Goldiept

Hi Isabel,
thanks for your recommendation.
Looove the look of this place and will save it. Looked at it a lot and seems great.
Booked myself at Galleria and somehow the location looks better though I love the charm of this one.
Am trying hard not to overwhelm myself with all the possibilities but will save this one.
Thanks again.

annhig

Very sensible, Goldiept. When it comes down to it it's only a place to lay your head. I'm sure you'll be back anyway - Venice is addictive - ask Peter!

Goldiept

What's the story with Peter?
Have wanted to go to Venice since I'm 12 years old. Have hoped to go with my daughter for over a decade and somehow it's never happened.
Have been to lots of other places but not here. So....am finally going. Going to knit in Tuscany for a week then go to Venice for 4 days.
Have ny Times articles sitting around since 2006. Finally!
Just don't want to run the whole time. Hard not to try to see everything when, in fact, have no idea if I'll ever get back.
Was positively sure would get back to Greece and hasn't happened.
Thanks again.

Peter_S_Aus

Goldie, our first visit to Venice was for six nights in December 2006, the next visit after that was two years later, and we stayed for a couple of months. Since then, another half a dozen visits, and we have spent ten or eleven months in total in Venice.

That is what Anne means when she talks about addiction.

Goldiept

Hi Peter,
Sounds amazing!!
How wonderful to find a place you love to be in so much.
Many happy trails to you!

suze

I'm no expert but I did love Venice my two trips there. Of the finalist you are considering, and really knowing nothing but what I see online, I also would have picked Galleria. I hope you'll come back and let us know how things turned out. Safe & happy travels!!

travlsolo2

I love Venice, too, and agree with a solo traveler opting for a hotel rather than an apartment, for the reason you mentioned, goldie. My first stay in 2003 was at Hotel Canada. Location good but hotel was meh. Second visit in 2004 was good location, beautiful room, but it doesn't look like hotel exists anymore (Locanda Nuova). Third visit stayed at Pensione Guerrato. Again, loved location and room and good breakfast. Of your two final options, I would pick Centauro because of breakfast buffet. The other one says something about bringing breakfast to your room, and I would much rather eat in a dining room with other people. But that's me.

Have a great time! And report back!

Goldiept

Soooooo - did I say I wouldn't keep looking?
I was wrong. Just what I hate getting myself caught up in.
Found another one I like - Pensione Accademia. Thoughts??
Travlsolo2 - good point about being in a dining room for breakfast. Will consider it.
Thanks again to all of youl

annhig

Well, I've not stayed there but I would certainly consider it - if nothing else for the garden; outside spaces are like hen's teeth in Venice.

as for breakfast it seems to be a continental one, served in the garden in summer but it doesn't say where it's served when it's not.

Pepper_von_snoot

Do NOT stay anywhere near Piazza San Marco or the Rialto. It won't be as bad as July or August, but these areas experience the Tourist Tsunami.

Think about the Burning of Atlanta scene from Gone with the Wind. This is San Marco by 11 AM.

I like the Jewish Ghetto, Madonna dell'Orto area of Venice. Very quiet and relaxed.

Thin

Pepper_von_snoot

Yes, Peter is correct. You can easily become addicted to Venice. The Serenissima Crack.

Thin

Holly_uncasdewar

". . . it doesn't say where it's served when it's not."

My guess would be . . . the breakfast room!

suze

Found another one I like - Pensione Accademia. Thoughts??

It's always gotten good comments here but ... is it in your budget? I thought it was quite a bit more expensive, around the price of La Calcina which was too much??

Goldiept

Hi Suze,

Booked Pensione Accademia!! Canceled Galleria. Found a rate of $155 which is fine with me.
Above is a recommendation to stay in this neighborhood - Dorsoduro.
Am psyched about this place. Has gardens to relax in. I always try to get back to my hotel in the mid afternoon to take a load off and regroup.
This looks just like the place I want to be.

thanks so much for recommending it!

suze

Excellent news! That is a great price for that hotel and for Venice. And yes I'm one of many who recommend Dorsoduro. It's a lovely area, easy coming to and from the train station, close enough for easy exploring major sights and sites, but not mobbed like the very most central area is.

annhig

great, it looks lovely and very easy to get around from there too. The Campo Santa Margherita is nearby - several nice bars and restaurants with a locals vibe. i hope you have a great time.

Goldiept

Thanks. Will write when I return just to say hi and thanks again.

Goldiept

Hi again,
Another question.
I will be coming from Montisi. Is it better to go by train or take a bus??

annhig

Looking at google maps, the old phrase "you're starting in the wrong place" springs to mind - it gives a mind-boggling combination of bus, train, bus and train again, taking around 6 ½ hours! Possibly someone will come up with a better idea.
____________________________________________

I had another look at the map and if you could get yourself to Arezzo, you could do it on two trains changing in Florence and taking only between 3-4 hours. It looks as if it's about an hour in a car between Montisi and Arezzo.

kappa1

Pensione Accademia is a great choice. Congratulations !😉 I have stayed there 4 times at least. But they were quite a long time ago, last one was about 15 years ago. It got more and more expensive nowadays, just like la Calcina. These hotels and also la Galleria were often mentioned on this forum at that time. The breakfast at Accademia was of very good quality buffet for a 3 star hotel, better than some 4 star places' in Venice i have had. I read a thread (at TA) by a girl who stayed there recently and also at la calcina. She said it was the best breakfast of her stay ( she stayed at 3 different hotels ). So it looks like the hotel remains the same in that regard. Twice i stayed alone in a real single room with a real single bed. A narrow room, above the hotel's entrance and a side canal in front. Small room but i liked it. In low season, i paid 70 euro then for the single. I am surprised a bit it was within your budget in the October high season but i am happy for you. You mentioned also Centauro. I stayed there as well twice. It was not bad, even smaller single room. Breakfast was ok buffet (certainly better than la Galleria's i gather from what i have read ) but i think their breakfast room is one of their sales point, a large room, with high ceiling and a balcony on a side canal. Well it does not matter since you are not staying there. I just can tell you among these hotels, Pensione Accademia - la Villa Maravege​​​​​ is the best.