Venice Carnival 2021

Overview

The following information applies to our Venice 2020 trip.
The program for 2021 is likely to be similar, but cannot yet be confirmed.
You can now pre-reserve a spot by sending us an email at info@expatclub.org,
or by simply completing the RSVP box on this page.

The Venetian Carnival is the world’s most famous celebration. It attracts millions of people from all over the world to see the most extraordinary and flamboyant costumes and masks. This once-in-a-lifetime experience can be enjoyed best in the company of a nice group of people, especially because we arrange special guided tours, reserved entrances and an interesting mask-making demonstration. Venice is not a true bucket list item in and of itself, but Venice during Carnival is like returning to Wimbledon for the finals. A once-in-a-lifetime experience, and Expat Club travels this year again during the top weekend.

We are going with a diverse group of open-minded expats from Brussels. Belgians, visiting friends and non-members are welcome to join us. We fly direct from Brussels Airport to Venice San Marco airport (earlier flight than last year, so you have 4+ hours more in Venice), organise private speed boat transfers to the city, and stay in a great 4* hotel in Venice (better location than 2019), include a 48-hours pass for the “Vaporetti” (public transportation boats). Leave the organisation up to Expat Club and just have a great time!

Pictures

Welcome to Venice

This 3-day weekend trip will give you an introduction to the magical city of Venice as well as the world-famous Carnival.

Introduction to Venice

If this is your first time to Venice, have a look at these stunning images from this incredibly beautiful city | © video by National Geographic

Flying into Venice

Marco Polo, the main airport of Venice. We fly here with a direct flight from Brussels Airport | by RUI Sousa, friend of Fufu33 (own work), via Wikimedia Commons

Getting to Venice

After arrival at San Marco Airport, you will be taken straight to Venice by private boat. See the city come closer and closer.

Eurostars Residenza Cannaregio

We will be staying in the very nice 4* hotel Eurostars Residenza Cannaregio. This hotel is the perfect blend of Venetian architecture with exclusive modern comfort. It even has an inner garden, a rarity in Venice.

Friday evening guided city tour

After arriving in our hotel a local professional tourist guide will be waiting for us to take us through Venice. This picture was from our trip during the Redentore festival in July 2018.

The Rialto Bridge

The famous Rialto bridge. We will be having dinner close to this architectural masterpiece | © By canadastock - Shutterstock

Venice from above

Losing your way in Venice is no problem. Indeed, finding the right route is often tricky, but at the same time that is the unique about this magical city. You never know what you're going to bump into. | © Lukas Kastner - Shutterstock

Discover Venice

If you like surprises, Venice is the best place on the planet. It has so many lovely little corners, charming squares, beautiful buildings and so much more. It is just waiting for you to be discovered.

A river runs through it

Did you know Venice has more than 150 canals? One is so big they called it the Canal Grande. At 30 to 70 meters wide, 5 meters deep, and with a length of 3,5 kilometers it feels more like an actual river than a canal.

Cruising through Venice

The city's public transportation map does not consist of bus, tram and metro lines, but of boat lines. The Vaporetto boats take you quickly from one place to the other, either through the Canal Grande or one of the other larger canals, or simply all around the main islands, as well as to the other big islands, like Murano and Lido.

Famous buildings along Canal Grande

There are countless splendid buildings in the Venetian style along the Canal Grande. A boat ride from train station to San Marco already guarantees dozens of pictures. This is the Museum of Natural History.

Churches of Venice

The Canal Grande ends very close San Marco Square, but right before that it leads you along the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute | © By Mariia Golovianko - Shutterstock

Piazza San Marco

The San Marco square forms the very heart of Venice, and is often ranked among the most beautiful squares in the world. No wonder, because it boasts the Doge Palace, the San Marco Basilica and the Campanile tower, all overlooking the Venetian laguna. Due to its importance and the many tourist attraction we will be spending several hours here on Saturday morning.

Palazzo Ducale

The Doge's Palace is built in the typical Venetian Gothic style and is one of the main landmarks of the city. It was the residence of the Doge of Venice, the supreme authority of the former Republic of Venice. During our Saturday morning tour we will visit this splendid building with its beautifully decorated rooms.

San Marco Basilica

Coined as one of the world's most beautiful churches, the Basilica of San Marco is both outside and inside a true gem. Unfortunately taking pictures inside is not allowed, so you have to take our word for it that its golden domed ceiling is beyond anything that you have every seen before.

Climb the Campanile

The difficulty of being on a tower is that you can take fantastic 360˚ panoramic pictures, but you cannot take a picture of the tower itself. With a height of almost 100 meters (by elevator), the Campanile is a must-do attraction in the city!

