Franco's favourite ... Venetian accomodation
Sep 15th, 2006, 12:00 PM
#23
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Wow, you offer somuch great info. Thanks. We are in Venice for a few days and on a budget. I was wondering if you were familiar with either HOtel Bernardi or Hotel Dalla Mora and had any feedback to offer on either interms of their location to sights and both train and airport, and if they are a good value. Thanks again!
Sep 24th, 2006, 12:10 PM
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Honeybear - I'm sorry, but as I keep telling everybody, I'm not familiar with most Venetian hotels, since I'm always booking apartments... As far as prices, both hotels seem rather good value; as far as location, both are in nice areas, but the dalla Mora is quite inconveniently located - this is one of the few corners of Venice from where really EVERYTHING is far away (except for the parking lots and train station, but who cares for parking lots and train stations?). I'd prefer the Bernardi for that matter, though you must not believe what they're advertising "two steps from St. Mark's square" - this is of course a bold lie, rather, it's a fifteen minutes rush walk, or 40 minutes if you take the vaporetto.
Sep 25th, 2006, 09:13 AM
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Thank you for that info, as it makes my decision easy. We do not mind walking 15 or 20 minutes, just looking at everything. I understand that is the charm of Venice anyway and as I am a photographer, I love taking pictures everywhere!. Unless you or anyone would recommend another area to stay in? I really appreciate your taking the time to respond, and your posts have been incredible!
Nov 13th, 2006, 06:48 AM
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As some of you may have noticed, I'm back on Fodor's - but since these "favourite" threads have proved quite practicable, I invite everybody to continue posting questions here related to the subject of this thread.
Nov 13th, 2006, 08:14 PM
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Franco--
As you seem to know the Venetian neighborhoods quite well, do you have any apartment and/or neighborhood recommendations for a younger couple staying 3 nights?
We're not immune to noise, but can probably tolerate a little more than the more 'veteran' travelers. We are able and happy to walk 15+ minutes to get to the sights, but would love to have something nearby for breakfast (your comments about Campo S. Stin sounded promising).
Thanks for any insight you (or anyone else reading this) can provide!
As you seem to know the Venetian neighborhoods quite well, do you have any apartment and/or neighborhood recommendations for a younger couple staying 3 nights?
We're not immune to noise, but can probably tolerate a little more than the more 'veteran' travelers. We are able and happy to walk 15+ minutes to get to the sights, but would love to have something nearby for breakfast (your comments about Campo S. Stin sounded promising).
Thanks for any insight you (or anyone else reading this) can provide!
Nov 14th, 2006, 06:21 AM
#29
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tjriv - frankly, the problem is (I've read your other thread as well) your budget. For 100 Euros per night, you'll be happy to find ANYTHING, but won't be able to even think of choosing between neighbourhoods...
If you could increase your Venice budget by about 50 percent, that would be much easier for you.
If so, you might even find an apartment with a canal view - for me, that's really important, since the water is the most stunning particularity of Venice. Especially since you're saying you are tolerant to some noise: what most people don't seem to understand is that Venice is NOT a museum, but a rather vivid town with building contractors, garbage collection, transport companies - all of them using the canals (what else? there are no cars, and most lanes are way to narrow for any kind of transportation). So canal views inevitably mean some motor noise... I stress: SOME - Venice is still an extremely silent city, even on the canals, given the total absence of cars. Just on the Canal Grande (with the most splendid canal views, no doubt) the noise level can come close to a modern motorized city, the vaporettos being pretty loud.
As for neighbourhoods, it's more difficult to determine where to stay in Venice than in modern cities: the atmosphere can change around every second corner, and not just between the "sestrieri" like S. Marco, Castello and so on. All in all, S. Marco, Dorsoduro and S. Croce are certainly less beautiful than the three other quarters, but already writing this sentence is wrong again: also these three have so very enchanting parts, and of course great sights as well - and even my favourite apartment (see above) is located in S. Marco.
Maybe it's easier if you research a few accomodations that are specifically interesting for you re: price, amenities, furnishing and so on - and repost with weblinks in order to ask me about their locations?
If you could increase your Venice budget by about 50 percent, that would be much easier for you.
