Lauren Tabbron shares her favourite things to do in Manchester
Jess Astbury regales tales of festivities in warmer climates.
Written by Jon Orr
When to go
The best time to plan your trip to Venice is ideally April – June, giving you the advantage of sunshine without the hustle and bustle of huge summer crowds.
Getting there
The key to holidaying in Italy, when coupled with a student budget, is to be on the ball with planning. It’s an age-old mantra, but booking in advance really will save you a small fortune. Take advantage of low cost airline deals and you could be jetting to Venice for around £100 return. Once at Marco Polo airport the next stage is getting to Venice itself, but that’s a problem that the airport’s shuttle service will easily solve for €2.
So, to put the economics into perspective: for your money, it adds up to about 3 alcohol fuelled nights out in Leeds. Not bad, eh?
Where to stay
Again, like with your flights, you’re going to have to book in advance to secure the best accommodation to suit your budget. By booking early you can easily source budget hotels for around €20 – €30/per night on the island itself, avoiding the inconvenience of basing your getaway on the mainland.
Daytime / Night-time
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways’ – Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Venice during the daytime can be a boisterous affair. The main arteries of the city, leading up to Piazza San Marco, can be swamped with tourists all eager to soak up the city's attractions. But, Venice has the unique luxury of its canals, offering an alternative mode of travel to Venice’s tourist heart and it’s an angle to the city that shouldn’t be missed. Do make sure you jump on a vaperato (think water-FTR, but with views worth looking at) for your Grand Canal cruise, avoiding the extortionate gondola prices at all costs, (there’s a reason the gondolier’s are decked out in gold jewellery, with rides costing up to €100!).
Once at Piazza San Marco you’re spoilt for choice, with highlights including the Doge’s Palace, the magnificent Basilica and taking the lift up the bell tower offers commanding views over the city. To beat the crowds you can book ahead on many of the main tourist attractions, and it’s recommended, as nothing beats strolling to the front of a huge queue. In and around these historical monuments are more things to see and do; with museums galore, celebrating Venice’s cultural and historical importance and of course the city wouldn’t be complete without its shops.
Food & Drink
Venice has the ominous title of being one of the most expensive places to eat out in Italy. But don’t let that put you off. You’ll no doubt adapt to the tourist minefield very quickly and it’s essential if you want to avoid paying charges even before you’ve so much as glanced at a menu. By navigating your way into the sleepy side-streets, Venice will provide you with countless hidden gems that offer affordable prices to satisfy your appetite.
Taking the plunge off the beaten track pays off in dividends as you get caught up in the whole unique Venetian experience: a living, breathing, watery jigsaw of a city, consisting of 117 small islands, intricately pieced together with an assortment of bridges – where else in the world could you find this?
The bottom line…
Planning ahead is essential to save a student budget from spiralling out of control. Low cost airlines combined with the indispensable hostelworld couple to provide an affordable stepping stone into the heart of Venice.
Forget the classic Valentine’s options of chocolate, flowers and soppy love poetry. You and your Valentine could be planning a getaway to one of the world’s most romantic cities. And the void left by the chocolate and flowers? Let the Venetian ambiance fill the gap instead. Simple. Who said romance was dead, eh?
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