Friday's lightbulb: Venice on a budget

Venice is a city with a reputation for being beautiful but expensive, so I'm going to give you a few tips to make it a bit more affordable. Some of the city's most stunning sights don't cost anything. Entry to the Basilica di San Marco is free of charge, and there are also free guided tours between April and October. 


Wandering around the city costs nothing of course, and you can easily spend a lot of time wandering around the winding lanes lined with antique dealers and glass merchants - just make sure you take a map, it's easy to get lost! 


Venice's bustling Rialto Market is where people have been shopping since 1097, and there's no better show in town! The produce is unloaded from barges which start arriving at dawn, and by 8am the vendors are bargaining with customers! It's best to arrive early, and you can buy wonderful ingredients here for a cheap and healthy picnic - another way to save money.


A visit to Venice wouldn't be complete without taking to the water, but it doesn't have to cost you a fortune. The vapporetto, or waterbus, is a budget way to get a tour of the city. You pass palaces, churches, and Bond film backdrops all for the bargain price of just seven euros.
Top tip: Venice is so popular that there are days when tourists outnumber locals by two to one, but it's  also a stunning place to visit in the winter, when visitors are few and far between.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The undisputed King of Chicken Piri Piri!

Image
If you like chicken, and haven't yet tried Piri Piri, I have to break it to you.....you're missing out big time! The dish is traditionally made from Piri Piri peppers which originated in South Africa, and were imported to Portugal from Angola and Mozambique. Restaurants across Portugal have their own individual recipes for the dish; but the Algarve town of Guia is said to have the most authentic Piri-Piri houses, and I am quite confident when I say I think I have found the best. O Teodósio (otherwise known as King of Chicken) opens for lunch at 12 noon; and 6pm for evening meals. Trust me, it pays to get there just before it opens. Long queues of people soon build up, and every time I've eaten there it has been mobbed - quite impressive when you consider it seats nearly 700! Although they do serve other dishes, you never see a menu being handed out - you simply order "Frango piri piri, batatas fritas e salada" (chicken piri piri, chips, and salad). It'...
Read more

Life is not a dress rehearsal

Image
Ever since I was a little girl, my dad told me "Life is not a dress rehearsal". While it was a phrase that stuck in my mind, it didn't resonate with me until I got a bit older, and realised that he was totally right! We spend so much of our lives at work; in meetings, and sometimes doing things we don't always enjoy. So when we have time off and go on holiday, we have to make the most of it. Take time to look up at that blue sky, breathe in that fresh air to give us new energy for when we have to return to reality! One of my passions is travel - another is research, which combine to make a brilliant partnership! I love finding places off the beaten track; hotels that make you go 'ooooooh'; B&B's that make you feel you could just unpack your suitcase and stay forever, and attractions in different countries that you may not find in your guide book!  This is why I decided to start Travel Lightbulb - I want to share some of the great things I've...
Read more

Thailand at its best: Rayavadee, Krabi

Image
If you've never been to Thailand before, then picture a lush country with white sand beaches and emerald waters. Today I'm featuring a fabulous hotel which is set on the edge of Krabi's National Marine Park at the heart of the stunning Phranang Peninsula. Courtesy of Rayavadee, Krabi Inspired by a southern Thai village, the Rayavadee resort has won awards for its architecture. There are 96 two-storey pavilions and 5 luxurious villas, all dotted through tropical gardens and coconut groves.  Courtesy of Rayavadee, Krabi There are several restaurants to choose from, with everything from elegant dining to casual beachside fare. As for things to do, there is a fabulous spa at the resort which also offers a full range of excursions to places on Krabi itself, as well as the area's outlying islands.  Courtesy of Rayavadee, Krabi The beaches here are stunning and there are three incredible ones just a few steps away. Phi Phi island can also be reached by spe...
Read more