I agree staying in venice proper vs. lido (especially during the winter time since it's kind of a lo

I could have taken either 1 or 2 but decided to go with a bit of extreme and have finally reserved 3. 30 per night is the cheapest I will have ever paid in Venice. I have paid up to 280 per night ( low season at luxurious 4* hotel, 50m2 with 3 balconies on the Grand Canal) but am going budget more and more lately so that I can travel more often. And I have found out I can be fine with very budget places especially car rental company greece as long as I'm alone. Since I'm staying for 4 nights this time, with the money I saved I will pay a multi-course dinner at a 4* hotel on Christmas Eve when it's not obvious to find a open/available place.
I have had Christmas in Venice 4 - 5 times so far and can tell the rates at many hotels are the lowest or close to, during that time until just before the new years eve. I did consider Lido when I started travelling to Venice about 15 years ago and have returned almost every year since then, sometimes 2 or 3 times a year but have always stayed in Venice proper. Nothing wrong to stay in Lido for some but finally not my choice. I do like wandering around the night of Venice until around mid night so staying in Venice proper works better.
I agree staying in venice proper vs. lido (especially during the winter time since it's kind of a lonely there that time of the year). Dorsoduro or Castello have the cheaper hotels that time of the year since they are at the farther ends of the island.