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.

The only two rental agencies in Venice I can recommend are Truly Venice and Views on Venice.

Booking.com just listed pretty decent rates at Ca Pisani on the Dorsoduro, Not on a canal but with a rooftop relaxing area where I'd expect you can see the Grand canal in one direction and the water between the Dorsoduro and the Giudecca (can't remember what that's called) We stayed there and loved it--quiet, nice neighborhood, across from a school where parents drop their kids off in the mornings, but a block or so from the Grand Canal and the Accademia Bridge and a block or so in the other direction to the Zattere right near the La Calcina. Unfortunately I never went up to the rooftop to be able to say for sure what it's like up there.

I noted at the same time a place I've never heard of nor seen but that has a 9 rating on Booking.com called Ad Place Venice with very reasonable rates, close to La Fenice. Decor is over the top Venice.

Check them out. And have a great time in Venice.

Julie, that's the Giudecca Canal and it's my favourite view. I don't think you'd be able to see the Grand Canal from, though, due to all the tight-packed buildings in between. Have you been up the St Mark's Campanile or the Torre d'Orologio ? Not a canal to be seen !

Ok--now I am really frustrated! Calcina and Ca' Angeli are no longer available and the guy at Ala said to book online! (But those rooms are non-refundable only and as i said I don't want to go that route!!) Grrr! Back to square one! Julie, I will check out your recommendation.

You can search the Truly Venice website by number of bedrooms & having a terrace. Maybe if you look at the 3 bedroom apartments, there are more likely to be 2 doubles ? Your budget should certainly cover that.

wren, my last visit was in 2009 and it was still lovely then.

Bookmarking----it's on my bucket list

Bob---the website for the Pensione Accademia has one of the best location finding sights I've ever seen. I love the way you close in and get an actual walking path from the vaporetto stop.

Margaretlb----Hotel Foscari Palace looks really nice. Any idea on prices?

What's the best area to stay for a first visit to Venice? Probably 3-4 nights before or after our usual trip to Paris. That said, would you go to Venice and then Paris, or the reverse?

We usually go to Europe in Sept. Sometimes on short notice. It appears that Venice hotels need to be booked way ahead of time. Do you think July is too late to make a decision? That's when we usually start looking at Europe. This thread prompted me to start thinking early.

Also consider the Hotel American in the same area as Calcina, on a canal by the Accademia Bridge. We liked this place so much we've stayed there twice.

www.hotelamerican.it

We stayed at Locanda Orseolo two years ago and absolutely loved it and the people that ran it. It was a great location. I would definitely stay here if I were you!

The rooms with "no view" at the Locanda Orseolo will be pretty much like that. A very close view of a wall, not for the claustrophobic ones. Other then the canal view rooms they have courtyard views. The courtyard is very small and not particularly appealing. I would only stay in a canal view room at the Locanda (which we did and loved it). The people running the Locanda are lovely, though. The Pensione Accademia is really nice, too. I recommend the hotel Aqua Palace. They don´t have large outside space, though. Just a small terrace like space on canal level which is really nice to sit with a glass of wine and watch the gondolas go by. For apartment rentals we used "Views on Venice". They are great to deal with but I doubt they will have rentals for less than 5 nights, mostly not less than one week in May.

Try the following B&B:
http://www.allavitedorata.com/

I found it on tripadvisor, spent wonderful 5 nights there. It's comfortable and in a great location with easy access from the train station, the price is right for Venice, I think. When I go back it will be my first choice. Felt like home.

definitely try http://www.rentalinvenice.com

Hi Karen ... I will be in Venice in November & was wondering which hotel you liked best.

Locanda Oresoso (with canal view) or Aqua Palace ? We would like something with a

canal view. Thanks

TPAYT- September is an extremely popular month to visit Venice. Our last three trips have been at that time and we have booked anywhere from 9-11months in advance.

We stayed at La Calcina twice in a canal front room and this last time in an apartment in the same location. The Dorsoduro is our favorite area as it has good access to everything but is much quieter than the busy San Marco and Rialto area. In the daytime those areas can be absolutely packed with people and difficult to get around. The Zattere has some good outdoor restaurants and we love walking along the canal and watching all the boat traffic.

Regarding your question about Paris & Venice I guess it would depend on your flight arrangements. Our flight back home from Venice was very early in the morning and it made for a long day home. If the flight back from Paris was later in the morning or early afternoon I would choose then to fly into Venice and home from Paris. The other consideration is weather - Venice was very warm in September - in the 80's.

Royal----thanks for answering my questions. I didn't mean to highjack this thread. I'll definitely check into the areas that you mentioned. 9-11 months out is not our usual plan as we do a few other trips at that time, however, I have noticed in the Venice threads that the places book up quickly. This year Paris was also very warm in Sept.-Oct. More so than other years.

TPAYT, when we used to stay at La Calcina we would book for the next year as soon as we got home (so nearly always a year ahead), and even then some rooms would be gone. Last year we were in Venice 10-24 Sept and the weather was very mixed: hot the first week (could dine outside) ; cold, windy & rainy the middle weekend; hot in the day but cold at night (couldn't dine outside) the second week. So I'd go to Venice first as I think it's more of an 'outdoor' destintion than Paris.

Caroline, you're right, even though the Ca Pisani is at the narrowest end of the Dorsoduro, it's only the Grand Canal I'm certain you can get a glimpse of from the window of the room we stayed in. But you can view down the street toward the Zattere and the Canale Giudecca along the street named Rio Terra a Foscarini. since the street is pretty straight, it's possible that with really good vision you might pick up a glimpse of water on that side. Regardless, we really liked the Ca Pisani, it seems to be in Wren's price range, and it's in a lovely area. As canalside options are dwindling, it might become an ever more attractive alternative.

There are good vacation rentals around Venice. It's not that expensive and the service is really great.

In May for me

www.hotelpausania.it #211 canal view suite 59 euro

www.otel.com

www.bauervenezia.com

www.otel.com from $200 was AWESOME

in the past betterbidding.com

Hotel Hilton Molino Stuky $120/nt bid priceline

AWESOME value for a 5 star best I have ever done.

Good luck!

2 years ago won this $120 bidding priceline.com GREAT

location on canal 1 block from train station

Boscolo Bellini is set in a historic building in Cannareggio ... Priceline.com ensures that its reviews are guests-only ... Ai Due Fanali from $120 (0.1mi) Alloggi Serena from ...travela.priceline.com/boscolo-bellini-hotel-venice.

Apartments best in Dorsoduro carful many scammers

italyby.com sleepinitaly.com reputable agents

eurocheap.com/venice great budt tips hotel values