The world famous destination of Venice which has been immortalized forever in Shakespeare’s well known oeuvre ‘the Merchant of Venice’ and in numerous Hollywood movies like A Little Romance, The Italian Job, Everyone Says I love You is considered to be one of the most romantic cities in the world. This city which extends over a series of 117 islands which are distributed throughout the Venetian Lagoon on the northern end of the Adriatic Sea is known for its elegant Venetian buildings and palaces, bustling piazzas and singing gondoliers.
This romantic image of Venice has attracted hordes of tourists over the years so much so that the city tends to get overrun with tourists during its peak tourist season. If you want to avoid the intensely commercial side of Venice which comes to the fore during this time it is recommended that you try and plan your visit to this Queen of the Adriatic (or the City of Masks and the City of Canals) during a time when the touristy hordes are scarce and the prices all over the city are not so inflated.
Most tourists tend to head to visit during the city’s hot, sultry summers which typically extend over the months of June to August and are characterized by temperatures that range from 86oF to 91oF (30oC - 33oC). During the winter months temperatures in Venice register lows that range between 32oF and 37oF (0oC - 3oC). However since it is a coastal city, Venice in fact functions as a year round destination though it is most crowded ...Read Moreduring major holidays like Easter and Christmas and during the time of its annual events like carnival which features several fun events and is held every year in February.
If you like thousands of tourists have always had a secret desire to visit this city of eternal romance you should try to locate a cheap business class fare to transport you to Venice and back for Venice like many other European cities is accessible only via a long haul flight from most cities in the US. Moreover if you have allotted only a limited time for your Venetian sojourn then you must try not to lose any days to jet lag and fatigue and this can only be achieved by flying on a business flight to Venice for business class travel affords you with a certain degree of comfort which allows you to rest and relax onboard your flight. However contrary to popular opinion business class airfares need not completely empty your bank account for discount business class airfares to Venice can definitely be found if you know how and where to look for them.
Often airlines which offer flight connections to Venice from various US cities, like Italy’s home grown carrier, Alitalia announce special offers on business class fares to Venice. These special offers translate as business class deals to Venice .However these cheap business class airfares to Venice often have conditions attached to them like advance purchases or restricted travel dates and if these conditions don’t suit you or if you need more flexibility and can’t plan your travels way in advance then perhaps you would consider purchasing your discount business class fare to Venice from your friendly travel agent who can always manage to procure discount business class tickets to Venice for you through his or her personal connections with airlines which have been cultivated over the years.
These discount business class tickets are often priced nearly 70% less than regular business class fares but they have all the amenities of regular business class like fast track immigration and priority check-in, enhanced baggage allowance, more personal space, a convertible seat that extends into a full sized bed and personalized service on board that keeps you satiated with limitless gourmet food and wine along with complimentary pillows and blankets.
A trans-Atlantic journey to Venice on a cheap business class ticket will ensure that you get to your destination relatively well-rested and raring to go to take in the sights. You are most likely to access the city via its Venice Marco Polo Airport which is located 10 miles (16 km) north east of Venice. The airport is connected by trains and public buses to the city center though car rentals, taxis and limousines are also available at the airport.
Transport within Venice is via the city’s extensive canals and waterways as no cars are allowed in the city. Most people associate Venice with romantic gondola rides but these rides can be more expensive than you think. To get a true sense of how the city of Venice functions with its extensive network of waterways you might want to ride a water bus known as vaporetto. These vaparetti make scheduled stops and are an effective way to get around and if you are staying in Venice for a while you can even get a stored value card known as the Venice Card which allows you free transportation and also offers discounted access to some museums and attractions. The Venice Card is available in various denominations and it helps you save a pile for the fares on single boat rides are often outrageous. For a cheaper option you can even hitch a ride on a traghetto which is similar to a gondola but is used by locals to essentially cross the Grand Canal, the main thoroughfare of Venice.
Electrical standards in Venice like the rest of Italy are composed of an electrical current of 230 volts, 50 HZ and the most commonly used plugs here are the European style two pin plugs. The Euro is the official currency that is used in Venice like the rest of Italy and the city is well equipped with banks, ATMs and bureau de change which more than adequately meet the currency exchanging needs of tourists, however it is good to know that banks in Venice often offer better exchange rates than the casas de cambios or exchange traders. Banks operate from Monday to Friday in Venice.
Attractions in Venice include its main thoroughfare which is the Grand Canal. The center of Venice is divided into six quarters which are known as sestieri. These six quarters are San Marco, Dorsoduro, San Polo, Santa Croce, Cannaregio and Castello respectively. The Grand Canal divides the city into two parts and then meanders through its main six districts. This main arterial waterway is the lifeline of the city around which much of its activity is concentrated. The Grand Canal extends throughout the length of Venice from the station to San Marco and it is traversed by three main bridges, at the station, the Rialto and Academia. The Grand Canal is bordered by several opulent Renaissance age palazzos which bear evidence of the city’s wealthy past and the best way for you to explore this waterway is to ride on a vaporetta and take in all elegant Venetian buildings and palaces like the Ca da Mosto, the Ca d’Oro, the Palazzo Corner- Spinelli and many others.
St Marks Square (Piazza San Marco) is Venice’s most famous public square which is the epicenter of all activity in Venice. St Marks Square is the main congregations point in the city and its hosts the Palazzo Ducale and the Basilica di San Marco along with a number of cafes, restaurants and designer goods stores. Located near St Mark’s square are other landmarks of Venice namely the Museo Correr(the Archaeological Museum) and the Museo del Risorgimento. The Museo del Risorgimento is a must visit for any history buff as it contains various historical documents and illustrations of Venice's struggle against Austria, the 1848 Revolution led by Daniele Manin, and union with the kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont in 1866.
Other worth visiting attractions in Venice include the School of St Roch or the Gallerie dell' Academia which houses a magnificent collection of European art that dates from the 14th to 18th centuries, the Basilica dei Frari which is a Gothic Franciscan church that was constructed in the 14th century and is renowned as the resting place of the artist Titian and the Venetian sculptor, Antonio Canova, the historic Jewish quarter of Venice which is home to five synagogues and various shops and restaurants and the Mercatino di Rialto which is located along Rialto Bridge. This erstwhile commercial area of Venice is well known for its various shopping options for its stores are less expensive than the stores that are located around San Marco square. The Mercantino is essentially a fresh produce and fish market though its inside roads have stalls and shops that sell jewelry, Murano glassware, masks and of course loads of kitschy souvenirs. Unlike at other markets though bargaining at this is not an accepted norm and if you want a good price for your souvenirs you should try and pay in cash or buy in large qu Hide