Venice - Italy - page 281

on Campo San Maurizio, near Teatro la Fenice. Rooms vary somewhat, each with
a rather idiosyncratic color scheme, but they all have private bathrooms (choose
between a tub or shower), and amenities include air-conditioning, a minibar, safe,
and Internet port. Rates start at € 80 for two guests, and the maximum price
you'll pay is

€

120, depending on the season.

€€ - €€€ A lovely, modestly priced bed-and-breakfast near the heart of Venice
is B&B San Marco

5 9

(Castello 3385/L; % 041-5227589 or 335-7566555;
[e-mail]). It's just 3 years old, but word of mouth has made it a favorite
with travelers who prefer to avoid hotel banality and inflated prices. Guest rooms
are in the family home of Marco Scurati, on the third floor of a century-old apart-
ment building; the location is superb, close to the San Zaccaria vaporetto launch,
and an easy 6-minute walk to Piazza San Marco. All three rooms are spacious, but
fork out a little extra to have the largest room, with its terrace and views toward the
Scuole San Giorgio. Rooms have wooden floors, rugs, desks, antique chairs, and
wrought-iron beds; expect to pay between 110 per night, depending

on the season. Guest rooms share a bathroom, but unless you keep precisely the
same schedule as your fellow guests, this shouldn't be a huge problem. Marco will
go out of his way to help you with sightseeing and useful recommendations, many
of which will allow you to escape the tourist crowds. A basic breakfast (tea, cof-
fee, croissants, and toast) is served in the kitchen; there's also an extra fridge for
your own drinks and snacks.
Also available at B&B San Marco is a fully furnished self-catering apartment,
ideal for families or two couples traveling together (daily rate

€

70 and

€

180; weekly
rate € 600- € 950); this has two bedrooms, a living room, a bathroom, a dining
nook, a kitchen, and its own balcony. Decor is faintly 1970s, and here you have
your own television, DVD player, and library of information. There's a grocery
store just moments away, so you can stock up and put the kitchen to good use, just
like a real Venetian. The apartment shares a main entrance with the B&B; contact
details are the same.
ACCOMMODATIONS IN CANNAREGIO
Occupying the northernmost swath of Venice, Cannaregio stretches from the
train station, which is where many budget travelers prefer to stay because it saves
them from lugging their backpacks around. For me, the area around the station
and along tourist-intensive Lista di Spagna is without much appeal, while the rest
of Cannaregio—particularly west of Canale di Cannaregio—is lovely; this is
where many Venetians choose to live. Behind many of those weathered facades,
there's a great deal of restoration going on, testament to people's commitment to
maintaining Venice's historic charm.
Hotels near the Train Station
€€ If being right near the station is a priority, the Albergo Adua (Lista di Spagna,
Cannaregio 233/A; % 041-716184; www.aduahotel.com) offers a reasonable deal;
rooms here with shared bathroom go for around € 70, depending on the season.
Don't expect anything to write home about, but accommodations are relatively
large and have air-conditioning; breakfast ( € 6) is not included.

€

100-

€