Stay in Mestre. This is a suburb of Venice. It is only a 5 minute ride on the metro (one stop) into Venice and it only costs 1 euro. The hotels are half the price they are in Venice proper. Note.. ..if you stay at a hotel in Venice on the canals you might have to haul your own luggage to get there.

Mestre is not nice at all. If you can possibly manage the money stay in Venice proper. Otherwise you will be spending alot of time taking transprtation to Venice and back to Mestre. I have stayed in Mestre and in Venice and given a choice I would,of course, stay in Venice.I will be staying near San Marco for 3 days in May with DH. It is lovely to walk out your door and be right in the middle of things.If you get a little away from San Marco you should be able to find something reasonable. Check out tripadvisor and venere for hotel locations and reviews for hotels in Dorsoduro,San Palo,Santa Croce,Cannaregio. All will be a better price than hotels near San Marco. If money is not an object stay near San Marco.,. .
Max is correct though you will have to manage your luggage.I hope your hotel will be close to a vaporetti (water bus) stop.You won't have far to drag you suitcase.
Venice is my absolutely favorite city in Europe.It is magical.The first time I saw San Marco square deserted and lit up at night it took my breadth away!!

The vaporettos are an excellant idea. You can purchase a one day pass on line and pick it up at the railroad station in Venice. They limit sales to 30,000 per day so it is a good idea to purchase on line before you leave on your trip.

venice card and public transportation in venice italy
NEW FEES FROM 1ST FEBRUARY 2008 AS FOLLOW

WATERBUS - VAPORETTO




Vaporetto tickets : on sale at main boat stations. please remember to stamp your ticket at the boat stop.
(Remind to buy them in advance for evening or night trips):

60 minutes ticket (only one way, no return ticket):
1 person: 6.50 Euro
12-hours ticket:
1 person: 14 Euro
24-hours ticket:
1 person: 16 Euro
36-hours ticket:
1 person: 21 Euro
48-hours ticket:
1 person: 26 Euro
72-hours ticket:
1 person: 31 Euro
TARIFFA CARTAVENEZIA (residents/workers with Cartavenezia)

1,10 € - single ticket (75 minutes)
1,70 € - Bus + waterbus

Great info Max! thanks! I think we'll do the 24 hr pass.Do you have the web site?

Do you know if the vaporetto pass is good to go to Murano and Burano? We will be in Venice for 3 days so I hope to get to Burano and Murano as I missed those islands last time.

This website has all the info:

http://europeforvisitors.com/venice/art . .. .. . -fares.htm. .

Yes, the passes are good to go to Burano and Murano. We used ours and went to Murano.