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And now what you all have been waiting for, the Venice Carnival!

Costumes & masks

During the second weekend of Carnival the city will be flooded with the most stunning costumes and masks. You will have plenty of opportunities to take pictures of and with them. | © Samot - Shutterstock

Venetian masks

Many couples dress up for the occasion after spending many hours on preparing their costumes and masks.

Venetian masks

There are many shops in town where you can buy your own mask.

Venetian mask

The Jester (male) or Jolly mask is a specific type of clown mask associated with the Middle Ages. Although it originated in Italy, it later influenced theater all over Europe.

Festa delle Marie

This traditional procession leads to Piazza San Marco, where the twelve “Marias” will be introduced to the people. It evokes the homage that the Venetian Doge offered every year to twelve beautiful but humble venetian girls, offering them magnificent jewels as a bridal dowry." (www.carnevale.venezia.it, video by Venezia Unica). During our trip you will be able to see the procession on Saturday afternoon.

Il Volo dell'Angelo

The Flight of the Angel is a traditional event you can experience on Sunday morning. It goes back to the Serenissima period where an unknown guest of Venice, flying along a rope from San Marco bell tower to the middle of the square, will offer an homage to the Doge. | © video by Unica Venezia

Murano

If you like glass, a visit to the island of Murano is indispensable. At just 10 minutes by boat from Venice you will be able to see the glass museum and many glass factories and shops. | © Martina Lanotte - Shutterstock

Burano

The island of Burano lies about 30 minutes North of Venice. With its many bright colourful houses it feels totally different than the more serious building styles of Venice itself, but as part of the greater Metropolitan area it is a truly Venetian experience | © Adisa - Shutterstock

Venice without tourists

Venice is one of those cities that is overflown with tourists. The best time to take pictures without anyone in them would be the (very) early mornings | © Rudy Balasko - Shutterstock

Program

As with all Expat Club trips, our program has been carefully designed. We normally don’t deviate much from our schedule, but all times below are still indicative and may change if required by circumstances, such as traffic conditions. Note that during this trip the group focuses on the carnival festivities, but that we will coordinate if people would like to visit certain museums or other parts of town (e.g. Murano/Burano).

Friday 14 February
07h45 – Meeting at Brussels Airport
09h50 – Direct flight to Venice Marco Polo (main airport)
11h25 – Arrival Venice Marco Polo + private speed boat transfer
12h30 – Arrival hotel
13h30 – Guided tour
15h30 – End guided tour
16h30 – Mask making demonstration
20h30 – Dinner

Saturday 15 February
09h00 – Guided tour Doge Palace & San Marco Basilica
12h00 – Visit Campanile tower (optional)
13h00 – Lunch near San Marco
14h30 – Feste delle Marie parade & free time (e.g. Murano visit)
20h00 – Venetian Carnival Party Cruise, dinner & drinks included (optional)
00h00 – End cruise

Sunday 16 February
09h00 – Morning walk towards Piazza San Marco / free time
11h00 – The Flight of the Angel (time t.b.c.)
12h00 – Lunch / free time
14h00 – Departure to San Marco Airport by private speedboat
16h15 – Direct flight to Brussels Airport
17h55 – Arrival Brussels

Transportation

We will be flying directly from Brussels Airport to Venice San Marco with a comfortable morning flight. Last year we arrived several hours later in the afternoon, so you can add that to exploring the beautiful city of Venice and the islands of Burano and Murano.

• • SN3201 – Brussels (09h50) – Venice (11h25)
  • SN3206 – Venice (16h15) – Brussels (17h55)

You can check in a bag/suitcase of 23kg, so you won’t have to worry about taking a nice costume with you. No rush, others will certainly check-in a bag, so you shouldn’t worry about being the last one if you don’t travel with hand luggage only.

Upon arrival at Venice San Marco Airport (not farther Treviso Airport) we will board private speedboats that will bring us straight to our hotel. How easy and romantic would you like to have it? Seeing Venice coming closer is really a magnificent sight! All participants of our Carnival 2019 trip thought this was one of the very best moments.

Accommodation

For this trip we arranged the superb 4* Bellini Hotel, right on the Canal Grande! It is located only 2 minutes from the Venice Santa Lucia Train Station and a “Vaporetto” station (public boat). Bellini offers classic Venetian-style rooms with air conditioning. Set in a 19th-century building, it features free WiFi throughout, an elegant entrance hall and a small garden.

