Are you a real Count, Chokula?

Guide to nice Ladies Rooms in Vce
 

Okay, ladies, here it is, O2K's Guide to her favorite ladies rooms:
First, upon arrival at HotelAiMori if you cannot wait until you get to your room, there are 2 beautiful bathrooms at the far end of the lobby on your left. These are unisex.
Prada the Women's store, which is different from the Men's store (although they are side by side, only the Women's store has a toilet). Enter the store and ask to see some items..e.g. wallet, shoes, etc. Then, excuse yourself, with a knowing look and go down the hallway on the right. The bathroom is on the left. It has a kind of funny lock, so pay attention.. This bathroom is always immaculate.

Gritti Palace Hotel I like this one because it is close to a vaporetto stop. Enter the hotel and, again, with the knowing look, walk past the austere gentleman at the front desk and when you come to the hallway (opposite the bar), take a left. The bathroom is on the right at the end of the hall. BTW, if you need to have your hair done, the Gritti Salon is really really good).

Harry's Bar Walk in, go just past the bar and turn left. Walk upstairs and take a right. Very very clean bathroom with good lighting for freshening make-up.

public restroom (I know, I know, but sometimes it is unavoidable), very clean pay W.C. in San Bartolomeo Square, near the Spagnoli store. This is close to the Rialto and on your way back to the hotel from the San Marco area.

Fiaschetteria Toscana restaurant also, close to the Rialto Bridge
and on the Strada Nove a few minutes from the hotel. Walk in, go past the very vigilant cashier/owner at the desk and take a hard right turn opposite the desk. The bathroom is up the stairs.
Peggy Guggenheim Museum on Dorsidoro. Quite clean for a public facility.
Worst-case scenario: You find yourself in the gardens near the Arsenale, visiting the site of the Bienalle (actually, I think there is an architecure exhibit going on now). The public toilets are near the gift shop. Not great, but acceptable. Have kleenex in your purse for this scenario.
If I think of any others, I'll add to this post. If anyone else has some suggestions, please feel free to comment.

Since we're headed to Italy, you can call me Conte Chokula....:).

Excellent idea, O2K!! I emailed this to Mrs. Cholula and she is going to laminate it.
Do you need to pay as you go, so to speak, in Italian toilets? Will there be a need to carry coins for tips or to gain entrance?
I'm glad I'm a guy and don't have to worry about this stuff.
After all, that's what I understand the canals are for....;).

Mrs. Cholula will need coins for the public W.C's. I can't remember the exact amount. No need to tip anyone in the shops or restaurants unless you are having a drink at the Bar at Harry's Bar while Mrs. Cholula is upstairs. BTW, greatest bartender in the world is Claudio at Harry's....2nd best bartender is Navio at Harry's.
Re: the canals--don't even think about it :eek:

Thanks. By tips, I guess I was asking if they normally had rest room attendants with their hands out as you see in some parts of Europe.Guess we'll carry a pile of small change just in case.


:p

Are we supposed to be reserving Venice Cards? This thread has become so long that I can't find the link any more. Does anybody have it?

Punki...here's the thread on the Venice Card. I'm undecided as to whether or not to order one......:

I just saw the Cholula sauce at Publix. Shula's was 50 cents cheaper. I figured, what the heck, it ends in ULA :D

Free shuttle from the Hotel Ai Mori
 

Can someone explain the free shuttle? From where....to where?

Also, can we buy the Venice Card when we are in VCE if we decide we need it, or can it only be purchased online?

NO-Kay! :td:

Anyhow, what's wrong with the "k" in "unki?" ;)

I had gotten kind of fond of the idea of being called "Chunki" for a few days! (Not that I'm not called that, and worse, behind my back anyhow! :D )

It states on the website that it can only be purchased online or by phone.

However, maybe you could phone for it once you're in Venice.

According to the website it has to be picked up either at the airport, the railway station, the bus station (Piazzale Roma), or the parking island (Tronchetto). So (unless you want to be inconvenienced in picking it up!), you would normally make the decision to buy it BEFORE going to Venice rather than during your stay. The normal way would be to buy it online beforehand, then pick it up upon arrival (at airport or wherever you're arriving).

There are also one-, three-, or seven-day travel cards that can be purchased in Venice at any of the ACTV (transit system) ticket booths at the vaporetto docks. They would NOT include the toilets (or museums, or airport waterbus, in those other versions of the Venice Card), but they might work just fine for you, depending on your intended use. The prices for these should be listed on www.actv.it/english/home.php, but unfortunately, that website is down at the moment. :( I believe the three-day (72-hour) transit-only pass is about 22 Euros. That compares favorably with the 27 Euro (if bought online) price of the three-day Venice Card (the version that includes public transit and toilets only).

EDIT: It should also be noted that in addition to the transport, toilet, and (depending on which version you purchase) other benefits of the Venice Card, it also includes some other perks, listed here:

http://www.venicecard.com/privilegi_eng.jsp#

These perks include "medical assistance" and "legal assistance" as well as discounts and so on.

Dorlee back up a page. I finally posted the guide to the ladies' rooms of Venice which you promised to laminate. The free shuttle, as I understand, will be a watertaxi which will drop guests off at either Rialto or San Marco and will run a few times per day. Surely, I will know more when I arrive in VCe on 14NOV. Scroll down and you'll see lots of good info re: VCE card.

Fine, athyWdrf.

Have it your way...

It really is not generally necessary to pack Kleenex, but it's also not a bad idea. Another thing: for all of the lactose-intolerant: VCE can be hell. Be sure to pack your Lactaid