Djeser had some great advice as does RichardT. Do get the Vaporetto tourist pass(3 days)as Djeser said. Transportation is not cheap and that is your best bet to travel about without putting a hole in your pocket.I agree, DO NOT check into a hotel on the mainland! I did the last time I was there and lost precious hours getting to and from Venice. -Use your tourist vaporetto pass to go to Murano and Burano. These Venetian lagoon islands are great fun to visit and you'll especially love the wonderful pastel colors of Burano. They say the cemetary is good to visit too but I never have. Others say to forget the Lido. It's just a beach and expensive. -Splurge and do a romantic trip in a gondola in the evening. -Often they have people selling tickets to the opera in the streets. Buy a couple, what the heck. Opera is fun in Italy. -Eat lots of ice cream! Do not use the excuse of being on a diet not to eat some. It's the best in the world! -TAKE A DIGITAL CAMERA and come back with lots of stucco, old iron, wood, cobblestone, graffiti wall,etc. textures for the free stuff area! lol You'll both love it so have a marvelous trip!!!!!