We plan to be in Venice in June 2005 for 3 nights, but the week dates were interested in requires a 4 night min. stay. Can you recommend other hotels? Does anyone know what's going on that in mid June?

Thanks in advance.

What's your budget?

In the area of 210-230 Euro.

I've just found the MonteCarloa (part of the BW chain) for 215Euro (King Bed, Deluxe Furnishings, Full Breakfast). Would love to hear your comments on it.

Thanks

I would never stay anywhere other than Locanda Orseolo - simply magical. Read the reviews on TripAdvisor, and it still won't prepare you for how wonderful it is.

Pensione Accademia hotel in the dorsoduro neighborhood of Venice is also wonderful and reasonably priced. good breakfast too. Ask for a room with a garden view.

I've read the reviews of the Locanda Orseolo and was very impressed. I've just got a reply from Bruno that they have a nice and quiet double room standard facing the private courtyard for 190Euro. Seems like a extremly good deal compared to the other prices I've been quoted. Is it better to go with a canal view- need to get the quote for that still?

If you haven't decided yet, you might want to consider the Hotel Giorgione. This is such a lovely hotel and the greatest staff. We loved our stay there.

Rohani --

As gushing as the reviews are, they still can't prepare you for experiencing Orseolo...I actually cried in the courtyard when I left (that NEVER happens) and have already made reservations to return next November.

We had a canal view room, the Puclinella, and it was fantastic. It is a small canal, but you can sometimes hear that music from San Marco from the window. The one downside to the canal room was that it could be noisy in the morning, BUT that was also part of the charm. For one week, we awoke every day at 6:30 to hear a workmen prepare his boat (and his plastic bucket) for his long day...then quiet for another hour and a half when the gondolas and serenading would begin. We couldn't complain! It was wonderful, and the Pulcinella room was recently renovated, is HUGE, and is simply gorgeous.

BUT -- if you are not interested in paying extra for the canal view (or hearing *some* noise in your room) the courtyard room should be fine. The courtyard is nothing to look at, but frankly, I doubt that you'll be standing in your room looking out the window very much (even with a canal room). Orseolo is about to close for 3 wks for renovations on their standard rooms, and Bruno says that they are going to redo some of the rooms in the Pulcinella style. I would ask him if one of the "new" rooms is available if you decide to stick with the standard. They are eventually redoing all the rooms to be like the Pulcinella, and all rooms will be designed around a different theater mask. Beautiful murals and linens!!!

Orseolo really is a fantastic hotel. The location is just off St Marks square, and the service is better than any hotel I've ever stayed in. I cannot wait to go back. I hope that if you stay there, you have the same magical experience!

I am excited to read the glowing reviews of Locanda Orseolo. My husband and I have booked it for October after our cruise. I am so excited. So far they have been completely gracious.

beanweb24

Thank you for reconfirming your delight with the Orseolo. We've decided to confirm with the hotel for a courtyard room. Would love the canal view, but my husband is a light sleeper. The rate they offered also gives our overall budget a boost as we've booked the Del Senato in Rome after all the great review on this site. I have read that the Orseolo is a bit difficult to find so any tips you can offer here is appreciated such as which stop to use and to find our way once on land. Curious to know... why have some folks mentioned leaving a window to get onto the water taxi?

Again, thx to all for your comments and experiences.

Glad to hear you have booked a room -- I hope you will love it as much as we did. The staff truly makes you feel as part of the family and go above and beyond to make your stay in Venice perfect...definitely use them for restaurant recommendations and reservations.

We followed the instructions to reach them that are found on the www.veniceby.com website (I love the www.italyby.com sites for lodging). Here is the description -- we followed it exactly with no problem:

From Venice Marco Polo Airport: regular Waterbus Service from Venice Airport to St. Mark’s Square walk down the arcade around the Square, after the Cafè Quadri turn onto the second street on your right up to Campo San Gallo and reach Corte Zorzi passing the iron gate located in Campo San Gallo.

Hint: It's the only iron gate and it's directly to the left of the little cafe that has sandwiches and drinks in the window. You'll think it's wrong, but it's not...go through the gate and the entrance to Orseolo is in the back left of the courtyard.

Ahh...the water window. The first section of the dining area (there are 2 areas separated by an open doorway) has a water window. The window hinges up from the bottom, and you can step from the dining room directly onto a boat in the canal. They will arrange for a water taxi if you need it!

Have you visited their main website? Here's a link if you haven't: http://www.locandaorseolo.com/uk/description.htm. In the staff picture from left to right are Barbara and Matteo (who are getting married this month on the 12th!), Bruno, and Francesco. Thought you might like to put a face to the name.

I hope you have a fabulous trip!!!!

I've gotten my confirmation from Bruno and can already tell we'll be having a great time as they've been most helpful.