If so, you might even find an apartment with a canal view - for me, that's really important, since the water is the most stunning particularity of Venice. Especially since you're saying you are tolerant to some noise: what most people don't seem to understand is that Venice is NOT a museum, but a rather vivid town with building contractors, garbage collection, transport companies - all of them using the canals (what else? there are no cars, and most lanes are way to narrow for any kind of transportation). So canal views inevitably mean some motor noise... I stress: SOME - Venice is still an extremely silent city, even on the canals, given the total absence of cars. Just on the Canal Grande (with the most splendid canal views, no doubt) the noise level can come close to a modern motorized city, the vaporettos being pretty loud.
As for neighbourhoods, it's more difficult to determine where to stay in Venice than in modern cities: the atmosphere can change around every second corner, and not just between the "sestrieri" like S. Marco, Castello and so on. All in all, S. Marco, Dorsoduro and S. Croce are certainly less beautiful than the three other quarters, but already writing this sentence is wrong again: also these three have so very enchanting parts, and of course great sights as well - and even my favourite apartment (see above) is located in S. Marco.
Maybe it's easier if you research a few accomodations that are specifically interesting for you re: price, amenities, furnishing and so on - and repost with weblinks in order to ask me about their locations?
Nov 14th, 2006, 04:37 PM
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Franco-many thanks.
As I replied on my other post, I'm quickly realizing that the many hotels/apartments I've searched so far online and through other posts on Fodor's weren't all just the more expensive ones--they seem to be more the standard. I was just wondering if there were less-known or not as internet-savvy places that were less expensive. Alas, I'm gathering that's not really the case. (Especially in late June, when we'll be there).
However, Venice can definitely be the spot on our trip that we 'extend' our budget. With my new (more realistic) monetary expectations in hand, I'll do some more searching and find some places that appeal to me--and then return for your much appreciated neighborhood insight. Thanks!
P.S. I'm truly looking forward to experiencing this interesting juxtaposition of construction noise vs. medieval buildings, engine-driven vaporettos vs. human-powered gondolas, and tourist-central days vs. silent nights. You're making it difficult for me to wait the next seven months...
As I replied on my other post, I'm quickly realizing that the many hotels/apartments I've searched so far online and through other posts on Fodor's weren't all just the more expensive ones--they seem to be more the standard. I was just wondering if there were less-known or not as internet-savvy places that were less expensive. Alas, I'm gathering that's not really the case. (Especially in late June, when we'll be there).
However, Venice can definitely be the spot on our trip that we 'extend' our budget. With my new (more realistic) monetary expectations in hand, I'll do some more searching and find some places that appeal to me--and then return for your much appreciated neighborhood insight. Thanks!
P.S. I'm truly looking forward to experiencing this interesting juxtaposition of construction noise vs. medieval buildings, engine-driven vaporettos vs. human-powered gondolas, and tourist-central days vs. silent nights. You're making it difficult for me to wait the next seven months...
Jan 17th, 2007, 05:24 AM
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We will be leaving in March for Venice and love the location of the Rosa Di Venezia that Fraco recommended but are the tipical tourist type and don't need an apartment. Can you recommend a hotel near the same location. The balcony was a great extra. Any help would be appreciated.
Jody
Jody
Jan 17th, 2007, 06:36 AM
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Hello Jody, there are four hotels around La Rosa di Venezia: two four-star places, Colombina and Donà; one middle-class, All'Angelo; and one inexpensive, Riva. The All'Angelo is away from the canal, the three others have windows on the canal, but the Colombina certainly has no balconies; about the Donà, I'm not sure, but don't think so, and the Riva has one or two rooms with a balcony.
Jan 21st, 2007, 08:58 AM
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This is to do with Tuscany not Venice but I thought I would take my chances on this thread as well. We have 3 days to get from Florence to Venice and needed some advice on what to do. Looking for maybe a culinary class but not a school, I heard that women have them in their homes and it's very quaint. Also maybe a vineyard to tour if anyone could recommend their favorite that would be great. I haven't started any research on this yet, I thought I would start here.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Jan 21st, 2007, 09:05 AM
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One more question, should we rent a car and drive from Florence to Venice or would it be easier to just take the bus? We will be traveling in March so do you think we will be OK without hotel reservations? We thought we would just spend the night wherever we felt like it.
