Ala or Locanda Leon Bianco
 

Message: Fodorities to the rescue please! I need your votes on Ala or Leon Bianco for June 24-27, 2004.
Hotel Ala has a deluxe with queen for 170E then 200E for last 2 nights. Leon Bianco has 2 nights with small canal view for E140 and grand canal view the last night for E180. What would you do?

My first suggestion would be to do a search here on both hotels for previous comments.

I haven't stayed at either hotel, but know the locations of both. The Ala is in a small campo in the San Marco district...a good location close to the action, but away from the crowds. The Leon Bianco is in the Cannaregio where we stayed a few months ago. The location is also nice, but the walk takes about 20 minutes to San Marco.

Truthfully, I would not want to waste time switching rooms and would stay in whichever hotel can give you one room for entire stay.

Can't help with Leon Bianco but we like the Ala very much. It is in a central location, easy to walk almost everywhere but off the beaten path so it is quiet except for the occasional singing gondolier passing beneath your window and the chiming of nearby church bells. The service is excellent, the breakfast is included and quite good and rooms and baths are very nice.

A grand canal view is a wonderful thing to have, especially for a honeymoon. However, I agree that you shouldn't change rooms. Also note that the Leon Bianco does not have air conditioning, which might be important in late June. The people are very nice, and I was satisfied with my stay there, but I do not think it is the right hotel for a honeymoon.

We stayed at the Ala and were satisfied in every way. Location was great, close to a lot, yet still quiet. Canal view sounds lovely, but I would probably pick a/c over view.

We stayed at the Locanda L.B. 2 yrs ago, having a front room with Grand Canal view.
The room is lovely but we were there in May when it was cooler.
I imagine that A/C could be pretty important late June.
As far as the small canal view rooms,
we had a corner room so there was a window looking out onto the small canal also.
The buildings across the canal are fairly close , the canal being narrow.

Enjoy your trip!!

The Ala is a much better location--my choice location in Venice.