Simon Calder says: Venice has the edge for perfect mini-break

 
Hidden corner: crowd-free early winter is the ideal time to visit Venice
Simon Calder20 October 2014

For a trip taken during the first week in December, would you recommend a mini-break to Rome or Venice? Please advise. — Shari Rendle, Blackheath

The first week in December is an excellent time to travel almost anywhere. You can expect low fares and an absence of crowds. It’s particularly good for Italy, where temperatures should be higher than London, and even if it rains incessantly there are wonderful restaurants, churches and museums in which to escape.

The rational answer to your question is Rome: the city is vibrant in Advent, with plenty of energy and diversions. You can also reach the city ridiculously cheaply at that time of year: flying out on Thursday, December 4, back on Monday, December 8, Ryanair has availability from Stansted to Rome’s Ciampino airport for £50 return or less, while BA from Heathrow to Leonardo da Vinci airport is around £130.

Yet the emotional answer is Venice, even though it will be chilly and misty. It could feel faintly moribund, with some shops, bars and restaurants closed. Early winter is the perfect time to explore its hidden corners and appreciate, in splendid isolation, the essence of a miraculous city.

On a pragmatic note, an acclaimed British guide to Italy, James Hill, reminds me: “It’s worth remembering that high tide in Venice can be at its worst then. Then again, the problems relating to high water can be avoided if you stay on the central districts of Dorsoduro and San Polo. San Marco always floods more than the other districts.” So take your wellies.

Most flights to Venice are from Gatwick (handier from Blackheath), and on the first weekend of December easyJet will charge around £80 return, BA about £130.

Email your queries to s@hols.tv

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