We had wonderful weather, sun and blue skies every day after a morning haze that lifted by 10am, daytime temps in the mid to high forties except for on the last day, when it was in the high thirties, and cold. We dressed appropriately and were completely comfortable being out all day. Because it's on, I mean in, the sea, it doesn't get as cold in the winter as, say, Paris. The guidebook "Venice for Kids" that I posted a link to was one in which is said that the best times to visit Venice are November, December, January and February, because the rest of the time there are crowds and long lines for everything. When we go back, we'll go in late Jan or early Feb again.
Hotels are of course much cheaper, and more available, in the off-season. We saw lots of college age kids walking around with their backpacks looking for good deals in the no-star or one star hotels, and undoubtedly getting them.
I'd suggest you sign up for email notifications from Gate1. "Click to subscribe". Though I don't like any as much as the pkg we got:
gate1travel.com
Below are the packages listed in their most recent email. But we've stayed in plenty of pensions and no star hotels when we're paying for them, and as long as they're clean and warm in winter that's fine. But then we've also stayed in mud huts with thatch roofs with disconcerting rustling sounds issuing from the thatch, not to mention no indoor plumbing, so maybe our standards are shot.
The hotel our 399. + taxes package offered was three stars and lovely, though. The bathroom was absolutely palatial.
In late February, Carnival starts, so prices rise in Venice then.
7 Days Rome From $569
Includes r/t airfare from NYC and hotels.
based on Domus Sessoriana Feb 27, Mar 06, 13, 2003
8 Days London, Paris & Rome From $879
Includes r/t airfare from NYC, hotels and first class rail.
based on Plan C Feb 23, Mar 02, 09, 16, 23, 2003
8 Days Simply Italy Escorted Tour From $999
includes r/t airfare from NYC, first-class hotels, and transfers.
based on Mar 07, 2003
9 Days Italy by Rail From $999
Includes r/t airfare from NYC, hotels and first class rail
between Venice, Florence, Rome.
based on Plan C Mar 06, 09, 2003 |
