Franco's favourite ... Venetian accomodation
 

My basic demand as to accomodations in Venice is that they have a well-equipped kitchen: I love to cook some meals on my own (since restaurants in Venice are most often more expensive than good, but the markets of Venice are splendid). Thus, I only book apartments, never a hotel room.
And there is (as seasoned Fodorites know all too well) one apartment that I prefer to any other, and I've recommended it often on Fodor's: the Rosa di Venezia (www.rosadivenezia.com). Other than having the well-equipped kitchen that I require, it boasts extraordinarily beautiful and tasteful furnishing and decoration (IMO, at least), and a tiny balcony with a stunning, terrific, splendid, unforgettable view on the small canal where it is located – actually, even a canal crossing. Btw, the Bridge of Sighs is on that very same canal, so the apartment is just around the corner (ok, two corners) from Piazza San Marco – even with many tourists, you wouldn't have to walk more than two minutes, and yet, the tourist crowds won't follow you to the apartment: they simply never turn around the (second) corner! It's the owners' own holiday apartment (they're not Italian, but Austrian), and they'll urge you to treat everything with respect (honestly, I'd do the same – they have some antique pieces of furniture in the apartment). The price of 160 Euros per night (and less for longer stays) seems more than reasonable to me.

If this apartment doesn't meet your taste or requirements, or if it is unavailable (as it happens to me, from time to time), try www.ladolcevitarentals.com for well-maintained budget accomodations; or www.vaporettovenice.com for some beautiful, but very pricey, apartments with excellent customers' service (I don't understand the prices they're giving on their website – maybe they're per person, or just valid from January 10th to 31st, at least, I've paid much more than they're indicating).

Please note: This thread is not primarily meant for discussion… it's primarily meant for substituting myself while work won't permit regular posting during the next six or so months. I'll try to check once a week, however, so if anyone would like me to answer any questions related to accomodation in Venice, please post them here – I won't unfortunately be able to browse all the other threads…

I thought I’d provide one final service: linking all “Franco’s favourite…” threads to each other, in order to make them more easily accessible to future users:

Venice:
food & restaurants: http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34791666
sightseeing & transportation: http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34791890

Rome:
where to stay: http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34792021
food & restaurants http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34792415
sightseeing: http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34792538

Umbria: http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34792839

In case that anybody hesitates to ask just because of my currently scarce presence on Fodor’s, I’d like to repeat that if you’d like me to answer any questions related to the topic of this thread, just post them here – I’m checking rarely, but regularly, but only my “own” threads due to work pressure.

ttt

Bookmarking - gotta go back!

bookmarking...

bookmarking ...thanks!

Hotel Antiche Figure is number one in tripadvisor. But it seems to be far from the main attractions. Is it worth it to stay there?

zizz - I don't know that hotel, but certainly it's far from the main sights, and I would never stay there (even if I'd stay in hotels in Venice, which I don't, as you'll have noted above): first, it's in one of the least attractive quarters of Venice, to put it friendly - in fact, this is a tourist rip-off quarter, cheap atmosphere, and the most horrible restaurants of Venice around you. Second, the view from that hotel is on the Canal Grande, ok, but - it's opposite the train station!, so what do you see from your Canal Grande window? The train station... and though it is true that no other train station boasts a view like Venezia-Santa Lucia when coming out on the Canal Grande, this is of course only true because the train station itself is in your back: the station is as ugly as any other anywhere. Thus, wonderful as this hotel may be (and I repeat, I don't know it), I wouldn't consider staying there.

I posted this on your other thread too.
sorry I didnt see this one.

Franco,
do you know anything about the ca foscari apts. or that area in Venice?
Thank you so much for your time.

JandaO - I don't know these apartment; I've seen it on the web (I hope it's the same you're talking about), and I must say the furnishing doesn't attract (rather, on the contrary), and the apartment seems fairly dark (in Venice, it's so difficult to find an apartment or a hotel room, or a flat, for those who live there, full of light and sun - consequence of the narrow, winding medieval lanes!).
But the quarter around the Ca' Foscari university is certainly nice, casual, and (for the quiet Dorsoduro residential sestiere) lively.

Hi Franco,
Thanks so much for taking the time to put your thoughts here. I'm wondering if you have an opinion on the neighborhood that we will be staying in during our visit in September.

Oltre il giardino - CasaiFrari
Fondamenta Contarini
San Polo 2542 - 30125 - Venezia

The hotel is pretty new and a bit far away from all the main attractions. We thought it would be nice to see another area and be in some place quiet. Thanks for any insight you can share, including restaurants and hidden things to do or see in the neighborhood.

iwannago - this hotel (no need to stress that I don't know it!) is in an enviable, wonderful location! - very good choice! It's not so far from some of the main attractions: the Frari church is just around the corner (to the left), and the Scuola Grande di S. Rocco just around the corner from there; and if you turn right instead of left, it's two steps to Campo S. Stin, one of the nicest little squares of Venice!
Please: even if the hotel offers a breakfast, and even if it's included in the price, and if you've already paid it: skip it! Take your breakfast on Campo S. Stin, you'll love it. There is a very nice coffee bar there - have breakfast with the locals!

wannago - this hotel (no need to stress that I don't know it!)


Franco, dude, you gotta be kiddin' me...it's like, you're the ONLY one who knows Venezia, is that it? (smile)

whatever!

I am sure I speak for many when I say, "I am glad you are back, Franco."

hello ek, yes, I'm back, but just for this weekend - a short downtime before the second phase of my work project starts. From tomorrow on, I'll return to most irregular posting...

Spygirl - no, I'm not the only one who knows Venice, not at all. It just seems that nobody currently posting on Fodor's has spent as much time there as I have - minimum six, rather eight months over the last 16 years (all my visits summed up). This thread is not named "The accomodations of Venice" but "Franco's favourite Venetian accomodation", and its third sentence reads "I only book apartments, never a hotel room", so I thought it would be no big surprise that I don't know the vast majority of hotels. At least, it was clear for iwannago, since s/he asked me about the neighbourhood, and I hope I've been able to give a satisfactory answer to that question. If you don't agree on the coffee bar on Campo S. Stin, just write "IMO, the coffee they're brewing is abominable", or something like that. But in fact, there are some people who trust my Venice knowledge to the degree of asking me questions - sorry if this is a problem for you, but remember, nobody is being forced to; if they want to ask you instead, they easily can, especially if you open your own thread; name it, for example, "Spygirl may be somewhat impolite, but she welcomes your questions on Venice", but please don't waste your and our time accosting other Fodorites.

iwannago, one more hint - don't miss the Scuola Grande di S. Giovanni Evangelista, it's pretty near to your hotel, and it's one of the most wonderful examples of early Renaissance in Venice. As far as eating out, Capitan Uncino on Campo S. Giacomo dall'Orio (my favourite Venice square) is not far away - see my "Venetian food" thread, the link is in this thread, further above.

franco,

I am still LOL...you have a wonderful way with words...THAT was a perfect response....!

Franco - wow, many thanks, that's just the kind of intel I needed to feel great about my choice. I'll be sure to take breakfast in Campo S. Stin! I can't wait to check your recommendations out. Thanks again, and good luck on your project.
Terry

Spygirl: Thanks for weighing in, but a couple of thoughts... I did ask for Franco's input and s/he was nice enough to take the time to share some terrific experience. That's what makes this site such a huge help for people like me. Second, your comment added absolutely no value to my trip planning chores and ya know, Mom always taught me, if you can't say something nice it's just best to keep it to yourself.

You are right about the restaurants; renting an apartment appeals to me.

thank you Franco, you're a dear.