Albergo Villa Serena - Mestre, Italy 

Villa Serena Stayed 4 nights in June 2008 Married couple, late 40's. From Australia We booked this hotel from a website and despite its very pink appearance it seemed good value for money and in a location close to Venice. Arriving by train at Mestre we dragged our bags for five minutes along the footpath until we reached the hotel. Once there the staff were welcoming and despite my protests the lady at the desk took the heaviest of our suitcases to the lifts. The staff were attentive and courteous during our stay and the rooms were quiet, well appointed and very, very comfortable. Each room, for the rooms in the rear building, had access to a small balcony. There is little noise however if you stay in the front building of the hotel (spend the extra $10 don't stay in the section called Dipendenzia) it will be noisier due to traffic. The breakfast included in the tarrif (99 Euro per night but less if you book direct) was substantial and includes Cereal, Brioche, Yoghurt and coffee and juices. Five minutes walk to the train station and a 15 minute train ride sees you at the vaporetti stops in Venice. A number 6 bus will get you there as well, both fares are one Euro each way. Be aware that this hotel is in a working class neighbourhood !! The girls working the streets wont bother you and in fact my wife and I, along with another couple found the goings on amusing as we sat in the Beer Garden and looked out into the streets. Despite the area being a little downcast it has a wonderful atmposphere The staff recommended local restaurants run by families - what can I say !! Don't miss the trattoria, Capri. The food is great at fair prices and the staff are fantastic; you can't leave the restaurant without satisfying all family members that your experience was "tutto bene" . The local gelati shop has freshly made gelati that is so good we watched locals parking their cars in the middle of a roundabout (with cars streaming through it) to get to the store; at 2.5 euros each it was money spent on paradise. My wife and I will travel back to this part of the world and we will stay at this friendly and comfortable hotel where Giorgio and the others made us so welcome.

We stayed here Easter 2006. It's in Marghera. EUR 78 / nite incl brkfst. Family run, nice, clean. Small, but well-stocked bar. Try the Spritze, Campari + wine, very good for your health (headache disapeared in a jiffy...!) The most important point is: Buses 6 and 6\ go to Venice, only 1 stop. They run frequently. The ticket is EUR 1 (!)(for how long?) The halt is 3 min's walk from the hotel. The bus ride takes less than 10 min's and goes to Piazza di Roma in Venice. If one comes from the train station, it's barely 10 min's walk, but too long to explain here. (One walks underneath the train tracks and comes out right in the area.) From Venice Airport, take bus 15 (EUR 1) and get off at via durando (I'm not sure) anyway it's in MARGHERA, so one could ask the driver, may be. If one ends up at the station, no big deal. Taxi EUR 10 to hotel (which u take the 1st time, afterwards one learns the way). Staying in Mestre is a good alternative to Venice, as V. is so expensive these days. Not far from the bus halt, a SUPERB restaurant:" Autoexpress" (the name is a bit misleading). (pls look in the "Forum" here.) Talking about Venice: The Vaporetto now costs EUR 5 for a SINGLE TICKET, and EUR 12 for a day ticket. It's crazy. The Canal Grande only has 3 bridges, so unless one is really sporty and walks, one is rather dependent on the Vaporetto.