Venezia di nuovo - B&B vs Hotel
 

I am returning to Venice, my second trip, for four nights in mid September and traveling with a good friend. When there in 2009 I stayed at a B&B, the Corte Campana (San Marco area), and was happy with the lodging with the exception of the four flights of stairs! The host was wonderful and very informative and helpful especially with carrying some of the luggage! I'm thinking of staying in a different sestiere ( I loved the family oriented neighborhoods) this time and wondering whether to stay in a B&B again or to stay in a hotel. I did not really look at hotels before but have now seen a few that look inviting. I'd like to keep the budget in the $150-250 range. What would the comparison be in staying at a hotel versus a B&B? Pros and cons?

There is really no known difference that you can generalize about. Just read reviews. If whatever resource you are looking at doesn't include relieable reviews, then look up the hotels that appeal to you on booking.com and Tripadvisor. You will almost certainly find reviews there.

Thank you, sandralist, that is what I've been doing but I just wondered if there truly was any difference. Your reply was perfect.

A hotel to me is a little more anonymous. More rooms, more people, more anonymity. I prefer a hotel or an apartment for that reason: they are less personal.

But some folks like the personal touch. To me, that's the difference.

Tuscanlifedit,

There are loads of b&bs in Venice that are indistinguishable from many small and boutique Venetian hotels, many of which are converted residential buildings. There are not a lot of purpose-built hotels in Venice, but there are lot of hotels. Add to that a long tradition in Venice of pensione and locande, that pre-date "b&bs" but were tradtionally the alternatives to the grand hotels -- but now simply call themselves hotels or alberghi. But they more have the feel of a b&b (no lobby, less than a dozen rooms, a garden breakfast, etc)

I think if you search for a place to stay in Venice by eliminating one kind of lodging or another by the name it uses to advertise itself, you might miss out on spotting lodgings that would really suit you.

sandralist: I was making a very general and personal comment on what I see as the difference between hotels and B&Bs. But your point is well taken; we stayed at a B&B in Florence that suited us very well. I was probably generalizing too much.