There are some really gross reviews and photos of this hotel on tripadvisor.com, but a couple of fodorites on my other post had stayed there without incident. Anyone been there lately? (I'm looking for a quaint and inexpensive B&B for mid-May, needing a double room.)

What is your definition of inexpensive...hard to find in Venice. Here are two I got from this forum:

http://www.cadeldose.com/en/rooms.htm
http://www.hotelcaneva.com/eng/albergo.html

Happy travels.

Sorry, I forgot to define 'inexpensive'. For this trip, inexpensive means 150EU/night w/breakfast and en suite bath/shower in a double room. Thanks!

My daughter has recommended we stay at Casa Rezzonico, where she stayed during this past Carnivale. It is my first choice so far, at 150EU, and I'm currently holding a reservation there. It has good reviews on tripadvisor.com, especially for cleanliness. Plus, my daughter knows how to get there from the train station. Anyone stayed at Casa Rezzonico?

Hotel Riva was nice but very noisy traffic on the canals and street. We prefer a hotel a little farther away from San Marco.

Thank you, Saraho, that's a good tip re: noise. Can you name any of the hotels you like?

Maureen - This is where I'll be staying and it's gotten wonderful reviews on this forum. Love the idea of breakfast on the water and a room with a view!

http://www.lacalcina.com/

I'm sorry to say La Calcina is full for our dates. It does sound nice, thanks cheryl.

MaureenB,

I've only stayed at the Hotel Flora, which is very close to San Marco. Lots of people like this small hotel, but it wasn't a good fit for us.

We are currently booked for June at the Casa Rezzonico based on good reviews, and an excellent daily rate. It appears to be in a quiet area in Dorsoduro, but conveniently located to the Ca'Rezzonico vaporetto stop.

I'm copying a 6/2003 post on my (sort of) amazing but true Hotel Riva story, with the caveat that they may well have improved the hotel itself since we were there 5 years ago.

" 06/07/2003, 12:06 pm
My wife and I stayed there in October 2001, and by then it was neither charming nor very clean. That said, the manager was unbelievably accomodating. We asked for a nicer room the first night, and they only had one other vacancy - - a room with no bath - - so we kept what we had. The next morning we planned to check out and find another place, but first asked again for a better room. The clerk checked with the manager (the manager was the only person who had fluent English, although the two clerks we met did their best to help), who arranged for us to stay in a room in a building on the Grand Canal - - a few doors from the Danieli. The management was renovating part of the building as a hotel, and at least the room we got was finished. It was amazing, a large clean room with bath and a balcony looking across at San Giogio Maggiore. We payed the same price as for the Riva. Unfortunately we only had one night left, but I could have stayed there for a month. It gives me hope that the Riva itself may make a comeback, although it was past due when we were there."

We have stayed at Albergo Silva five times- it's located near Santa Maria Formosa in Castello about an eight minute walk from San Marco. It is probably about the same price as Hotel Riva, but in a much quieter location. It's on a little canal. The hotel is pleasant but basic. Many Europeans stay here.

Thanks again, everyone. Joe, thanks for the info. One reviewer on tripadvisor.com reported a drunken front desk person and bugs in the rooms, plus posted some really ugly pictures of moldiness at Riva.
I will also look into the Albergo Silva. But my daughter stayed at the Casa R with her friends during this past Carnivale, and she thinks I'll like it. She has good taste and is very particular about clean hotels, so I'll give it a try. I'll post about it all when I return the end of May. Kane, one benefit is that it is easy to get to.

Hi Maureen -

I'm one of the folks from your other thread who stayed there last year at this time. For the price, location and helpfulness of the staff, I recommend this hotel. We stayed regularly at higher-starred hotels on that trip to Italy, but the Riva was our favorite.

If you are the type of traveler (and of course it's OK if you are) who expects a basket of shampoo and lotion in the bathroom and modern key-cards, by all means skip the Riva.

In my opinion this hotel is basic, not a flophouse, and far from the worst hotel we've stayed at - many of which have rave reviews on Tripadviser. We had no trouble with bedbugs, that's for sure. (Thank God).

By the way, is the mold photo you cite at Tripadviser the one of the exterior? I didn't see any interior shots in the reviews.

If so, be aware that you'll see that staining and mold on almost every canalside building in Venice. It's damp there.

Have a great trip and I hope you find the hotel you're looking for!

Sorry - I have to add in case other travelers check this thread later:

The photos on the Hotel Riva's Web site (www.hotelriva.it) exactly reflect what we found when we arrived -- from the lobby to the breakfast room the guest rooms. It is indeed a very old building. And it's a privately run hotel with the quirks that come with independent establishments (like skeleton keys, some odd furnishings -- and they don't take credit cards).

But if you go to the site and click on "rooms," then enlarge the photo of the one with a mauve headboard and blue bed cover, that's the room we stayed in. Some of the canal view photos were taken from the windows in this room. If that is not a room you could live with, please don't book the Riva (it's not for everyone).

But we had a great stay there, with very friendly service and no snags in a great location. We did hear the canal traffic in the mornings, but we enjoyed seeing the water-based activity Venice is known for. Some people need more peace, and if so should look for other accommodations (probably not canalside.)

Again, this hotel will not suit every traveler but we had a great experience there. Just don't want this weird little gem (in my opinion) to be overlooked by people who might enjoy it.

Worktowander, thank you for clarifying. We always look for the little hotels that have local flavor, so don't look for all the bells & whistles of a chain-type hotel. But it has to be CLEAN. The tripadvisor.com reviews concerned me when they complained of filth and drunken clerks! That could have been a fluke, of course, or just an inaccurate posting. Thank you for all your information. It's a big help in my decision. I appreciate tht you took time to write such a detailed response.