Let's Connect!

...

Wednesday, September 9, 2020

10 Cheap + 5 Free Things To Do In Venice

While we aren't traveling, we're trying to keep our wanderlust at bay by doing our own destination staycation date nights.  We're very adamant about being responsible travelers, and right now that means not traveling at all. We still want to travel though, so we've gotten creative. 


This gives us a great chance to start looking at things we want to do when it's safe to get out in the world again (and we're not bound by travel restrictions). Since we "went" to Venice last date night, I decided to pull together a budget traveler list for the city for your next trip. You'll probably spend a lot of money going on a gondola ride and eating decadent pasta and seafood dishes, so figure out what else to do to balance out your budget.

10 Cheap Things to See/Do

  1. St. Marks Basilica - There are a lot of churches to visit in Venice, many are free (donations encouraged), so why not visit the most famous? It's usually very busy and you will not have much time to see it all. You will pay a small fee to see the museums, which are highly recommended. You will have more time to visit these parts. Make sure not to miss the Pala d'Oro. 
  2. Pala d'Oro - Don't miss seeing this golden, bejeweled casket of St. Mark, located in the middle of the Basilica. Price for viewing is just 2 euros.
  3. Vaporetto Tour - This ferry boat is one of the best ways to see the city and other places. Rates are only €7.50 each way, but if you want to do more with it, purchase a day pass or a multi-day pass. 1-day passes are €20, 2-day passes are €30, and 3-day passes are €40, or a 7-day pass will run you €60. which saves you quite a bit. Below are some of the great areas you can visit that are included in your Vaporetto pass.
    1. Lido - Enjoy the beach while in Venice. This is an 11-km-long barrier island. Of course the beach is not the only thing there. More than 22,000 people live there, so check out these top activities.
    2. Burano - Spend a half or whole day on this sweet little island that's full of gorgeous photo ops. This is also where to eat better than anywhere else, because it's a fisherman's island. Check out what to this island has in store for you.
    3. Murano - If you've heard of Murano glass, then you already know some of what you're going to see. This island is more quiet and laid back, so you don't need to spend an entire day here, but it's still worth the visit. 
  4. Ca' d'Oro - Also known as Palazzo Santa Sofia, this palace on the Grand Canal is called the Golden House. The house has been turned into a museum, and you can tour the house and balconies, which give awesome views of the Canal. Admission is €6. 
  5. Scala Contarini - The snail staircase attached to the palace of Gioielli Nascosti di Venezia is free to see from the outside, but if you'd like to walk up them and also visit the exhibits, you'll have to pay an admission. It's just €7.
  6. Sample a bunch of gelato - There's no better way to cool off on a warm day than ice cream, but substitute gelato, which has a higher sugar content, and you'll enjoy a chill pick-me-up. Pair it with an espresso and pour over for an affogato. 
  7. Have coffee at Correr Cafe - Instead of sitting in an overpriced cafe in St. Mark's Square, have a coffee and snack at the cafe in the Correr Museum for quite a bit less, and still be able to people watch if you grab a window seat.
  8. Fenice Opera House tour - Tickets to the opera can be really spendy. If you aren't interested in going to one (I wouldn't blame you, because I'm not a fan of opera), or can't afford a show, for just €11, you can take a tour of this stunning building that dates back to 1792.
  9. Basilica Santa Maria della Salute - This church is special, as it was built by Plague survivers for the Virgin Mary, and has graced the skyline for over 300 years. The central dome inside is astonishing and covers six side chapels. Don't forget to take time to look down as well, because the floors are equally gorgeous. Admission fees are just €4. 
  10. Burano Lace Museum - Located in (surprise!) Burano, the lace museum has over 100 pieces of lace to showcase the amazing handcrafted patterns done by artisans. Learn all about the history of lace-making. The museum is located within the lace school, which has revived this age-old tradition that was on its way to becoming lost. While not for everyone, I still feel like €5 for admission is a pretty good deal.

5 Free Things to See/Do

  1. Rialto Bridge + Market - Though these two aren't right next to each other, I think they go pretty well together. The Rialto Bridge is the most iconic bridge in Venice, which amazing views of the Canal and the gondolas. Less than 1/4 mile away is the indoor market, where you can browse some of the local fresh foods and maybe pick up food for a picnic or to have in your room, to help you save a bit on going out.
  2. Museo della Musica - This deconsecrated church is now a museum of musical instruments and Baroque music.
  3. Walking tour - Like many cities, Venice also has free walking tours of the city for tourists. Make sure you tip well if you enjoyed your tour though, because these guides work for tips, plus it's just polite. It'll still be much cheaper than a traditional city tour.
  4. Orsoni Colour Library - If you are interested in Venetian glass, the Colour Library has the only glass oven still operating in all of Venice, while visits are free, you do have make reservations in advance, so make sure you plan ahead, because they are only open certain days. You'll also need to catch a boat to get there.
  5. Libreria Acqua Alta - This library has used, out-of-print, and antique books, plus furniture made out of books. Because it has suffered constant flooding, it has resorted to using creative shelving, like gondolas and canoes and bathtubs, to hold their selection of second-hand tomes.

Bonus tip for a budget visit: Instead of spending a small fortune on a regular gondola ride, take a traghetto instead. That is basically a water taxi that crosses the Grand Canal, but in a larger gondola to hold more people. This will only cost 2 euros per person. 

