We're also Italian virgins so very much appreciate the advice in this thread. We are having dinner with O2K and Dr. O2K again next week and hope to glean yet more information on the Venice they know and love.
Punki...I agree with spending the bulk of your time at the Al Mori. I too am a hotel points junkie but in this case I want to spend time with my FT buddies. Points be damned.....:).

"Italian virgins"? There is such a thing?

Anyhow, here is some more advice about Italy, written a few years ago by a good friend of mine (and reprinted here by permission):

VENICE -- The Romantic Casino

Gondolas, a Renaissance palace, and the quiet hush of a casino which caters to the more wealthy; this is Venice, and no matter what imitations Las Vegas comes up with, nothing can compare to the original.

In fact, to the ORIGINALS -- because the Venice casino, like all members of the Italian upper class, has both its winter and summer homes.

From October to April, it is located in the Vendramin Calergi Palace, about halfway between the city's only train station and the famed Rialto bridge. You can walk there from almost anywhere in Venice, but most people take the vaporetto -- a bus on water. If you are really in a romantic (and expansive) mood, you can take a gondola from your hotel right up to the casino's pier. Be warned, however, that this will require the first of many expenses you will face during the evening.

From May to September, the casino packs its bags and moves to Lido Island. This is Venice's beach area, mostly empty and ignored in winter, but packed when the weather starts getting hot. While Lido doesn't offer a palace, it is located in the next best thing -- an old fortress.

Lido is a 20 minute vaperetto ride from the heart of Venice, so gondolas are pretty much out, but the Upper Crust arrive in their speedboats and yachts.

The Upper Crust, in fact, are the only ones who can afford to go to the Venice Casino on a regular basis. Americans, used to slot cards and other lures, are generally thrown for a bit of a loop when they get to the casino door.

Not only are there no comps being offered, but you have to pay $7.50 just to get in (and remember to bring your passport!) Ladies, be on the dressy side -- gentlemen, wear your tie and jacket. If a man shows up without, the casino will provide them -- at a very hefty fee.

(And, PLEASE, if your number should hit, do NOT give out a cry of joy -- it is SO uncouth!)

The casino only offers three table games: roulette, blackjack, and baccarat. The minimum roulette bet is 10,000 lira (roughly $5). The same is true at blackjack, but you have to be extremely lucky to find a seat at such a low-stakes table. Be prepared to settle for a table where the lowest bet is $25. Baccarat? If you didn't come in your own yacht, forget it -- the minimum is $50.

If you insist on making smaller bets, you can play the slots. In fact, because this is where the hoi polloi hang out, you don't even have to wear that tie and jacket. You can usually find some machines which will deign to accept your 2,000 lira ($1) bets.

In Venice, like Las Vegas, you can get a drink. However, here they are not freebies which the waitress brings to your table. You have to go to the bar, and plan on spending about $10 for the least expensive cocktail.

As for dinner, both the summer and winter casinos have their own restaurants, which are easily affordable -- if you had a tremendous run of good luck at the tables.

How can you afford to go to the casino? The best way is to plan your trip wisely. Venice can be extremely expensive anytime, but the prices are sky high from May to September. It is also jammed with tourists during those months, so smarter travelers go during the off season.

If you have to go in summer, make your reservations before hand (you might not find a hotel room if you just show up). Look on the net for the best possible price. Hint: If you choose a hotel near the train station, it will be just as good and cost much less.

In winter, flights to Italy are much less expensive and so are Venetian hotels. In this case, however, do not make a prior hotel reservation. No matter how you arrive (car, train, or plane) there are hotel reservation facilities on the spot. Most Venetian hotels have empty rooms during the winter months and they all list them -- usually at very big discounts -- with the reservation services. Just tell them how much you can afford and you might well be surprised at what is available in your range!

Don't go into any restaurant until you have looked at the tourist menu, which is always posted outside. Often, the food is just as good at an inexpensive restaurant as it is at its fancier neighbor.

You can walk to almost any place you want to go in Venice, but if you want to ride, take the vaparetto --gondolas and water taxis are simply too expensive.

Then, for one night, imagine you are James Bond.

Put on your best clothes and go with your partner to a canal-side restaurant for a moonlit dinner. Make certain you order a bottle of Bardolino -- it comes from Verona, home of Romeo and Juliet.

After dinner, stroll hand-in-hand along the Grand Canal until you spot a gondola. Get in and say, "Casino Municipale, per piacere."

When you get to the Palace -- built in the days of Casanova -- drink up its atmosphere of history and romance. After all, this, and not a chance to hit "21" is why you came to Venice in the first place!

Ok, I guess Hunki will have to bring a suit and tie. :D If we don't gamble, can we just wander around the casino and gawk like goofy American Italian virgins, :eek: or do we have to try to look beautiful and sophisticated? :o

My very favorite method of visiting any city is to just wander around and see what I happen upon.

Where is the address for contacting Marco?

Keep in mind that there are two Marcos -- O2K's Hotel Marco and O2K's Water Taxi Marco.

I presume you mean her Hotel Marco and you can reach him at Hotel Ai Mori D'Oriente **** <[email protected]> I suggest that you make the subject line read: Attention Marco Musco Flyer Talk Reservation.

