Can anyone recommend a cheap and cheerful place for a family of 4 (children aged 8 and 5) to stay in Venice? Emma Hope

The Guardian, Saturday November 6 2004



· You pay over the odds to stay in a hotel or pension in Venice itself, and trailing in from dreary Mestre strips much of the glamour from the Venice experience. It depends what time of year you intend to take your children to Venice, of course, but when the weather's warm the best-ever idea is to camp on the Lido.



We stayed with Canvas Holidays at a seaside site, which allowed us either to spend all morning on the beach and then shower, change and take the steamer in to Venice around lunchtime, or we enjoyed the sights of Venice first thing, came "home" during the siesta and relaxed on the beach on our return. It was a brilliant combination. I can't specify a site because they may have changed in the intervening years but ours, though fairly simple, was perfectly adequate. As we stayed there during the early summer it was far from crowded and quiet enough for a nightingale to serenade us at night.

Kirsten Cubitt, Sheffield



· We returned ten days ago from Villa Stella in Venice with our 10-year-old twin daughters. The hotel has its own grounds, a TV in the family room and a lovely breakfast buffet. There are local shops next door. It's situated on the Lido, a 20 minute trip on the vaporetto and two bus stops from the boat pier. There are wonderful views of St Mark's Square and the Doge's Palace from the boat.



The staff were very friendly and sent detailed directions to the hotel. The price was reasonable; look out for offers at different times of the year. We also saved loads of money by buying a Venice Ticket for the buses and the boats. These are available at train and vaporetto stops and are valid for 24 or 72 hours.

Judith Horsfall



· I can recommend Venexia Apartment in central Venice; it is near to the best bits but still quiet. We found that using hostelworld.com got us some interesting and cheap places to stay.