Venice Experts--Help with Accommodations Please!
 

I am planning a trip for my brother and his wife and my husband and me next May which includes three nights in Venice. I was there in '08 and stayed in a small b & b in Canareggio which was ok--but this time I would like a different location.

I have offers from Locanda Orseolo for two standard rooms no view 250 E--nothing deluxe or superior available...La Calcina--2 standards--no view for 250 E. (Actually Calcina has one room with a view for 330E--it would just make life so much easier if both couples had the same type room) Al Ponte Mocenigo the same--two standard doubles, except they say one of the doubles is a "small double". What is your opinion of these standard rooms--which would you consider?

Any suggestions for alternatives? We are willing to pay around 300 euro per night. The idea of having an outdoor terrace to have drinks sounds appealing to us. I have checked and these hotels are quite a bit over 300: Foscari, Al Ponte Antico, Palazzo Sant Angelo, and a few others! (Considering Hotel Antico Doge--views and price good--but not sure about the location.)

Thanks in advance for your help.

Try Hotel Ala.

Tuscan--it looks very nice, but they only offer rates that we must pre-pay--my sister-in-law has health issues, so we are hesitant to do that...thanks for the suggestion though.

Wren

We really like Ca Angeli, the location is great.

This is a good option:
http://www.pensioneaccademia.it/

I've emailed them both--as I am not able to book 2 similar rooms on their online booking page.

I had seen those two places here and on TripAdvisor earlier--I am glad you both mentioned them again.

Bob--I think I will be having additional questions for you in the future! :)

Hello ... If your sister-in-law has health issues ... You might want to think about travel insurance. (health ins.etc.) I have reservations for Locanda Orseolo in Nov. for 2 nights.
I will be happy to review the accommodations when we return.

Wren, that surprises me. I've stayed there a few times, and have had clients stay there; there was never a prepay stipulation.

I just checked and see what you mean. I think their booking engine is screwy. I would suggest sending them an email. I've always booked with them via email.

DDD-probably not a bad idea to get travel insurance, I will suggest it...she has lymphadema issues from a past surgery and when it flares up, she's out of commission.

I have quite a few emails from the above suggestions to go over...will let you know what I find out...thanks everyone!

Tuscan--so that hotel has an outdoor terrace? Emailing is what I'll do...

We really love the location of La Calcina right on the Zattere. The bonus is the great waterside restaurant right at the front of the hotel. Nice spot for afternoon drinks and the food is pretty good.

Also you have the entire Zattere with many restaurants and bars to choose from. We found this location an oasis from all the chaos near San Marco and Rialto.

Royal--any thoughts on Calcina's description of the rooms available?

"We wish to inform you that the rooms without view on the Giudecca canal have the windows that overlooks another building. Obviously, the rooms with view on the canal are more luminous (as you can see also on the information and on the picture on our web site www.lacalcina.com)."

Are you familiar with the rooms they are describing?

Since there are four of you and you are somewhat familiar with the city, have you considered renting an apartment? For a total of 600 euros/nt, you could get a very nice, well-located place, in my experience.

The Hotel Foscari Palace is a beautiful hotel on the Grand Canal and very close to the Ca'd'Oro vaperetto stop- on Campo Sofia, just off Strada Nova. A really nice part of Canareggio. This hotel has the best breakfast I have ever had anywhere and the staff is lovely. If you are there on a Saturday, they have a cocktail hour with live classical music for their guests. Very upscale but not stuffy.
http://www.hotelfoscaripalace.it/

I'm not a Venice expert by any means but had a very good experience with this B&B last summer http://www.palazzoduodo.com/en/index.htm .
There are only three rooms available (each with its own bathroom, of course)and no outdoor space but there is a lovely, large living room to spend time together. It's on the third floor but there is an elevator and, and there are nice views of the street, small canals and rooftops.
Location - very, very close to the Rialto Bridge and super easy to find.

wren, the rooms at La Calcina vary quite a bit, but 2 or 3 of the rooms without a view do have balconies which are each big enough for 2 people to sit out on for drinks - and they are adjacent to each other. I seem to remember there's some sort of canvas screen between the balconies but maybe you could ask them to take yours down ? We stayed in 39 & I think the other one(s) are 38 & perhaps 37. 38 & 39 are quite similar, just different shapes.

We started off staying in rooms with views at La Calcina, then progressed to 39 when the prices started rising a lot a few years ago. We like 39, although we weren't there with anyone else. For our last 2 trips we've preferred apartments, and you'd find it easier to get a big terrace for all 4 of you in an apartment.

Wren I am not familiar with these rooms but imagine they must be at the back of the hotel. It probably would be quiet.

We just returned from an 8 night stay in an apartment in Dorsoduro. I think it would be difficult to get one in May for just 3 nights. The other drawback is they usually have one nice double bedroom and one smaller twin type to accommodate families. We really liked the apartment experience and would do it again.

I would not be opposed at all to an apartment--I looked a little on SlowTravel last night...the ones I saw were like what Royal described...nice Master bedroom and bath and the second bedroom with twin beds...if anyone knows of an apartment that has two nice bedrroms and 2 baths, I would be all for it. There were quite a few that would allow 3 day stays from what I could see.

The La Calcina rooms I was describing are on the east side of the building facing the side of the Pensione Seguso.

I've only stayed in 1 bedroom apartments, I'm afraid, but I know Truly Venice does 3 nights at any time of year - I think most Venice agencies do as most people don't stay any longer.

Wren: coming back to you a little late. Hotel Ala has room with big doors that open on a side canal. These terraces are just walk outs, and don't have room for table and chairs, but we have often brought our little table to the door, and sat around it. Not exactly a big terrace, but quite nice.

The hotel has a seating area on the roof. Small but enough seating for all of you to enjoy wine and cheese.

Thanks everyone for taking the time to answer!

Tuscan--I realized I hadn't inquired at Ala--email is now sent.

Still mulling Ca' Angeli and La Calcina as well.

Margaretlb, when was the last time you stayed at the Foscari? I see a few reviews that say the place is in need of both repair and new linens...I know some people can be snarky in reviews, but there are several reviews alluding to this.