lrice

Hi all,

I am looking for a 3-star hotel in Venice for 2 nights, ideally near San Marco or other neighborhood. Would love any suggestions.

Thank you!

janisj

three star really doesn't mean much -- what is your actual budget??

Jean

It's not clear whether you want to be near Piazza San Marco or "other neighborhood."

And, yes, stars are meaningless unless you're looking for a specific amenity, which is what the stars are based on. Is there something in particular you require/need?

Sassafrass

Just to clarify the star system for the OP. In Italy, stars are given for amenities, not for quality. One of the worst hotels I ever saw was three stars, but it had an elevator, 24 hour desk service, a restaurant, garage, etc. Read reviews instead.

janisj

and to pile on even more re stars -- I've stayed in 2 stars that were nicer/more comfortable than a couple of 4* properties. Unlike in the States where star level is a semi-good indication of quality, just about anywhere in Europe/the UK there is a list of specific amenities that each star level requires. They can be crappy versions of some of the amenities - but if the box is checked, they receive more stars.

lrice

Oh got it! Perhaps the number of stars was the wrong criteria.

We want to stay near Piazza San Marco or Rialto Bridge or maybe Dorsoduro. Typically we might be interested in neighborhoods less touristy but I m anticipating Venice to not be as crowded. 🤷‍♀️ We want to roam streets and find small restaurants, bars, coffee shops, see San Marco and the Palazzo Ducale, go to Libreria Acqua Alta,
.
Then onto Florence.

I would like to spend $150 a night. I tried to book here but it is full: https://www.locandaquerini.com/home.html

We like charm, Italian feeling, perhaps a garden or rooftop to enjoy….

janisj

$150 is about €120 . . . That's not a lot, especially if you want a garden or roof top terrace/bar.. When is the trip? Month can make a big difference. I may be wrong but that doesn't seem totally realistic.

I once stayed here https://www.allangelo.it/en/4-star-hotel-venice-centre and loved the location. About mid way between San Marco and Rialto Bridge but on a quiet street. a dock so good if you plan on using a water taxi. It had very moderate rates but I'm sure it would now be well over €120. I didn't do a dummy booking to check rates because didn't know your dates.

The property you linked prominently displays "Discount for Rick Steves Readers" on the website so my guess is it is full pretty much year round.

tracilee

https://www.hotelserenissima.it We stayed here in 2019 and have reservations again this October, fingers crossed we will be able to go. The location is great, about a five minute walk one way to Rialto Bridge and in the other direction to San Marco Square. The breakfast was very good. No elevator if that’s an issue.

janisj

I'm not sure but don't think the Serenissma would fit in the OP's budget - perhaps if pre-paid/non-refundable they'd offer a decent discount. But again -- the actual travel dates could make a big difference.

annhig

Irice - the hotel I stayed at in Dorsoduro for a week - the Casa Rezzonico - which might well have fitted your bill as it had a garden seems to have disappeared - a casualty of Covid I suspect. But a bit of hunting found me this : https://www.hoteltizianovenezia.it/ - it seems to be in your price range, looks clean and is in a quiet area but close to two vaporetto stops and easy to get to and from Piazzale Roma and the station.

Otherwise my go to hotel in Venice is this one: https://www.hotelarcadia.net - very clean and comfortable, excellent service, and it's on two vaporetto lines and an alilaguna so it's very easy to reach from airport and station, which you can walk to if your luggage isn't too heavy. It's not where you mentioned but with a vaporetto pass it's so easy to reach any part of Venice you want to go to, and it is in Cannaregio right next to the Ghetto so great for wandering around both day and night. Highly recommended.

MMM

If you're looking for something reasonably priced and centrally located to St. Mark's and Rialto bridge, you can try Residence Corte Grimani. Not a hotel but a few apartments. They sparsely decorated but generally spacious and comfortable. You can likely find something there for around US$ 175 per night, or thereabouts. I stayed there 6 years ago but have not been there since. It's a relative bargain in this part of Venice.

starrs

I loved everything about the Hotel Galleria - but they are closed through the end of the year due to exterior construction work -
https://www.hotelgalleria.it/

lrice

Thanks all!

We are going the first few days of October. A few of these places mentioned are closed.

annhig I’d love to know more about the Cannaregio neighborhood! We are only there for 2 nights so I was thinking we should stay closer to the main sights.

annhig

<< annhigI’d love to know more about the Cannaregio neighborhood! We are only there for 2 nights so I was thinking we should stay closer to the main sights.>>

irice - IMO it's always a toss up whether to stay right in the middle of the action, or in an area that is more convenient for transport, and this is amplified when you have such a short stay. If you think that you are going to want to spend all your time around the "major sights" of Venice - Piazza San Marco, the Rialto bridge, etc, then it could make sense for you to stay in that area. But the chances are that you will spend relatively little time there - they don't actually take that long to see, unless you decide to do a tour of the Doge's Palace which will take about ½ a day - and then you will want to branch out. What I like about staying in Cannaregio is that you maximise your sightseeing time - it's very easy to get to especially if you use the alilaguna from the airport [link below] when you literally need to walk round the corner to the hotel from the Guglie stop [which is the third on the orange line so it's one of the closest to the airport] check in to the hotel, and then have a 5 minute walk through the little streets to the San Marcuola/Casino vaporetto stop on the Grand Canal.