Each room is spacious and includes a private bathroom with bath or shower, and a minibar. Some rooms offer an enchanting view over the Grand Canal. A buffet breakfast is served in the bright dining room, and features both sweet and savuory items. The entrance hall comes with antique marbles and a magnificent Murano glass chandelier. The Bellini hotel has outstanding reviews and we’re sure you will love it. We can offer single rooms (with 1 single bed), double rooms (1 double bed, for couples), twin rooms (2 single beds for 2 people sharing). Of course a good breakfast is included in your package already.

Room types
In this hotel we can offer you a single room (for 1 person, surcharge applies), a double room (one large bed for a couple or parent/child), or a twin bed room (2 single beds, for 2 friends sharing or for 2 solo travellers who would like to share and prevent paying for the single surcharge). You can indicated your preference during the checkout process.

Room sharing option
For 2 friends travelling together we can offer a comfortable twin room with 2 single beds. These rooms are also offered to our solo travellers who would rather not pay the surcharge for a single room. We offer this free service for those travelling alone to share a room with another traveller. During the reservation process you can simply indicate you would like to stay in a twin room. You will not have to worry about finding a room partner. During the trip to Venice we namely introduce you to the other ladies and gentlemen who also would like to share a room. Naturally we only offer single gender rooms.

Dinner

On Friday evening we will have dinner in a great restaurant at a stone’s throw from the Rialto bridge. We will be enjoying a four course dinner. You are cordially invited to join us, but of course the dinner is optional. You can register during checkout.

Menu pesce – €70
Antipasto:Misto di pesce cotto Al Remer: capasanta gratinata, sarde e gamberi in saor, insalata di mare, schie con polenta
Primo: Tagliolini neri con polpa di granchio e pomodori datteri
Secondo: Filetto di branzino in salsa allo zafferano con contorno di patate

Menu carne – €70
Antipasto:Carne marinata con scaglie di tartufo nero
Primo: Maccheroncini al ragu di angus
Secondo: Tagliatina di roast-beef irlandese (al rosmarino o aceto balsamico)
Contorno: Patate o verdure

Menu vegetarian – €65
Antipasto: Tortino di ricotta e pistacchi su cremina di peperoni
Primo: Tortelli ripieni di porri ed asiago su cremina di asiago e porri croccanti sopra
Secondo: Tomino alla piastra con verdure di stagione

Dessert
Biss di tiramisu e pannacotta ai frutti di bosco

Drinks
1/2 bottiglia di vino a persona
Acqua
Caffè

Comments

• The trip will be carried with Brussels Airlines.
• This trip is carefully planned. Still, all timings are indicative and may change if required by circumstances.
• The trip is sold as a package. You cannot go with your own transportation and/or arrange your own accommodation. If there are specific things that you do or do not want in the package, please let us know and we may consider an up-sell or a small discount on a case by case basis.
• You are personally responsible for getting a good travel insurance that covers you for any unforeseen emergencies and medical expenses during the trip. We also advise you to get a travel cancellation insurance in case you cannot join anymore (e.g. due to illness or a family emergency).
• You are personally responsible for using the hotel room in an appropriate way. Any missing or broken items will be billed after the trip. If you share the room with someone else you are equally responsible for leaving it the way you found it.
• Expat Club cannot be held liable for long delays that influence the program, for instance delayed or cancelled flights that lead to missed guided tours, neither can Expat Club be held liable for weather-related cancellations or any other unforeseen events that influence the course of the trip, including, but not limited to technical problems with the airplane, water taxi, blocked streets / canals etc. We are doing our very best to pro-actively avoid problems and possibly adapt the program in the most optimal way.
• Expat Club cannot be held liable for personal injuries during the trip, such as, but not limited to, things that happen during the visit the various festivities in the city.
• Expat Club cannot be held liable for you losing your way in Venice. It is your responsibility to stay with the group and to find your own way back if necessary, as well as to be on time for all departures.
• If you do not have a room partner and you still would like to share a room (male/male, female/female), then we will introduce you to all other ladies or gentlemen in the group in the same position. During the outbound trip we will connect you with others in the same position. If you opt for the room-sharing, you will not have to pay the single fee if there is in the end no one else to share the room with, unless you decide to take a single room during the trip. In that case you will have to fully pay for it yourself.
• If you book a double / twin room and your travel partner cancels, either from the same order or from a separate one once you indicated you want to share the room with him or her, you will have to pay the single room supplement.
• Expat Club may “upgrade” or “downgrade” you to another hotel. In case of a downgrade, you will receive a reasonable compensation. This is not our normal way of working, but it does happen that hotels accidentally overbook or experience problems (Expat Club itself does never overbook trips!).