alison

We are looking for a hotel in Venice, priced around $150 for a double with a bathroom. The Accademia is unfortunately booked for our dates. We'd like to stay in San Marco area. Is this a good area to stay? Any hotel suggestions?

Book Chick

Hi Alison,<BR>You might want to check out this web site:<BR><BR>http://www.locandasturion.com/inglese/index.htm<BR><BR>Not certain what dates you need, but they do have some specials on, and this is a reputable, clean, friendly, and well-maintained establishment. They're located near the Rialto Bridge, a short walk from San Marco, and you can easily see San Marco's spires from the windows of the Sturion's breakfast room.<BR><BR>Buon Viaggio,<BR>BC

Melissa

I don't know how much per night it is, but I stayed at the Colombina in September as part of a package with AMEX and it was just lovely. Very very close to San Marco, but in a quiet location. <BR>Good luck.

Paul

Try the Ca Pisani. Its right around the corner from the Pensione Accademia. Near Accademia bridge. A great hotel with a wonderful breakfast!

Nosy

Yep, Ca Pisani is great but it costs much more than $ 150 per night.<BR><BR>However, neither Accademia nor Ca Pisani are in San Marco, but in Dorsoduro.<BR><BR>In San marco are Hotel Ala, Hotel Kette, Hotel Flora, and some other nice hotels.

Ira

Hi Alison,<BR> If you are not firmly set on San Marco, you might wish to consider the Hotel Marconi which is just at the foot of the Rialto and around the corner from the market. <BR><BR> You can find them by way of https://www.itwg.com/. I believe that their rates are in your price range.<BR><BR> My wife and I stayed there and loved it.

Laurie

Alison- <BR>I've not yet been to Venice-(going next month) but I've spent the last 2 or so months on this website &amp; elsewhere researching the trip. Here's some of what I've discovered re hotels:<BR><BR>I also wanted the Accademia based upon comments here &amp; was told they were booked for my dates. I asked to be put on a waiting list (then booked another hotel to make sure I had something). About a month later I emailed the Accademia &amp; they had a room available! FYI-it's more than 150e/nite but I'm going during the holidays.<BR><BR>People differ about what area to stay. San Marco is the &quot;hub&quot; of Venice &amp; many prefer to be there, while others like to be a bit off the beaten track in a quieter neighborhood. Since Venice is relatively small, it sounds like no place is really that far. What may matter to you is whether the hotel has an entrance from the water so you can enter (with luggage or after an exhausting day) right from a water taxi (very expensive). One benefit of staying in San Marco is that the Alilaguna, the cheapest transport from the airport, stops right near Piaza San Marco. If you're staying elsewhere, you have to transfer to a vaperetto.(This is assuming you don't splurge on a water taxi). By the way, someone here mentioned, if you do take a water taxi with luggage, have the &quot;driver&quot; phone ahead (from his cell phone?!)to the hotel so a porter can meet you at the dock. Don't know if it works, but sounded like a great idea.<BR><BR>Go to rants &amp; raves on this site &amp; screen hotels &quot;by score&quot;. This will tell you which hotels others liked.<BR><BR>The San Moise, which is listed in Fodor's Italy 2002 book, is in San Marco &amp; has an entrance on the water. Not many mention it on this sight though. Check rants &amp; raves. Can't remember what sort of comments it got.<BR><BR>Many here love La Calcina which is in Dorsudoro like the Accademia. Others love the Hotel Flora but on rants &amp; raves the pillows are constantly criticized! <BR>I have a friend in Paris who stayed at the Marconi &amp; loved it because he got a room with a balcony (I think there are only 2 of these) right over the Grand Canal. It doesn't look like much in the photos but the location looks great &amp; the price is right.<BR>Check photos of the Ca Pisani (or any hotel you're thinking about). It is more modern looking than what I would like but many here like it.<BR><BR>The Hotel Ala is in San Marco &amp; well located between some of the fancier hotels.<BR><BR>Finally, there is a &quot;string&quot; on this board that mentions a new hotel that was offering great introductory rates but I can't remember the name. When I checked it those rates were not available for my dates, but if you're going out of season (Jan-April?) they may be. In the same vein, I've heard The Grand Hotel Dei Doge is fantastic but very pricey. Out of season it may be worth a splurge.<BR><BR>Enjoy and happy hunting! <BR>

elaine

Hi<BR>good advice above, and Laurie, you've really been doing your homework. Hope your trip is great.<BR><BR>You can search for Venice Hotel on this message board and find many recommendations for budget hotels, including some of the ones mentioned above like the Ala. Also search at www.venere.it which has hotel listings.<BR>You can book through them, or book on your own.<BR><BR>San Marco is a wonderful area to stay in , but it is also on average the most expensive--location, location.<BR>There are a few bargains in the San Marco section. I don't think of the Colombina as a budget hotel; last time I checked its rates were well above your budget.<BR>However, the Dorsoduro area near the Accademia Bridge is only a 10-15 minute walk to San Marco, ditto for hotels in Canareggio in the Rialto Bridge area.<BR>Look into the Giorgione and the hotel Ca'd'Oro; they have often been praised here, I don't recall the rates.<BR><BR>I also have a file on Venice; if you'd like to see it, email me.<BR>

kavey

We were very happy with the Violino D'Oro in March this year - I can't recall exact prices but they were very reasonable considering decor and location.<BR><BR>We had a room overlooking the piazza and the little Rio Moise canal.

