lmavolio

Hi All - I am considering 2 hotels in Venice - Hotel American in the Dorsoduro area and Hotel Santa Marina in the Castello area. Any recommendations on which neighborhood is better for a hotel stay? I think both are relatively convenient to the major tourist sites, but I am looking to stay in an area which will give me the "real Venice feel." i.e, not too touristy, more Venetian with local restaurants, wine bars, etc. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated! Thanks - Laura

eliztrav

I don't know the Castello hotel you mention, but we did stay at the Hotel American and feel its location would be tough to beat. The Hotel American rooms are on the small side, though. We found them to be spotless and recently redecorated. We liked being close (just a few steps away) to the only campo ON the Grand Canal. And, access to this hotel with your luggage is relatively easy. You can arrive by water taxi (expensive, of course) as it is situated on the san vio canal. Or, get off at the Accademia Bridge vaporetto stop, go to the left until you reach the san vio about a 1-2 minute walk), cross one footbridge, and the American is to your right & clearly visible.

You could continue on walking to the Guggenheim and then to the Salute. There are some small shops in the area and restaurants. While I suspect tourists can be found nearly everywhere in Venice, it is not the mob scene like you find at San Marco or the Rialto during the day. I found Dorsoduro pleasant to wander around in, and much of it seems residential.

Cinart

We absolutely LOVED Ca'Della Corte in Dorsoduro. It is a charming restored Villa from the XVI century. Please look at their website: http://www.cadellacorte.com/ You can also find them on Veniceby.com It is right near the Campo S. Margarita--a real Venice square with great Pizzerias, gelato and a nightlife scene (locals). There is a University nearby. You need to take a vaporetto to the big toouristy sites, but this place is so convenient to the train station.

elaine

I think Dorsoduro is absolutely charming, but Castello is less touristed. As you say, it's not inconvenient, and much of it has plenty of charm, but it seems to be farther down on every visitor's must-see list.

Eloise

My vote is for Dorsoduro. Many of the main points of interest are in Dorsoduro, and at the San Toma vaporetto stop you can take a traghetto (a gondola that plies back and forth between the Dorsoduro and San Marco sides of the Grand Canal all day long).

But I do not see the advantage in being near the train station -- presumably, you only arrive once and you only depart once -- and having to take the vaporetto -- perhaps many times -- to get to the main points of interest in Venice.

I would suggest staying somewhere in Dorsoduro that neighbors on San Polo.

The location of the Hotel American is a little off the beaten path and will not be too touristy. Instead of the traghetto at San Toma, you can cross to San Marco by the Accademia bridge.

capo

I just looked at the Hotel American's website and I'd definitely choose that location. You're very close to the Accademica bridge, for easy access to San Marco but you're also close to the Zattere, the wide sunny promenade on the southern edge of Dorsoduro, facing the Giudecca Canal. I loved walking along the Zattere early in the morning, as Venice was awakening.