We arrived in Venice 2 years ago on an Easter Sunday. Seemed like business as usual at the train station, etc. The Westin Europa hotel did have an excessive amount of chocolate for the kids! After check in, I remember walking around and going out to dinner. Again, business as usual. I don't know about monuments and tours though...

By the way, we loved all the price fixed "tourist menus". Initially, we avoided them thinking "who wants anything labelled tourist". They ended up being the best meals. And loved the pizza by the meter restaurant in the main square...

Jill02 ... Thanks for the info ...

Did you stay at the Westin ? If so, how was it ?

Jill02 Sorry, didn't see that you did check-in at the hotel. Anyway, How was it?

Nothing special apart from the obvious (church services & the odd church-based procession in the morning). All the shops & restaurants are open. Blimey, you are doing detailed planning well ahead, aren't you?!

caroline edinburgh .... Thanks for the info .... I don't know how "detailed" my planning is.
Haven't got any hotel reservations yet . Any suggestions for a hotel on the Grand Canal
with a view ?

Thinking about actual activities for any day next year seems pretty detailed to me! I've never stayed on the Grand Canal myself so can't speak from experience, but basically it's all lovely except the top end near the railway station and particularly near Piazzale Roma. Generally it gets more expensive the nearer you get to St Mark's Square.

I've no idea what it's like inside but I've always thought the Palazzo Stern has a very good location and it's right next to the Ca'Rezzonico vaporetto stop (although it's definitely *not*, as its website claims, "a few steps from St Mark's Square" - but personally I wouldn't want to be).

Budget? How long are you staying and how are you arriving & leaving? That may suggest some priorities like being near a vaporetto/Alilaguna boat stop. Others with personal experience of Grand Canal hotels will no doubt be able to advise if you give an idea of your budget, but it's probably best to start a new thread with a specific title.

I too arrived in Venice on Easter Sunday at the Westin Europa and Regina. However, that was in 2005. We had lunch in the restaurant, and they had a huge chocolate Easter egg, small chocolate foil-wrapped ones and real ones.

The hotel was very nice and had lovely, grand public spaces. My room was very large and even had a view of Santa Maria della Salute, across the Grand Canal.

I don't recall doing much other than walking around that afternoon.

I really enjoyed the Westin. I stayed last year at the Hotel Danieli on the far side of Piazza San Marco. Some of those rooms have beautiful views of the Lagoon, San Giorgio Maggiore and the Giudecca. While their public rooms are beautiful, I felt my room could have used a slight update. I have also stayed at the Luna Baglioni, which is also on the Grand Canal. It is just outside of Piazza San Marco and very near Harry's Bar.

Last year we had drinks at the floating lounge of the Hotel Gritti Palace. It was lovely, and it is on the Grand Canal near Santa Maria del Giglio. The Hotel Bauer is near the Gritti as well.

hi deedeedee, we arrived in Venice one good friday evening expecting the place to be closing like the UK does, but nothing could be further from the truth. even on Easter Sunday there was loads of activity; I think that even the Accademia opened in the afternoon.

you won't starve and you won't be alone.

Thanks for all the replys

We are coming from Florence by train & leaving from the airport using water taxis.
Looks like we will be there for 2 or 3 nights. I was there at Thanksgiving & stayed
at the Savolia & Jolanda. Didn't care for the location. I have stayed at the Westin and
at the Luna a couple of years ago & enjoyed them both. I would like to try a smaller type of hotel & am thinking of the Al Ponte Antico or something on that level. Our budget is
(hopefully) $600.00 per night. (wanting a view of the canal $$$$$ ) Thanks again ...

Would welcome any hotel suggestions ( I think that the Gritti is undergoing renovations)

Yes, the Gritti is all wrapped up at the moment and has been since some time before we arrived - but I don't imagine they'll keep it closed for over a year!

We loved the Westin. We had planned to use spg points all over Europe to make the trip with our family of 5 affordable but it didn't work out because there are no hotel rooms for 5. So, we ended up dumping a ton of points and got two adjoining rooms on the grand canal that were spectacular. Even so, we had to smuggle in the third kid! Brunch was phenomenal. The location was perfect. The hotel offered a free glass factory tour where the taxi picks you up on the private dock. We felt rich!

But, in the spirit of full disclosure, what my kids really loved was the next accommodation in Sorrento at a sparse monetary! We had 5 hospital beds on a linoleum floor and they LOVED it. Must have been something special about the Tang with the nuns in the morning!

Jill02 - confession is good for the soul!

do tell where it was that you stayed in Sorrento!

It was in Sant'Agnello. Can't recall the name but you can find it on Venere (search Sorrento and to narrow it say a room for 5). It had rave reviews. The nuns were as sweet as could be. No key to the building! They buzz you in all hours of the night.. Such a rich unforgettable experience!