Venice Alternatives

[fruby]

hello,

My wife and and I are on a RCCl cruise that leaves from Venice on 10/29/2006. Rather than stay in Venice, we would like to spend three or four days in a less touristy part of northern Italy. I am not anti tourist and I understand that Venice is not to be missed but we do want to see and experience aspects of Italian life away from the tourist places.

Any comments on Padua, Verona, or any other city with a two hour train ride of Venice (hotels especially) would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Fred

[Uwe]

Hallo fruby,
Verona is a touristic city too. There is the world famous Arena di Verona. Nearby i can recommend the hotel "Guiletta e Romeo"
Link: http://en.venere.com/hotels_verona/citta_antica/hotel_g...romeo.html?ref=30963

Padua is a university city, not far from the river Po.
Uwe

I would prefer Venice; and if you hate to live inmiddst tourists, go to the LIDO. Its is Venice too, but there a only few foreign tourists, mainly italians for their holidays at the sea. Highly recommended hotels directly situated at the beach. And if you want to go to the city, take a waterbus (vaporetto).
Uwe

[jeanieym]

Hi -

We spent 4 days in Venice, and we took a day trip to Padua on the train. It was a very nice escape from Venice, and we had plenty to fill our day. I would recommend going there for at least a partial day or maybe even an over night.

There were a lot of students, which didn't bother us, but they were loud at the restaurant and bar we visited.

Happy travels!