Then you can cruise down the Grand Canal to San Marco, tour the Basilica, perhaps splash out on a drink in the Piazza [or go into the cafe on the second floor of the Museo Correr in the NW corner of the Piazza and enjoy the best view of the Piazza whilst you have much more reasonably priced drink or snack] [the museum is pretty good too and possibly the best one to give you an over-view of the treasures of Venice] and then work your way though the streets to the Academia Bridge, cross over into Dorsoduro, walk along the Zattere, perhaps having an ice-cream or Spritz at Nico's, or walk round the corner to one of the bars that serve "cicchetti" - typical venetian snacks served with a glass of wine or prosecco . Carry on your wandering [there are signs written about head height on the corners of buildings telling you the way to the Rialto if you get lost though GPS works well in Venice] perhaps going into the Basilica Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari en route then crossing over the grand canal at the Rialto. From there you can either pick up the "main drag" which will take you back to your hotel, [follow signs to Ferrovia ie the station] or pick up the No1 vaporetto getting off at San Marcuoloa/Casino stop for the short walk back to the hotel.

As for the answer to your question, Cannaregio is an area of Venice where many of the remaining 50,000 inhabitants of Venice live [down from 150,000 at the end of WW2]. But there is still plenty to see - you can walk through the streets of the Ghetto then walk north, across the Rio della Misericordia and down the Fondamente della Misericordia where there are lots of nice bars and restaurants. This would be an alternative way to get to San Marco if you were feeling adventurous and felt like exploring. [google maps says it's about 20 mins but it might take you a bit longer as it goes past the Rialto Bridge which you might like the explore]. Also there are nice restaurants on the other side of the Guglie canal though you might need to book as they are very popular with locals.

Whatever you do, i strongly recommend getting a vaporetto pass which will give you the freedom to jump on a vaporetto whenever you feel like it - for me a trip along the grand canal both in day light and at night is unmissable.

Hope this helps.

https://www.alilaguna.it/en/lines/linea-arancio

HappyTrvlr

We prefer staying in Cannnaregio too.

rialtogrl

The location annhig is referring to is great for a short stay as it will be easy to drop your stuff and head out unencumbered. If you take the train you can even walk there if you pack light, even if you are carrying heavy baggage there are porters who will take your stuff for not much money. There are lots of great restaurants and bars around, supermarkets, everything one needs. It gets busy around there because it’s on the main drag to the station, but in a few steps you can be in much quieter areas. Plus it’s in your budget 😀 a no brainer, really.

Sassafrass

Staying a bit away from the main center allows you to see more of Venice in a less hectic way, so I highly recommend Dorsoduro or Cannaregio. Venice is small anyway, so easy walking (except for getting lost) and walking in the different neighborhoods is lovely in the late evenings, plus better choices of food than in the center. Eat near your hotel. One bit of advice. Stop by or call and make a reservation even an hour or so before you want to eat. It is a respectful custom in Italy and you will be welcomed very differently than if you just show up. I found this to be true everywhere, but especially true in Venice.

annhig

<< Staying a bit away from the main center allows you to see more of Venice in a less hectic way, so I highly recommend Dorsoduro or Cannaregio. Venice is small anyway, so easy walking (except for getting lost) and walking in the different neighborhoods is lovely in the late evenings, plus better choices of food than in the center. Eat near your hotel. One bit of advice. Stop by or call and make a reservation even an hour or so before you want to eat. It is a respectful custom in Italy and you will be welcomed very differently than if you just show up. I found this to be true everywhere, but especially true in Venice.>>

I agree with you entirely, Sassafrass. I have frequently seen people turned away from a Venetian restaurant that looks half empty because they know that they haven't got the staff to serve any more covers. And restaurants outside the most touristy areas cater more for locals which means that their prices must be more reasonable and the food better. My friends who live there have about half a dozen restaurants that they go to regularly so they are well known and are treated accordingly. They always book in advance.

clarkgriswold

Hotel Ca Zusto, formerly Domina Home Ca Zusto
10 min walk from Santa Lucia train station/ vaparetto water taxi is around the corner from hotel

Check the "super sale" rate on their website (price displayed is total for the two nights including breakfast)

margo_oz

I'm a big fan of Cannaregio also.

Very convenient for vaporetto and Alilaguna. Some good local eateries. Near the hotel annhig recommends is a great cake shop which does brilliant meringues (my secret weakness). Good Jewish bakery..