Sancho

There's some good stuff here - even in the readers' comments - http://www.theguardian.com/travel/20...-drink-cheaply

sunnysider

But a pity you can't sleep on the steps of the railway station alongside the Grand Canal any more .... The carabinieri were so nice of a Venice dawn - serious/not joking.

primularossa

Did they serve you a cappuccino and brioche? :-)
Unfortunately it is the same all over Italy. I too, when my back was able to stand more than now, have travelled around hitchhiking, slept on beaches, even in Sardinia, slept in railway stations.....and so on. Now you would be indicted of begging.....

sunnysider

Not quite

They just came round early in the morning (soon after dawn so very early) and gently told folk to get up then gave you a while to do it. They just wanted to make sure that we weren't disfiguring the place when the trippers came out of the station. All very reasonable and civilised.

Maybe things got worse once the Carabinieri got their new uniforms sometime in the 80s.

Yes, things have changed - a real pity primula. I seem to remember that you aren't allowed to sit on the Spanish Steps any more just to eat a panino. Ridiculous. Not aware of anywhere in London you couldn't sit to eat a sandwich. Disneyland here we come.

Have also slept in Florence railway station a couple of times, some other station somewhere I can't remember. Countless trains. Never slept on a beach but I can see myself roughing it/free camping again in Italy for a bit - hell when you are young or getting older, who cares - no need to impress anyone. What are they going to do?

MarkRD

What a poorly written article!

.. you learn more form the readers' comments.

modicasa

apart from the youth. hostel on the giudecca there aresome other hostelly type places in the heart of venice - one in particukar run by some, if i remember correctly, rosicrucians, in a beautiful old conventy type place at a ridiculously cheap cost. ill try and see if i can dig out the address. the youth hostel is military in its running, and i had the worst food poisoning of my life thas to its pasta, and they still chucked me out at 9 the next morning even though i couldnt physically walk. but it does have great views.

sunnysider

Funny story modicasa - not sure how many stars an establishment with wondrous views but food poisoning would rate on tripadvisor.

I also remember as a youth wandering in venice and coming across the PCI festa della unita. Pasta on a plastic plate, cheap but drinkable wine in a plastic cup, the local band (possibly not communist) doing a spirited rendition of Jesus Christ Superstar, no food poisoning. Oh italy how you've changed. Apologies if this thread has taken an odd turn. But am sure it can still be done if you have a will.

sunnysider

Maybe didn't make it clear - sorry - I didn't mean still sleep on the steps of Venice SL - I meant economical travel in general, not Venice (to which it's possible I won't return - have been several times) though including bits of Italy. I'm a newbie cycle tourist and from what I've seen of some of the campsites in Sardinia you are better "making your own arrangements".

Payday loans a thoroughly bad idea in my opinion for anything, maybe especially for a holiday. The name implies that you actually have the money (just waiting for payday) but of course folks haven't - otherwise they would, er, wait for payday, then head for St Marks.

Large parts of the Brit economy are built on payday loans and similar.

BRIAN 1

hi,we,re driving back to uk on monday via lido di jesolo for 3 nights,doing venice via ferry and packed lunches,i think thats doing venice on a budget.my oh went to lido when she was a kid she said it was like southend.for all you north of watford pepes simalar to skeggy,cheers brian.

sunnysider

Please report back on whether you are prevented eating them adjacent to a cityscape of your choice.

BRIAN 1

hi,thanks for info,i didnt know that but apparently its ok off the beaten track,i googled it,might be because of pidgeons i dont know,cheers brian.

Aby22

An easy way to eat on a budget there is to do Mystery Dining, you get the cost of your meal back for a report on the restaurant you visit. There is a UK company who do it so you can complete the report in English. You an do it all over Europe too! www.mysterydining.net it's easy and cost-effective, would recommend it. It's fun too!

linseed oil

just eat were the workers eat in tyhe back streets you will eat real venichan food at good prices not turisty muck at high prices we do tis in every citty we go in italy not been disapointed yet if your not sure ask a taxi driver