Where to stay

Venice's mainland neighborhood of Mestre is linked to Santa Croce by the Liberty Bridge, with buses taking around twenty minutes to travel between the two. While administratively part of the city of Venice, for many visitors it feels like a separate destination. Yet what Mestre lacks in winding waterways it makes up for with the absence of crowds and cruise ships-and its much more affordable accommodations. Mestre is where anyone on tight a budget should stay to save money, and it's the best place for those who want to see a different side to Italy's second-most visited city. Many hotels are practical rather than flash, but are often more spacious than their neighbors across the water.