Sorry Christine but refresh memory,,, when are you going again? I just booked Hotel for July 2-3/07 for 185 Euros for a beautiful room overlooking the gardens.

There is also a review on Lonely Planet for Ca Riccio.

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldgui...ice?poi=177806

ReddVelvet we're going for a weekend in April - early May, we're not sure which one though.
And the dates i put give me a price of 260€per night.
But i think i found a hotel i like and not extremely expensive. (Ca pozzo inn). Probably i'll give that one a try!

I am so happy to see that someone mentioned the Hotel Flora. It is a small but very charming hotel, if indeed just a little bit pricey. It is NOT, however, at all pretentious. I know it because my best friend's cousin happens to be the manager! If you want to experience Venice, this is the way to do it. Since I live not far away, I have not stayed there overnight - but I have booked friends there who balked at the price initially but ended up appreciating it enough to RETURN THERE on their next trip. It was not just the hotel, but the service, personal attention, local knowledge and recommendations, and, I was told, even that the other guests were so friendly and interesting to chat with in the old drawing room. I hope the website conveys the true atmosphere as I know it.

I agree that the Hotel Flora is a lovely place but do believe that there are handsome terrazo floors and some beautiful period Venetian decor (which the OP is loath to gaze upon).

My husband and I stayed at Ca'Riccio for a few days last summer. The AC worked. It's a very well-run, quiet hotel. I recommend it.

We've stayed at Hotel Flora and it's lovely, but it's now above the price range mentioned.

The last time we were in Venice we stayed on Lido at Pension Villa Stella with a large room and patio that included a delicious breakfast and wonderfully helpful staff that was within your pricerange. It was lovely and taking the vaperetto into Venice was so much fun.

Christine - If you aren't fond of the decor, price, etc. then why are you going to Venice?

I don't know when in the summer you are going but a lot of hotels lower their rates after 7/15 through end of August. I never understood that as it seems to be peak season.
Last August we stayed at the Hotel Metropole. Contrary to prior comments, we loved our location near San Marco and learned the "back alleys" to avoid poing through the square. We had a rate of 170 Euros including breakfast and we thought the rooms were lovely. We loved the hotel.

Check out http://www.violinodoro.com/en/index.htm
and
http://www.lacalcina.com/

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Madison i think that Venice is an amazing city. I have been there many many years ago, so i don't remember a lot of things.. I would like to see all of that again and the 'special decor' and take the general feeling of all this.. it's just that i woulnd't like to pay 250€/night for a room that i won't like. (as far as rooms are concerned i like minimal.. not everything else!)