I sure will, JES. Thanks.

Have had view/no view in Venice and been fine with both. If you can afford it comfortably, why not pop for the view? If not, 30E is a dinner, a bottle of wine, something else you might enjoy more.

Have a wonderful trip!

I was in Venice for 5 nights in April and splurged for a room with a canal view. When I got to my room, I realized that my “canal view” required that I open my window, lean over and look down 3 stories.

During my stay, I was up and out early, got back to the room after dark and therefore spent very little time in my room. One afternoon, I returned to my room to drop off some shopping and I heard gondoliers singing and playing the accordion out on the canal. I spent about 30 minutes watching them go by my window. Those 30 minutes made the extra cost worth it. I will remember this experience as long as I live.

That's exactly what I'm talking about roadless...! That's what it's all about:)

Thanks, Leely. I'm glad you had that memorable experience Roadless.

I've decided to get a room with the view; I'd rather spend the money than regret missing out on it later.

JES - Lisbona wrote me back. The room with a balcony is too expensive for me. But they still have rooms with view. Do you know if the superior double is 30 Euros better than the standard double?

Chris, I mentioned this on another thread a few mins. ago, the Gambero told me they only have one double with a balcony, and they can't guarantee it. Hoping other rooms with a view are still good views.

For €30, I'd say yes, assuming that it's not going to mean you can't eat or something.

I wish I could answer that, but when we there the place was full so I didn't get to snoop around and see the other rooms.
I would make sure that your window opens before booking.

Thanks JES; I just wrote to check on that.

Has anyone stayed at any of these?:

Locanda Ca' del Console
Hotel American
Hotel Galleria
Pensione Accademia
Hotel Gallini

marie,

they have two with a view. one with a balcony. the one with the view only is bigger on a corner and the window opened. rooms 203 and 204.

Maire - You should find *lots* of threads singing the praises of both the Galleria and the Accademia if you type the hotel names into the search box.

I've tried reservation requests at both each time I'm headed for Venice, and always found them fully booked. Buona fortuna!

Here's a late yes. I always like a view--one reason is that I wake up much earlier than Mrs. Fly does in the morning. I mean real early.

Having a canal view was great early in the morning because I got to watch the activities of the many service boats and barges that busy in the AM. Garbage barges, laundry boats, beer boats, craft bringing in fresh produce, etc., etc. It was really interesting.

You can realize why Venice is more expensive than other cities when you see everything being hauled around by handcart.

Thanks Chris, Lesli, and Rufus. I have decided on a canal view, and have almost decided which hotel. Plan to fax my little ol' cc number tomorrow.

Rufus, I have enjoyed the same scenes as you have..as I also get up real early. One morning when the hotel brought a coffee pot to my room they even pointed out the "funeral boat" that was just starting to pass by. Maire, I really think you will enjoy a canal view room!

Thanks, LoveItaly. I think I will, too. Can't wait to get it booked tomorrow. How is your finger doing???

Hi Maire, I don't know if this post will take or not as Fodor's seems to be "messed up" right now. But anyway that finger of mine..I will obviously have a bump on it but it has healed thank goodness. Thank you for inquiring. I so hope you reserve a hotel in Venice that will bring you great pleasure. I think you know I so hope that your entire trip throughout Italy will be joyous!!

Our family rented an apartment that was right on the canal with supposed views. When we arrived the canal was closed for maintenance and all we could view was the workmen and debris at the bottom of the canal. Ask all the right questions!

I would probably have enjoyed watching the workmen going about their cleanup chores! I have a low excitement threshhold.

In Venice last week, I walked by someplace I'd been offered a canal view for substantially more. It was as others have said, about 15 feet away from the building next door and the canal could only be seen if you looked straight down. Plus there was a rather noisy gondola stop right under the same windows. I'm not sure I'd be happy with paying for that type of view (well, some of the gondoliers were worth looking at, but I digress!)

I think when we think "Canal View" many of us assume it's a broad sprawling panorama of the Grand Canal, or at least a corner view of something you can see without hanging out the window itself. In many cases it is not, just take a look at a map to see how far off a canal the hotel is and it's easier to determine how worth it it is.

Just back from Venice. we stayed at the Accademia, and it was well worth it, and we DID have a canal view, but you had to lean over to see it. We were luckier than our friends, who were upstairs with an even bigger canal view (FIVE windows)but were kept awake by not only gondoliers, but kids from a nearby disco on Sat. nite. So everyone who has posted is correct - canal view is great, but it very much depends on WHERE you are on WHAT canal. Be very aware of that. I love to have a view, rooms are VERY important to me, but I would skip a canal view next time, to have a large, quiet room, and see lots of canals during the day trips here and there on foot and on vaporetto. It is truly a very magical place.