I hope everyone is keeping safe and happy and trying to channel their travel dreams in other ways. Don't forget that if you're still working, this is the perfect time to save for your next big trip, whenever that may be. A lot of people are planning overseas trips for the beginning of the year, but I wouldn't look any sooner than July or August. For more pandemic and staycation ideas, you can scroll through the blog archive (on the right sidebar) or check out my Coronavirus Travel board on Pinterest.


Where will your next dream vacation take you?
0 comments

Saturday, September 5, 2020

It Might Be A While Away, But That Means More Time To Plan Your Next Trip

Due to the pandemic, it might be a while before you feel like it is safe to travel again. We know that this isn’t ideal, but it does mean that you have more time to plan! The good thing about this is that you know when you do get back out there and start seeing new places again, you’re going to have the most amazing time imaginable. So, in this post we’re going to be looking at some of the things that you should consider when it comes to your next trip! Keep reading if you want to find out more.


Sort Out Your Budget

The first thing that you should always do is plan your budget for the aforementioned trip. You need to know how much you have in total to spend on the holiday, how much you are willing to spend on the hotel, how much you’re going to be looking at in flights and then a reasonable amount of money to take with you while you’re there. When it comes to budgeting, it can be easy to overlook certain details, but that’s why you’ve got to be extra vigilant. As soon as you know how much money you’re going to have left after the hotel and travel, you should split the remainder between the days that you are there. Try to include some kind of luggage storage options in your budget as well, at least for the last day when you want to carry on exploring before your flight!

It’s important to understand that just because you have this amount of money, doesn’t mean you actually have to spend it all. It’s okay if there is a little bit leftover at the end of the trip, you can always convert it back.


Who Is Going With You?

Who is coming with on your next trip? Are you going alone? Are you going with your friends? Does your family want to come? Is it a romantic trip between you and your partner? You’ve got to figure this out, so you know who is going to be traveling with you. It might not seem important now, but imagine if you’re going to book the trip in a couple of months time, you’re excited for what you’ve planned and then someone decides to add themselves at the last minute. This could be a nightmare for you.

Finally, you’ve got to choose a destination. If you’re not sure where to go, a good idea is to get a globe, close your eyes and then spin the globe. See where your finger lands, and that’s where your destination should be. If you’ve been there recently then just do it again until you get to a place where you haven’t been before, or you haven’t been in a while. It is an adventure to do it this way, as you never know where you’re going to end up!

We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now know how you can plan your next trip, even if it’s not on the horizon yet. You’ll get to go soon, don’t worry!
Where Do You Want To Go?
0 comments

Wednesday, September 2, 2020

Traveling to Venice From Home

People liked my creative streak in this travel-at-home series, so you'll be getting more. I'd love some suggestions on where you think we should "go", what we should do or menu items. This time we traveled to Venice, and I was not disappointed.


I, originally, planned to eat on the lawn, but this weekend was also chilly and windy, and we didn't eat until late, so it was also getting dark. I turned my backdrop around on our porch and made a cozy "indoor" space that sheltered us from the wind. The polyester backdrops that are all one piece are easier to deal with and also prettier to look at, so we might hit up Greece again in the future, but in a different city.


We had this lovely waterfront view on the canals and also a multi-course dinner. This week I ordered from Pastini (you probably have one, as they are a chain) through Uber Eats (get 25% off your first 2 orders at checkout when you use my code: eats-shereenr208ue). I ordered the Field Greens Salad (the tomato dressing is AWESOME - and this is a small), Cavatappi Primavera, Ziti Con Broccolini, and tiramisu. I wanted naked, fresh pastas that aren't heavy like spaghetti or lasagna, that are more Italian, and less an Americanized version of Italian. 



I dished out food, had an adult beverage I fixed myself - Bulleit Rye, Diet Pepsi, orange bitters, frozen berries and rosemary. I hadn't planned out drinks beforehand, though Eric had what basically amounted to an Italian soda - and then we sat down to eat and enjoy the view. I also found some Venice gondolier videos beforehand and created a playlist on YouTube, so we could listen to some music and also do some sightseeing while we were eating.


After I played busboy and cleared our dishes, Eric made coffee and I brought out the tiramisu. We then watched the rest of our videos and commented on buildings and wondered why people still had doors that lead right out to the canals. They don't appear to have any boat ties, though they do have steps. It was too late to also take our "walking tour", but we will leave that for another time. 


We're loving this new twist on travel and date night. It gives us a chance to sit down and connect. It also allows us to talk about things we haven't gotten to during the week, safely pretend we aren't in a pandemic, and discuss future travel plans. We even used these leftover passport sticker books I purchased for Eric's birthday that we are "stamping" with each trip we take. I've also been dating them for later.



This whole evening cost us around $65, which includes a tip for my Uber driver, and these dishes I picked up at Target. I already had the tablecloth and other items. Here are some things you can use to recreate a fun date night in Venice:
If you're doing this as a family, get everyone involved. Do make-your-own-pizza night with fresh ingredients, or a DIY pasta where you cook the pasta and then have a selection of toppings and sauces. Create destination trivia. Take pictures. Get a map and choose all the spots you would go on a real trip. You can make your nights all different, or have a different person plan each "trip". 

There are only two of us, so we tend to "travel" how we always do: I plan and pack (in this case, set up) and my hubs goes along with it and thanks me for my hard work. It really scratches my travel planning itch, and gives us something fun to look forward to.

How are you making quarantine more fun?


Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links, and I may be compensated should you choose to make any purchases through them. This allows me to keep this blog running for you. 

0 comments
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)
Pin It button on image hover