Sue

The new luxury hotel is the Palazzo Sant' Angelo (www.sinahotels.it). It is currently offering a rate of 180Euros per room plus 10% tax. This includes breakfast. For an extra 65 Euros plus tax you can have a Grand Canal view. <BR><BR>It was really beyond our budget, so we used www.allvenicehotels.com to find a cheap room for our first night, and then splashed on the canal view room. It was well worth it. The rooms were very plush - carpeted (unusual in Venice), huge bed, fine linens, silk lined walls, huge bathroom in marble, twin basins, thick robes provided, turndown service. Couldn't fault it, and would love to go back again.<BR><BR>It is located right by the Sant' Angelo vaporetto stop, so is in San Marco but away from the crowds. I personally would not want to stay anywhere near St Mark's Square.<BR>

Joanne

Like Ira, we stayed at the Hotel Marconi at the foot of the Rialto Bridge. The location was fantastic and the room was large. I just rechecked their website at they are running a special for 80 euros per night. Its a pleasant walk from the Rialto Bridge to the San Marco area...there's a map on the website. http://www.itwg.com/itw11703.asp

Daneille

You could try the Hotel Orion in Venice.<BR><BR>The accommodation was adequate (the rooms and bathroom were smallish but the bathroom and facilities were very modern and very clean).<BR><BR>There is no lift but there is a porter who will carry your bags up the steep stairs.<BR><BR>The hotel is about as close to San Marco as you can get, through the clocktower and about 100 metres.<BR>It is also very close to the Rialto.<BR><BR>The people who run the hotel are very friendly and helpful.<BR><BR>San Marco is the main tourist area of Venice, expect to pay more for hotels and restaurants in this area, but it does have a certain buzz. Probably if I was going back I would not stay in this area again as there are many other areas that are cheaper, have a great atmosphere and are still only a very short walk to San Marco (do bare in mind Venice is very small so it doesn't take long to get anywhere).<BR><BR>The Hotel Orion did however compare in price to some of the cheaper hotel areas in Venice (aside from the areas around the station where I wouldn't stay).

Christina

Another vote for Hotel Ala. We stayed there last year and loved it. It was the nicest hotel that we stayed in while vacationing in Italy. Location was great as well!

Paula

If Hotel Flora is in this price range, I'd recommend it. But make sure to request a &quot;large room&quot;. The location is good and the staff are very helpful and there's a small garden and the large rooms are very nice.

Dianne

Hotel Bel Sito - same square as Ala and Gritti. Nice location. Cute little rooms, we've stayed in 2 - so close to San Marco and an easy vaparetto stop. Which is very nice when you see people hauling their luggage all over the place. Only draw back is no elevator.

a--z

Alison,<BR>Venice is such a small compact city that no matter which area of town you stay in, it's easy to get around. That being said, I would suggest you stay on the island itself (versus the Lido). San Marco certainly is in the midst of things; personally, I prefer the Dorsoduro area. It's a bit quieter and easily accessible to San Marco Piazza.<BR><BR>If you need suggestions on website to search out further hotels, check out:<BR><BR>http://www.veniceworld.com/<BR>http://www.1st-venice-hotels.com/<BR>http://www.veniceby.com/<BR>http://www.venetia.it/<BR>http://www.invenicetoday.com/<BR>http://www.venicechamber.com/<BR>http://www.timeout.com/venice/<BR>

Bob

Just returned from 3 nights at the Hotel Ala in Venice, which I chose based on the many favorable comments here. I concur, and would stay there again. It's conveniently located between S. Marco and the Academia, but away from most of the tourist bussle.<BR><BR>We got there by taking the Alilaguna boat from Marco Polo airport, then Vaporetto #1, 2 stops. I booked on the Best Western web site. It cost EU 110 per night, double, with a very good breakfast buffet included. The room was clean, and big enough by Italian standards (it was the cheapest level), though the little shower might give some people pause.<BR><BR>If in Venice before June 2003, go to see &quot;The Pharaohs&quot; (I Faraoni) at Palazzo Grassi. Think of it as &quot;Ancient Egypt's Greatest Hits,&quot; with art collected from all over. It'll save you a trip to Cairo, Paris, New York, Turin, St. Petersburg, ....

Robert

Hello! The post was asking for hotels costing $150 or under,Ala and Marconi may be nice but my computer says that they are much more, except possibly in low season.My recommendation is the hotel galleria www.hotelgalleria.it <BR>located near the accademy museum about a ten minute walk from piazza san marco if you don't stop for a cafe RR