venice, I see the scared faces when you hear places to sleep will cost you at least 25 euro p.p. Some of you doubtful whether or not to stay and see Venice.

My advice is stay! Venice is one of a kind! A once in a lifetime experience! So it would be a shame to miss out over a few Euros. Despite the accommodation being slightly more expensive than the rest of Italy, there are many things in Venice that you can do for free or on a small budget!

Here are some of my tips:

You can visit as many churches as you like for free! Some of them are really beautiful, like the Basilica San Marco on the San Marco square. If you want to have a panoramic view on Venice you can either go into the tower on the San Marco square but for the ones of you, who want to experience the same for less, go to the Island San Guglio and only pay 3 euro to go up the tower (church) and enjoy the amazing view.

When going for drinks avoid the touristic places, but instead, go into the small alleys and see the other side of Venice. Order a Spritz the local Venetian drink with prosecco/ sparkling water and Aperoll. If you stand you will only pay 2 euro for a drink, when you sit the price will go up. Go to Campo Santa Margarita on a Thursday night and you can enjoy free live music, order a pizza at the take away and eat on a bench, it is the student ritual so you know it will be good and cheap.

Feel like having a swim, go to the beach on the island of Lido, take your towel instead of hiring a bed and relax for the day on the beach. During the summer months this year (2009) we have the Biennale art festival (held every two years) many countries have their own stand which represents their country. You can visit most stands for free; some of them are quite amazing.

Late afternoon you could go to the supermarket buy a bag of crisps and a bottle of wine head over to Zattere, this is the perfect place to sit and have a drink and see the huge cruise ships come by. Don’t want to spend money for lunch in a fancy restaurant? Go to the supermarket buy a melon some Parma ham and bread and go to the park at Santa Elena.

Bring good walking shoes, so you don’t have to spend money on the waterbus to bring you to all places. Book a hotel which has breakfast included this safes you money in the morning, if you are not the real big breakfast type go into any small café order a café and brios (croissant) make sure you stand at the counter to drink your coffee and eat otherwise you’ll pay double the price!

For you ladies who always have to go to the bathroom go into a café order a café (espresso) and use the toilet after, this will cost you the same as going into the toilets for tourists and now you get a café with it!

Always dreamed of going on a Gondola ride but your budget does not let you? Take the local’s Gondola, the Traghetto, which takes you from one part of the island to the other for 50 cent. The ride is only a few minutes but gives you an impression on the real thing. You can catch the Traghetto at the Rialto fish market. Also this is a nice place to go in the early morning, to see the fishermen sell their fish. There is also a fruit and vegetable market here if you feel like you need some vitamins during your holiday.

Feel like going out for dinner in a restaurant but don’t want to spend too much; eat a pizza or pasta this is always cheaper then meat or fish. Check for the restaurants who don’t charge you a cover charge (a fee you pay for simply sitting down).

Haven’t convinced you yet? Check out these hostels and book now!

The views expressed in this article are the view of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Hostelsclub.com.

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