Should we stay at the Gritti Palace in Venice or is it too over the top? They seem to have a good rate there right now for three nights at the end of June. Is it very loud and boisterous or worth it? Otherwise we can stay at the Ca'Dei Dogi...

Is Gritti too much? I can't tell? It seems to have similar rates but maybe we should be less over the top until the end of our trip. We just don't want anything too small. Any suggestions. We want a hotel or B and B where we are taken care of in Venice...

Check out www.tripadvisor.com for the Gritti Palace and Ca'Dei Dogi....one gets consistently stellar reviews the other not so much!

As I wrote on another of your threads, the rooms at the Gritti very tremendously. The room I saw in the lower price category was not very nice, considering the price which was well over $US500.

There are so many other options in Venice. I would not want to stay in that area, all things being equal.

We loved this hotel, but there are many other options:


http://www.pensioneaccademia.it/

Okay we are not going to stay at the Gritti. The Ca'Dei Dogi is where we are leaning I am just slightly sad that it is not on the water. Otherwise it seems fabulous. The last few I am checking out are the Bucintoro (too far out of St. Mark's?) or the Ruzzini Palace (in Castello?)

San Marco is not the best location in Venice in my opinion. It is chock filled with tourists, for one thing. I can't even imagine what it will be like around there in July.

If you want to get good recommendations, you should state your price range and what you are looking for. I highly recommend the hotel I linked above. If you want to stay in San Marco in the heart of the tourist area, look at the Hotel Metropole. Otherwise, look in Dorsoduro and other spots away from San Marco, unless you want to be in the thick of things.

those you mentioned look nice, Darcy. One thing I would also recommend since you will be there in high season, would be to book a few special restaurants in advance of your arrival. The hotel can do that for you. It is hard to find great food for a decent price in Venice. One you settle on a hotel, you can take a look at restaurant recommendations here and ask questions. But do not leave it until the day of arrival if you are fussy about where you are going to eat and if you only have two days.

The end of June? Do you mean June 2010? Oh, dear, if you do mean 2010, you better forget about a fab room in Venice (or elsewhere). The best rooms in all the better hotels are booked six months in advance during high season.

La Calcina's room with the terrace is fabulous. Pensione Accademia is adorable. But those boutique hotels are the best in Venice and their best rooms are very hard to get. You often need to plan a year ahead to get them.

Why anyone would want to pay for the Gritti (and make that area home) is beyond me. If the Gritti is discounting rooms, you can be sure their simply trying to fill what's left.

I wouldn't stay anywhere near San Marco in July (or any other time, truly). I'd head for Dorsoduro. But agree, if you state a price range, it would be easier to make recommendations.

$400 a night or so...

Okay, I think we are booking a room at the Ruzzini Palace. Has anyone stayed there that can give a review, good or bad?

It looks fine and that area is not bad. I would book it while they still have rooms if you have decided. Did you try Pensione Accademia?

I did...my husband would like to stay somewhere around St. Mark's as it is our first time to the area and he wants to be fully immersed...

You will be fully immersed in tour groups, schlock vendors, pigeon poop, and all the rest. Although on the bright side, that hotel is not smack in the middle of San Marco.

The charm of Venice is not in San Marco in July.

tt

You could get the best room at La Calcina and have money left over (at $400/night)

rather than start a new thread, does anyone know anything about una hotel venezia, a rather new place, off the beaten path.....looks very nice and is in carnareggio district....i know i spelled that wrong! i didn't want to be in the masses.

Another vote for Pensione Accademia.

For whatever it's worth Darcy, the 700 style rooms at the Gritti are very nice and under $500/night. The hotel is a jewel and I've enjoyed every time I've stayed there. Though it's smack on Canal Grande, with a wonderful terrace bar just outside the main bar which has music every night, you are far enough away from Piazza San Marco to avoid the hordes unless you want to be part of them. In addition, once you turn (coming back from PSM) left from the main street to reach the hotel, you're at a dead end, so there are no hordes anymore - you just have the unassuming entrance to the Gritti. There are rooms a category below the 700 type which are very nice, as well, and will meet your budget of $400. It's a very romantic setting and certainly will meet your husband's desire to be immersed in Venetian style and culture. They still have availability from the 23rd to the 30th of June, which is the sample that I used. Unlike other posters, I would encourage you to take advantage and stay there - it's beautiful and very well run. Their sister hotel, the Danieli, I did not enjoy half as much because you can't get away from the hordes with its location since it fronts another major walkway, Riva Schiavoni. The Gritti is quite private.

Sandra

Sherrill - I don't know the hotel, but I know the area and personally I wouldn't want to be that far away nor that close to the rail station. I'd rather stay in Dorsoduro as other posters have noted to be halfway between PSM and Rialto, and closer to the museums which are located there. Other posters have referenced hotels and pensiones there; hopefully one would fit the bill.

Sandra