Venice Is Sinking: See It Now, But Pay The Price!

Venice is arguably the most unusual of all the mainstream destinations in Europe.  Where else would you have to catch a boat from the airport to access your hotel; where else would you lose your land-legs so quickly that you fall over after a day’s sightseeing just because you’ve had to nip to the loo in the nearest hotel?  It’s a truly beautiful city, but is one of Europe’s more pricey destinations.

Having visited Venice as a cash-strapped student, I was determined not to get ripped-off, and by-passed most of the usual tourist activities.  I’d also carefully negotiated my trip on a gondola before setting foot on board (the gondoliers will sing, by the way, but only if you pay extra) and caught the local boats to the islands of Murano (where I bought some beautiful hand-blown glasses that I daren’t use … ever) and Burano (gorgeous pastel-coloured houses on every street).  I fell afoul in San Marco’s square, alas, where I bought a hot chocolate at what turned out to be the most expensive cafe in the place (Caffe Florian, also the oldest cafe in the city).  Nine pounds for a hot chocolate – and this was eleven years ago.

From August 2011, the city will be introducing a tax for all visitors staying in hotels in Venice: roughly £4 per night will be added to the bill of someone staying in a five-star hotel, with a sliding scale of charges payable for lesser accommodation types.  This is principally to pay for the maintenance of the city which is sinking ever further into the mud below.

There are approximately 60,000 residents in Venice, and almost as many tourists visit the city each day.  Critics of the move are saying that people will just visit for the day, rather than stay at a hotel in Venice, to avoid the tax.  The mayor says that he hopes that tourists will want to pay the tax to preserve the beautiful city for future generations.

So go this month.  And avoid the hot chocolate.