This may help:

BOB’S FAVORITE HOTELS IN VENICE:

BEST MID-RANGE 3 STAR HOTELS: Prices will vary from 140 to 250E

• www.locandaorseolo.com Rave reviews in good location

• www.lacalcina.com Popular hotel in Dorsoduro on Zattere

• www.pensioneaccademia.it A Venice standard on Grand Canal

• www.cadeidogi.it Small hotel in Castello with decent prices

• www.cortegrimani.com Diverse family apts. in good location
SMALL B&Bs: PRICES VARY FROM 100E TO 220E AND BY SEASON

• www.corte1321.com Helpful hosts in San Polo area

• http://www.alpontemocenigo.com/ Nice place—off the path

• www.guesthouse.it Great value but not my favorite location

NICER 4 STAR HOTELS: prices range from 250 to 500E—vary by season

• www.ponteantico.com Lovely new place at Rialto on Grand Canal

• www.capisanihotel.it/ Boutique hotel near Accademia Bridge

• www.liassidpalacehotel.com Lovely amenities in Castello

• http://hotel-venezia-metropole.com/ Fabulous location but pricey

WILD CARD OPTIONS: Hotel & apartment options worth consideration:

• www.hotelmessner.it Well priced rooms & apts. in Dorsoduro

• http://www.palazzettodaschio.it/ Apts. in a real 16th century villa

• http://www.hotelflora.it/en/ Great location close to San Marco

In the San Marco area, but not right at the Piazza the Duodo Palace Hotel. There is a canal entrance for water taxi's and a street entrance as well. There is an elevator, and the front desk staff were very nice and professional. The rooms are nice and fairly large for Venice, and the breakfast was good too. The hotel is very close to La Fenice.

I stayed here in September and found it to be very comfortable, well located and quiet.

Bob- Thank you for your recommendations! I am researching them now!.
Considering the Hotel FLora and Locando Orseolo, as well as Pensione La Calcina,
We will be there 3 nights in mid-late April. Your favorite?

Also, a question re: Airport transfers.... We leave from Venice EARLY in the am, like at 7 am, to return home (via Rome to head back to Miami)..... are any of these hotels any easier access to the airport? I guess we will need a 4 am wake up!!

Hotel Marconi - right at the Rialto Bridge

http://www.hotelmarconi.it/eng/index.html


http://marconi.hotelinvenice.com/

Agree with Bob's recs; we are at Locanda Orseolo in late March for 7th stay. Would also consider Al Ponte Antico (same family runs it).

This is probably a situation where I would spring for a water taxi from the hotel to the airport.

Pensione La Calcina (which we love) is very near the Zattere stop for the Alilaguna "Blue Line" which goes to the airport, but the first departure (4:40 a.m., arriving at the airport at 6:07 a.m.) will not be early enough if your flight is 'at' 7:00 a.m.

http://www.alilaguna.it/en/linea-blu/map

The ATVO express bus from Piazzale Roma to the airport is very quick. Probably less than 30 minutes, starting I think around 5:00 a.m. But you'd have to get to Piazzale Roma, so whether that works well for you would depend on the hotel.

http://www.atvo.it/index.php?lang=en&area=23&menuid=35

so does it make sense to stay at a hotel near the airport instead? that is crazy! I will double check our actual departure time .....

Another vote for the Locanda Orseolo, loved it. We also had an early morning flight and sprang for the water taxi, which came right to the water door in the hotel, very convenient, at that early hour I am not interested in any complicated commuting.
Also it was really fun to leave Venice in this manner,streaking across the waves watching her recede into the distance; it felt a bit like being in a Bond movie! How often do you go to the airport in this manner?

In any event I would not stay near the airport.