Jan 21st, 2007, 09:23 AM
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Jody, if you're interested in that Venetian area, we stayed at the Hotel Riva. We also visited the Hotel Colombina, which was very nice looking. And the Dona looked inviting, as well. Here are my notes about hotels in Venice:
"We took the vaporetto to the Rialto stop (5 EUR each; we were not charged extra for baggage). It wasn’t a long walk, and my daughter followed the rather complicated map, to bring us directly to the front door of the Hotel Riva, at Ponte dell’Angelo.
We checked in and were happy to have a first floor room, since there’s no elevator. Our room was in the corner, looking over the intersection of two small canals. We were pleased with this room assignment, since we had requested such a position, but were thinking we’d only have it for the second two nights, not all three nights. So we were prepared to move after our first night, but we were fortunate it turned out to be unnecessary to change rooms.
Hotel Riva is a small one-star hotel, very quaint and charming. Its lobby is welcoming, and its breakfast room is appealing, with both rooms having windows looking directly out on a little canal where gondoliers glide by every few minutes. It couldn’t be a better location. The hotel is sparkling clean, with marble floors, wooden walls, and glass sconces. The bedspreads could be replaced, as they are a bit worn, but that’s a very minor thing to notice, given the wonderful canal views from the hotel and its overall charm.
Our room had an amazing view of the two canals, and the bridges that cross them. Singing gondoliers would use one of the canals, especially. So, from our room, we could hear them go by, singing “Ave Maria” and other Italian favorites. I would sit on my bed, open both corner windows, and watch the activities on two different canals and bridges. Despite the nearness of the canals and the people walking over the bridges and down the little street, the noise was not bothersome to us. The double windows and shutters close tightly, and the canal and foot traffic seemed to be minimal at night.
I highly recommend the Hotel Riva. Its location and price are unbeatable. We paid for a double room, which was just 130 EUR, including an extra 10 EUR for the canal view. We actually had a triple room, with one large bed comprised of two twins pushed together, plus another twin bed in a little alcove. Breakfast is included, which is simply a hard roll and jam, but also with very nice cappuccino. It was a perfect hotel for us.
After getting settled, even though it was getting late, we walked around to get oriented in the neighborhood. We were located close to San Marco, so it was a short walk to the square, with lots of shops and restaurants along the way.
. . . We needed to use the internet one afternoon with my daughter’s laptop, and found a hotel just up the canal from the Hotel Riva, the Hotel Colombina, which offers wi-fi in its lobby at a price more reasonable than the internet shops around. It was also a more pleasant place to sit for an hour, while we finished some internet business.
The Hotel Colombina is a four-star hotel, located at Calle del Remedio, Castello 4416. It looked like a very classy and pleasant hotel, in true “Venetian” style of design. The front desk personnel were very helpful in setting us up on the wi-fi, even though they knew we were not patrons of the hotel itself.
Other appealing hotels we noticed (besides the Pension Calcina mentioned above) include:
Dona Palace Hotel, four-stars, San Marco 391. www.donapalace.it. It overlooks the Rio of Palazzo Ducale, the Bridge of Sighs canal.
Hotel American, three-stars, San Vio, 628 Accademia, www.hotelamerica.com. An “antique palace”, it also faces a nice little canal, the San Vio, in the Dorsuduro area, with a pleasant first floor terrace café.
Hotel Bruno, three-stars, Castello, Salizzada S. Lio 5726/A, www.hoteldabruno.com.
For a simpler choice, the Casa Rezzonico (which we had also considered for this visit, as its rates are in the range of the Hotel Riva), Dorsoduro, Fondamenta Gherardini 2813, www.casarezzonico.it. It is in a quiet, out-of-the-way location, near a small campo, close to the Accademia. It has an attractive garden area in the center, which some rooms overlook, and where breakfast buffet is served. A good budget choice."
>-
"We took the vaporetto to the Rialto stop (5 EUR each; we were not charged extra for baggage). It wasn’t a long walk, and my daughter followed the rather complicated map, to bring us directly to the front door of the Hotel Riva, at Ponte dell’Angelo.
