I am going to Italy in May 2007 arriving in Venice. I was trying to find a "gem" or "somewhat luxurious" hotel or B&B for less than 200 euros but it seems difficult. It seems that Locanda Orselo, Pensione La Calcina, Foscari Palace and this less know B&B La Villeggiatura are all good choices.
Any advice on which one I should book? Or do you have another suggestion? This is going to be our first night in Italy and it is our 10th anniversary. I would like it to be a memorable experience without ruining me...

In term of luxury, Foscari Palace is itthough not 5* luxury, not La Calcina (though I love it too mostly for it's location and view) and Locanda Orseolo (don't mind "luxury" but this one obviously is very good too from what I have read).

Hotel Al Ponte Mocenigo seems luxorious but is only 2-star. The rooms are lovely, the staf accomodating. If you're hoping for an opulent lobby and dining room, this is not the place for you. But I think it is a gem, and the most expensive room is well under your budget.

Thank you ellenem. I checked the Al Ponte Mocenigo but Venere is showing that it is already booked for May 2007! Seems to be a very popular hotel.

It is too bad as the hotel seemed very nice and the price seems quite good...

Elise,

Check if the hotel (Al Ponte Mocenigo) has a web site. They may have availability if you go directly through them. We've found that to be the case with our selection for Florence.

Elise, I'd rather think it's not already fully booked for 2007 May. It's too early and the hotel has not communicated it's availabilty to venere.com. Perhaps for most hotels, venere cannot give availabilty anyway. If you are interested in a partucular hotel for that far ahead, contact the hotel directly. That usually works.

Great advice. I just sent an e-mail directly to the Foscari Palace and the Al Ponte Mocenigo. I just got a very nice reply from the Locanda Orseolo. If I would have to choose between those 3, what would be your advice? Or is there another "gem"? Clean is critical, nice bathroom, nice host, nice area with a view is possible...
Thank you so much for all your help.

http://www.alpontemocenigo.com/en/index.htm

This is Mocenigo website through which you will get the best prices and availabilty. Tell Sandro that Ellenem sent you.

It is located on a quiet canal in a less touristed area that is still close (7-minute walk) to Rialto. The web site gives a very clear idea of the views and accomodations.

I'm one of the big fans of La Calcina around here. Love that hotel. Especially if you can get a corner front room with view over the Guidecca canal, I'd grab it. To my mind, it fits exactly what you describe.

I'd pick the one that can guarantee you a nice room with a water view, with air conditioning, at a price you can afford. I think having a canal view (doesn't have to be the Grand Canal, in fact, prob. better if it isn't) adds immensely to the romance of the place.

I still need your help...
I just got an e-mail from La Calcina but for a room with no view. There is also availability at the Al Ponte Mocenigo which had great reviews on Venere but seems to be so inexpensive that is scares me a bit. And there is room at Locanda Orseolo (but twice as expensive as the Al Ponte Mocenigo).
Will I be disapointed by the Al Ponte Mocenigo? Is it worth spending twice the money for the Locanda Orseolo? Is La Calcina still worth it without the view of am I better with the other choices. This will be our first nights in Italy. I just want to start the trip on a good note. Your help is so appreciated...

Elise, Al Ponte Mocenigo has many favorable recent reports and photos posted at Trip Advisor and is #1 rated. I would go with them as they are cheaper than Locanda Orseolo and they are getting to be quite popular. Pretty soon I feel it will be hard to get reservations there just as what's occured with the Locanda Orseolo. Also a friend advised me that the Al Ponte Mocenigo's location is not as frenetic as where the L. Orseolo is located.

While in Venice this past May, we looked into these hotels and picked up their brochures, because they looked nice and are in good locations:

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.

Good luck and happy anniversary.

If you are still worried, here's my review of Hotel Al Ponte Mocenigo from another thread. I also posted much the same description at Tripadvisor.

***
Just back yesterday from our trip to Venice and Rome. I am almost afraid to give this review, knowing I may be making it impossible for me to ever get reservations here again. Anyway, here goes. . .

We stayed at the Hotel Al Ponte Mocenigo and loved it. Their web site gives a very accurate impression of the amenities. Walter and Sandro have created a lovely 10-room hotel in a former private residence in a quiet but accessible area of Venice.

The hotel is located less than a minute's walk from the San Stae vaporetto stop. The main entrance is over two bridges, one of which is a private bridge that leads to the courtyard of the hotel--a really nice touch. The other entrance is down a back alley, but has no bridges, so better if you're dragging luggage. They also have a water gate for arrival by private water taxi.

The hotel is only two stars because it does not offer the amenities of larger establishments. There is no elevator. There is no separate breakfast room, only a designated part of the small lobby. A few rooms open off this area (including ours) but they have very soundproof doors. In good weather, breakfast is served in the lovely courtyard. Breakfast was a hot beverage made to order, croissant, yogurt, juice, cold cereal, simple yet adequate. (I admit I don't choose a hotel based on breakfast.) I saw some breakfast being taken to rooms.

Our room had a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows that opened directly onto the courtyard, with excellent blinds and curtains for privacy. Some might prefer a more secluded room, but since it was still winter, we were not troubled by guests sitting in the courtyard. It was a standard room, but large for my experience in Italy. It had an atmospheric wood-beamed ceiling, twin beds, a cafe table and two chairs, a large chair that converted into another twin bed, TV, frigobar, and a large well-appointed bathroom with toilet, sink, bidet, and tub with shower (narrow glass wall to control shower spray). The web site shows the superior rooms with large canopied beds and canal views.

The owners, Walter and Sandro, could not have been more welcoming and helpful. They have thought long and hard about creating a special place, fully recognizing that it does not have all the amenities that would please every traveler--no fancy breakfast room, no grand lobby. Sandro explained that they tried to depict it very honestly at the web site since it is not the place for every traveler. They took a long time choosing a property and neighborhood, especially to location near a vaporetto stop--and it's only 7 minutes walk to the Ponte Rialto.

They were both incredibly helpful. Walter gave us a warm greeting when we arrived, immediately offering us a caffe (it was just after 10AM) and directing us to the closest Bancomat. As we were leaving to follow his directions, he walked with us into the courtyard, and onto the bridge, still chatting and smiling. Both Sandro and Walter directed us to restaurants in the neighborhood, providing recommendations for places that met our preferences--simple, good neighborhood places. In Walter's packed recommendation, we didn't see another tourist. After conferring another night (Sunday night in March, the week after Carnevale-- not the best time to find an open restaurnat in Venice) with the night clerk and Sandro who was on his way home, he said, "Follow me" and walked us to a great local place a few minutes away.

We were there in March and so had low-season rates. For our accomodations we paid 100 euros per night, 5% discount with cash. At the time I booked, superior rooms were set at 130 euros. This place is a steal, yet I would be willing to pay more for this special experience. I will return.

I see ellenem that you really enjoyed the place. This is good. They only have two rooms left, one is a small double for a very reasonable price (115 euros)and the other one a triple room on the first floor for 165 euros. Both rooms have no view.
Getting a view seems to be difficult in Venise...

If you are not going to have a view, I'd re-consider the La Calcina possibility. It's a very nice hotel.