plafield

I have read some nice reviews of Pensione La Calcina on this board and others and we had decided to spend 4 nights there next May. They offered us a corner room with clear views of the canal/Goedecca for 200 euros a night, a splurge for us but it looked so beautiful on the website we decided to go for it. When we wrote to confirm, they said they needed 3 nights payment ($779) sent by personal check by September to hold the room and did not state anything about a refund policy. They said the balance could be paid by credit card. I did write asking about cancelleaton policy and haven't heard back yet.

It seems odd to me that a place that takes credit cards would not be willing to use a credit card for a deposit and wants three nights paid upfront 9 months ahead. Has anyone else experienced this and what do you all think about it? Should we be looking for somewhere else to stay on Venice or just pay up? We've have been considering casa Rezzonico, less expensive, away from the madding crowds, but they have no canal view. Opinions please!

enzian

We booked for five nights and they requested payment in advance for one. That was for an April visit, so it may vary by month and demand. There is a long thread going here about La Calcina and this policy---you chould check that.

i_am_kane

I just came across your post, and wanted to respond about Casa Rezzonico.

This small (7 rooms) pensione is located on the Fondamenta Gheradini, which is a small canal, and located in the Dorsoduro section. It is located in a very quiet neighborhood and just a quick walk to Campo Santa Margherita.

We stayed there in June, 2006 and, if I remember correctly, there is only one room that looks directly onto the small canal. That room is located on the ground floor. There is another room on the ground floor that faces the garden (both can accommodate up to 4 people).

The second floor has a staircase that takes up the space facing the canal, and the third floor, which has one large room faces the garden.

MaureenB

We didn't stay at either hotel, because they were unavailable, but we did investigate them both last May. Actually, my daughter had stayed before at Casa Rezzonico during Carnivale and she liked it.

While it's nice, I don't think the Casa R compares to La Calcina in location and amenities and decoration. We had Mother's Day brunch at La Calcina's waterside restaurant and it was wonderful. The lobby looked quite nice and the front desk person was very gracious in answering our questions and providing a brochure for a future visit.

So many on this forum recommend La Calcina highly, and I haven't read of anyone feeling cheated by them. Do a search and you'll find lots of threads which refer to La Calcina.

Casa R is in a small, quiet area, which is nice, too. But if you can get a corner view room at La Calcina, I'd go for it myself.

suze

I've stayed at La Calcina twice, love that hotel!! I think its (well deserved) popularity is why they can and have changed their reservations policies. When I first went about 10 years ago no deposit was required.

Only you can decide if it's worth it to you, but I have never once seen a posting that anyone was dissatisfied with this hotel.

abby97

We are staying there beginning September 8th (!!!), and when I booked in January, they requested payment for 2 nights. I too was concerned about paying in advance, but I read several threads here and found that it had never been a problem for anyone. Here is what their e-mail confirmation to me said about cancellation:

"This deposit will obviously be deducted from your bill at your departure. You will lose your deposit only if you cancel this booking after 12.00 noon Italian time of September 3rd 2006."

JaneRebecca

Plafield;
I believe that this link will get you to another thread on this subject:
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34840590

francophile03

You know while this hotel is popular your stay isn't until almost a year from now. To ask you for not one night's deposit but three nights is ridiculous to me. Can you imagine what you can do with that $779 in the meantime? Instead the hotel will have that money to use and if they are asking this from all prospective guests imagine how much money they are collecting upfront.

brewlew

Three nights seems a lot to me. We just stayed at Pensione Accademia and had to send a check for one night when we reserved. FYI, we had dinner at La Piscina, the restaurant at La Calcina, and it is a really beautiful view.