· I went to the Venice carnival in 2002 and it was better than I expected, especially as we managed to keep the budget down. Here are my top tips for having a fascinating trip at not-too-high a price...

1. Don't stay in Venice itself. Take a hotel in Treviso, on the mainland, and you'll find prices are much more reasonable. It's a quick bus ride away - we caught a bus directly from our door to the main stop in Venice, a journey of around 20 minutes.

2. Don't catch water taxis or gondolas- they're an expensive tourist trap. Instead, buy tickets on the slower, more colourful ferries that pick up and drop off at every stop along the river.

3. For any of the main tourist attractions, you must go early before the crowds build up. Check the tourist information office for a programme of daily live events (most of them free) so you can return if something special is going on.

4. You can't see all of the inside of the Basilica unless you pay (although you can walk around the parapets and catch a glimpse of the interior for free). However, if you attend all or some of a service, you can take it all in without charge and with maximum atmosphere.
Bobby Cerini

· Make all your own arrangements: fly into Marco Polo airport with one of the cheap airlines; use the Alilaguna service boat for transfers; book a hotel within walking distance of one of the boat stops with venere.com; avoid staying at the weekend for cheaper hotel rates; investigate the "Venice card" to see if it will be beneficial to you; remember that there will be plenty going on the week before Shrove Tuesday; take your own costume if you want to dress up and look out for "cheap eats" when you get there.
Marie Hale

· We went to the carnival last February. Book your flight early and try to book your hotel online before you go. We ended up paying around £120 for two including hotel and flights (three nights) from Bristol to Venice direct. You can buy passes for all buses (including water buses) at the airport - essential to see Venice at its best. Check out carnevale.venezia.it/carnevaleve/main_home.vpz for listings of events during the carnival.
Emmanuelle Ginn