Believe the Hype! As is true for many people, Venice was on my bucket list. I often heard stories that Venice was overrun by tourists and how the canals gave off a pungent odor. Fortunately these stories didn't dissuade me.
Venice is simply amazing! It is the type of city that you want to get lost in. Every turn you take leads you to another awe-inspiring breathtaking view. I continuously found myself smiling for no reason and repeating out loud "I love this city"!
It is true there are a lot of tourists in Venice. Fortunately I went in early Spring, so it was not as bombarded with tourists as in Summer. The small winding streets make for traffic jams, yet generally all are in a good mood and they take the congestion in stride.
Venice is not a cheap destination but at the same time it's not as expensive as what you might expect. Benefit from the FREE walking tour that gives you an off the beaten path visit of quaint and poplular areas of the city. There are reasonably priced restaurants and bars throughout the city; you just have to search for them. I highly recommend Da Luca e Fred located at 1518 Rio Tera di S. Leonardo. It's a small restaurant with a warm family atmosphere, plentiful portions and cheap prices. The Arancini di riso (fried ball stuffed with rice, seafood and mozzarella) is heavenly! Campo Santa Margherita is a great local area to find a number of bars offering cheap drinks. Check out Orange and ask the bartender to surprise you!