I don't have an e-mail address for her Water Taxi Marco. I don't know if O2K does either. I think that when she wants him she justs stands on her balcony and whistles.

I'm glad to see this term being kept alive ^... so I can decide whether or not I'll want to play blackjack, what are the house rules like?

Double on any number or just 11? Resplit aces? Surrender? Continuous shuffling machines or hand-shuffle? Shady dealers?

I played blackjack at a rather shady casino in the Hilton Antananarivo last night... the house had a decidedly hot streak and then decided to immediately close the table at 2:47, even though everything else closed at 3 :(.

It has been a few years since I played there, but as I recall, you could double on any number, could not resplit aces, could not surrender, and it had hand-shuffle (I think from a six deck pack). They also offered insurance for anyone foolish enough to take it.

The dealers are not shady. This is Venezia, not Sicilia! :)

In reply to Punki's question: Yes, you can walk around the casino and gawk. However, if you want to gawk at the games, you will have to pay the entry fee.

OK, we have booked rooms at the Ai Mori for Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. Being with really fun Flyer Talkers is even more important than getting an SPG stay, we will just change hotels in LAX for the Brewfest. :D (Am I allowed to say that people are more important that points on Flyer Talk?) :eek:

Speaking of the LAX Brewfest, will you be around Cholula?

OBTW thank you, KathyWdrf for the Hotel Club lead. That worked out perfectly. Now all we need to do is write Mr. Musco and get airplane tickets.

Airplane tickets have actually gone up about $100 this past week, but I am still thinking they will go down after Monday. If push comes to shove, we can always use miles.

I was assuming, Dovster, that we would have to pay the fee to go into the casino, whether we wandered around gawknig like goofy American Italian virgins, or if we tried to be subtle and look beautiful and sophisticated. :D :D I promise that, if I play blackjack, I will not allow myself to succumb to wild fits of laughter as always seemed to happen to my Mother, sisters and I when we played in Las Vegas. The pit boss would stare at us and constantly change the dealers, who could never quite resist getting caught up in our laughter. I am so glad we had those days while my Mother was still alive, but I assure you that I am more grown up and much less silly now days---well maybe. ;)

Punki, feel honored -- I have just promoted you and Hunki to the "Definite" list -- the only ones so honored before making ticketing their flights.

This bring us to 22 "Definites" so far, all but two of whom will be staying at the Ai Mori. RalfKrippner will be at the Danieli and Vasantn is going to be at an unknown location -- I only hope we can find him!

I am going to be somewhat less active on the forum for the next five days. In about 11 hours I am leaving for Turkey. I will not be going cold turkey in Turkey as I will have access to an internet room, but I will not be bringing my laptop, so will be on line less than usual.

If I am delayed in making updates to this thread during that time, I offer apologies in advance.

Hey Punki. Is this the same as the Octoberfest West thread here on Community? If so, I’ll be in Northern Maine during that time period.
There are some “lobstahs” up there with my name on them and I intend to make their acquaintance soon after I arrive.
Glad to hear you and Hunki are in the definite column for VCE!! ^

Ten lucky F/Ters will win 1 million in cash each! See post # 482 of the Delta Venice Meet thread for details!

Okay, the latest addition to our door prizes is one for the books -- literally.

I picked up ten bookmarks today, all miniature woven Turkish carpets and each one a different pattern. If we have ten people coming to the Meet who read books (as opposed to reading computer screens) we will be able to award them.

Peoples, it is time for me to start hitting you up. So far, only Cholula and myself have said they will bring any stuff to be given away. Please feel free to join in. It really helped us kick off the PBI-FLL Meet and I think will also be a big ice breaker in Venice.

The things do not have to be expensive. FFers always like getting anything for free. Hopefully, though, they will represent either where you live, you yourself, or some place you have visited.

For those coming from Southern California, please do not bring smog.

Can I bring jars of San Francisco fog? ;)

Thanks, Dovster, for putting us on the list. I notice that Hunki got listed alphabetically, even though he doesn't have a ticket, while I got listed right after Zorro. :o When I get a ticket do I get elevated to an alphabetical position, or are you just saving the best for last. :D :D

Yes, Cholula, I was referring to the LAX party started by auh2o in Community Buzz. It would have been good to meet you then, but we shall meet as VCE virgins in short order. ;)

Ozstamps gave me a cool Turkish million last year and I always carry it with me in case of emergencies, but you can never have too many millions.

I am thinking about the name tags now. Can someone please send me a list of the attendees and their real names, or should I e-mail everyone individually and ask?

Punki,

You are now in correct alphabetical order. Actually, you were the first time also but now I have switched from the Albanian alphabet to the English one.

I suggest that you do not print the names and user name, just leave spaces for them. Not only will this be easier for you but there may well be more people attending. We still have over two months until the Meet and many people can not make plans this early. Europeans, especially, will be able to decide at the last moment.

The name tags will be laminated, permanent name tags, so I wll need the names before I leave the U.S.

I would very much appreciate it if everyone who is interested in attending will e-mail me or PM me their FlyerTalk handle and any other name that they would like printed on their name tag, even if they are still in the "thinking about attending" stage.