Vacapedia Vacation Rentals Blog

It’s bad enough with the Dollar at an all time low against the Euro, but now if you’re not dressed appropriately or if you’re laying out a nice picnic amongst the expensive cafes and pigeons in Piazza San Marco, you could risk a hefty fine–from 25 to 500 Euros, according to Gadling.

The last time I had a run-in with the “unacceptable behavior police” was in Florence. I was there on a day trip with friends who had boundless energy for viewing art. I was tired. I plunked down on the steps of the Accademia and was immediately accosted by a man in uniform.

“You must stand up,” he said in English.

“Why?”

“Sitting here is disrespectful of the statues,” he opined.

Harumph. I had a vision of being called into a meeting. There, lounging in chairs around a humongous table, were a dozen or so stony folks, waiting to query me on my insensitive behavior.

“The steps, sir, are of marble. If you haven’t noticed, we are of marble,” the biggest one began. “Do you see the connection?”

“Sitting on the steps, is, is like sitting on you all?” I exclaimed quizically, before accepting my due punishment.

Well, it wasn’t exactly a vision that enlightens one, but it was the best I could think of. Insensitive to the statues? I can’t even imagine it. And I imagine lots of things other people don’t ever think of.

Still, I think the Venice actions are good. I want to stand in a historic square and think of how it would have looked hundreds of years ago. This romantic vision is zapped when some hairy, bare chested guy plops down in front of me and starts throwing wrappers to the breeze in anticipation of a junk-food picnic in front of the cathedral. A big fine in this situation sounds, well, fine to me.

You don’t need to shun clothing and eat junk food to save money in Europe. Especially if you have a family. Just stay away from hotels.

No, I don’t mean you should stay out on the street. You should rent a place and stay a while. It’s called show travel, there’s a web site devoted to the practice called, oddly enough, Slow Travel.

For 100 Euros, what kind of hotel are you going to get in Venice for 4 people?

Take a peek at the rental property in Venice you see on the right. Now, imagine, you have a full kitchen, CD player, a beamed ceiling, and private garden for less than what it would cost you to rent two doubles in a Venice hotel. Yes, so many people have bought vacation homes in Italy that we’re in a buyer’s market–and you’re the buyer.

So don’t save pennies by eating junk food wherever you can plop down. Get good food. Keep it in your refrigerator. Eat on your private balcony when you want. Watch the Venetian life pass by. Unwrap that package of prosciutto in the privacy of your garden, far from the prying eyes of the tourist police. Have a glass of wine amongst the greenery. You could do worse.

Find a Venice, Italy vacation rental for your next holiday at Vacapedia.com.