Aghast to read that, according to the Venice tourist office, 50% of tourists to this joyously attraction packed city only visit the St Mark’s Square area I feel compelled to post this link to Venice attractions, lest the lure of the square’s decadent and frighteningly expensive Caffé Florian is too much!

If you are still tempted, and why not, you only live once, remember that there is a surcharge if the music is playing …

Evidently before the bill arrived

I updated the site with some shots of Venice we took while over there on recce in May 06, you can see these at the top of the page - they change as you move through the site.

As well as these there is also the small but growing gallery page, Our Venice photo gallery.

Finally, for the really determined, you can find a wealth of Venice phtographs here

No book can fully convey the majesty of this place however I found 2 books very useful, the first, Jan Morris’s ‘love letter’ to Venice, simply titled Venice – perfect for preparing you before you get there and then reminding you of the wonders ever after.

Although this book is not trying to be a guide book per se it does constantly wrestle with trying to be both ageless and capture Venice as it is, on the whole is succeeds though and will take you through the place so thoroughly that you smell the food from the trattoria’s and the lapping of the canal by your bedside.

The other “can’t do without” for me was the deliciously insightful guide book Venice and Veneto from DK Eyewitness Travel Guides. Not only packed full of the usual perfunctory “how to get where” information or how to utter “Help, I have been bitten by rabid dog” in the local lingo, it also contains some splendid features, perfectly suited to Venice, such as the Grand Canal tour that takes you through the main palazzi in pictures and words - perfect for catching the number 1 ‘bus’ down this ancient artery, broadcasting loudly in your best British voice to friends and family, it certainly worked for me! It does not stop there though, have you ever wondered how to make a Carnevale mask, buy this and you will never need to wonder again.

We want your trip to Venice to be very special and a big part of this is the accommodation. Venice caters for all budgets from the Youth Hostel to the famous and voluminous Hotel Danieli - so whether you are popping out for the wedding or making this the start of a romantic trip, have a look at the Hotels worth checking out page for suggestions to complete your trip.