consider taking the overnight train Paris to Venice - otherwise it is a long long trip during daytim

Hi, So I am thinking on taking my family southwest airlines cheap airfare to Europe. (My four children, 27, 26, 20, and 15 years old. We take the plane Saturday June 1st, arriving in Paris Monday June 3rd. We will be staying 4 nights in Paris (Jone 3rd till the 7th, 2013) then, we will be taking the train to Venice, perhaps spend 3 nights in Venice, and 4 nights in Rome? Does this itinerary sounds okay? Do I need to stay two nights in Venice instead? I have heard Venice can get quite expensive, is that true. Also, any recommendations of hotel stay outside Venice to make it more affordable? Perhaps an hour away from Venice. Could you recommend any place we could stay at? We are doing this trip for my daughters 15th birthday. southwest airlines cheap airfare We want to make it special for her and the whole family. I really appreciate any input or suggestions on this. Gracias
Do not stay outside Venice. You will lose the magic of Venice such as the late night walks, vaporetto ride looking at the lights along the grand canal, southwest airlines cheap airfare listening to the bands in Piazza San Marco. southwest airlines cheap airfare Big mistake to stay outside Venice. If you can afford the trip then you can afford southwest airlines cheap airfare to stay in Venice. It doesn't have to be any more expensive than Rome or Paris. Are you staying outside those cities to save money?
And you want to stay not just outside Venice but an hour away from Venice? Why go to Venice at all? Plus you have to pay for 5 train tickets back and forth? I think it's crazy to stay half way to Florence when you're visiting Venice. This won't be special at all for your daughter.
Thank you very much for all your responses. southwest airlines cheap airfare They will be very helpful to us. For Adrienne, I have heard Venice is really expensive, but you are right, I think all Europe is pretty much the same. As you described Venice I think is worth to stay there. Sounds like is going to be fum. Budget wise, we are okay. Just stretch southwest airlines cheap airfare the Dollar amount whenever we can. Thank you guys.
I've been to all three cities and I don't think Venice is any more expensive than Paris or Rome. I do agree that in order to really experience any of these cities it is imperative to stay in them and not outside of them. Part of their beauty and charm is walking around in the evenings. With the lights and fountains...just breath taking. All of these are beautiful cities. It sounds like a memory making southwest airlines cheap airfare trip in the planning.
As in any large city, if you go a couple of blocks away from main tourist attractions you'll southwest airlines cheap airfare pay less for food. Don't order soft drinks which are very expensive. Take out is cheaper than eating in, standing at the bar is cheaper than sitting at a table and the most expensive is sitting at an outside table. So there are 4 tiers of pricing southwest airlines cheap airfare (food and drink) in Italy.
to cut costs in Venice head to the nearby Lido for hotels - as low as 30-40 euros a room for doubles my friends go during the off season southwest airlines cheap airfare - still rather off-season in early June - just a short boat ride from San Marcos.
consider southwest airlines cheap airfare taking the overnight train Paris to Venice - otherwise it is a long long trip during daytime. An overnight train can also be quite an adventure if never done it before (score cheap tickets at www.thello.com - the company that runs the train. Other sites for learning lots about European trains - www.seat61.com ; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com .
check www.trenitalia.com for online discount tickets Venice to Rome - after years of traveling on Italian trains I would recommend highly first class as being more relaxed. but have no worry about ever getting on trains in Italy - so so many you can just show up and buy a ticket (which southwest airlines cheap airfare comes with the mandated seat reservation).
instead of listening to what other people say about how expensive venice is, look at the hotel consolidation websites for the dates that you are travelling to see what it will really cost for 5-6 people. venere.com or booking.com are good places to start - you can specify southwest airlines cheap airfare that you want, for example, 1x twin-bedded room, and one triple. [probably easier to find that one with 5 beds].