We checked in and were happy to have a first floor room, since there’s no elevator. Our room was in the corner, looking over the intersection of two small canals. We were pleased with this room assignment, since we had requested such a position, but were thinking we’d only have it for the second two nights, not all three nights. So we were prepared to move after our first night, but we were fortunate it turned out to be unnecessary to change rooms.
Hotel Riva is a small one-star hotel, very quaint and charming. Its lobby is welcoming, and its breakfast room is appealing, with both rooms having windows looking directly out on a little canal where gondoliers glide by every few minutes. It couldn’t be a better location. The hotel is sparkling clean, with marble floors, wooden walls, and glass sconces. The bedspreads could be replaced, as they are a bit worn, but that’s a very minor thing to notice, given the wonderful canal views from the hotel and its overall charm.
Our room had an amazing view of the two canals, and the bridges that cross them. Singing gondoliers would use one of the canals, especially. So, from our room, we could hear them go by, singing “Ave Maria” and other Italian favorites. I would sit on my bed, open both corner windows, and watch the activities on two different canals and bridges. Despite the nearness of the canals and the people walking over the bridges and down the little street, the noise was not bothersome to us. The double windows and shutters close tightly, and the canal and foot traffic seemed to be minimal at night.
I highly recommend the Hotel Riva. Its location and price are unbeatable. We paid for a double room, which was just 130 EUR, including an extra 10 EUR for the canal view. We actually had a triple room, with one large bed comprised of two twins pushed together, plus another twin bed in a little alcove. Breakfast is included, which is simply a hard roll and jam, but also with very nice cappuccino. It was a perfect hotel for us.
After getting settled, even though it was getting late, we walked around to get oriented in the neighborhood. We were located close to San Marco, so it was a short walk to the square, with lots of shops and restaurants along the way.
. . . We needed to use the internet one afternoon with my daughter’s laptop, and found a hotel just up the canal from the Hotel Riva, the Hotel Colombina, which offers wi-fi in its lobby at a price more reasonable than the internet shops around. It was also a more pleasant place to sit for an hour, while we finished some internet business.
The Hotel Colombina is a four-star hotel, located at Calle del Remedio, Castello 4416. It looked like a very classy and pleasant hotel, in true “Venetian” style of design. The front desk personnel were very helpful in setting us up on the wi-fi, even though they knew we were not patrons of the hotel itself.
Other appealing hotels we noticed (besides the Pension Calcina mentioned above) include:
Dona Palace Hotel, four-stars, San Marco 391. www.donapalace.it. It overlooks the Rio of Palazzo Ducale, the Bridge of Sighs canal.
Hotel American, three-stars, San Vio, 628 Accademia, www.hotelamerica.com. An “antique palace”, it also faces a nice little canal, the San Vio, in the Dorsuduro area, with a pleasant first floor terrace café.
Hotel Bruno, three-stars, Castello, Salizzada S. Lio 5726/A, www.hoteldabruno.com.
For a simpler choice, the Casa Rezzonico (which we had also considered for this visit, as its rates are in the range of the Hotel Riva), Dorsoduro, Fondamenta Gherardini 2813, www.casarezzonico.it. It is in a quiet, out-of-the-way location, near a small campo, close to the Accademia. It has an attractive garden area in the center, which some rooms overlook, and where breakfast buffet is served. A good budget choice."
>-
Jan 21st, 2007, 09:29 AM
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especially if you have luggage it will be not a good idea going to Venice without having hotel reservation. To save money also, make the hotel booking before. Going from Florence to Venice consider the train option direct to S. Lucia station then by walk or by water taxi you will reach your booked hotel.
Jan 29th, 2007, 03:57 PM
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Jody, sorry, I had partly mixed up Riva and Colombina in my original answer to your original question. It's true that Riva is the cheap and Colombina the expensive hotel, but the rest had been mixed up: the Riva has no and the Colombina has some balconies (as you might expect with regard to their respective price levels).
As for Tuscany, please open a new thread on that matter - this one should be only on accomodation in Venice, thank you!
As for Tuscany, please open a new thread on that matter - this one should be only on accomodation in Venice, thank you!
