I was in Venice earlier this year (May 2010) it was my first time and I have to say I knew hardly anything about it. My friend had been twice and had raved about it, so I went with an open mind. I loved it!

We went for a week, booked an Hotel on the Lido so we had the best of both, with a beach on one side and Venice on the other. We did just about everything we wanted to do, including a trip by bus down the Lido and across to Choggia on the mainland. We also spent a day trip across to Murano, Burrano and Torchello. We both agreed that Burano was the best, it was so pretty.

A lot of people only go to Venice for a day, they only see and do just a couple of things and it would probably be packed with people anyway, which can spoil it.

St Marks Square on a warm late evening when all the tourist have left and you can stop for a coffee in peace or have an ice cream or a drink is absolute magical.