we (husband and three kids) will be in venice in june and i can't decide between the locanda vivaldi and the westin europa and regina. anyone have any opinions?

Have you contacted the hotels for availability? I'd do that first.

I suggest that only from reading many posts here of people agonizing over hotels in Venice, only to find out their 1st choice (or 2nd) is already full for their dates.

You may also want to consider renting an apartment. You may have more room and access to a refrigerator never hurts, especially when you're travelling with children.

i have checked the availibility and we can stay at either hotel. anyone stayed at either place?

I have stayed at both, and would choose the Vivaldi. But that is just one opinion. Perhaps others will post and you can get a broader view. We'll be there in June (14-18) as well.

check www.tripadvisor.com for reviews.

I've not stayed at either hotel, as I'm almost always renting apartments in Venice, but for sure, the Europa & Regina is a first-class place. What I do certainly know is its bar (second only to that of the Gritti hotel), and its restaurant terrace has no equal as far as eating in a perfect setting - it's on the water of the Canal Grande, exactly opposite Santa Maria della Salute. Breathtaking! And the food is even good, which is rarely the case with hotels of international standard... I wouldn't, however, want to have to pay for a meal there; I've had a dinner there only once, on invitation by a Venetian friend who is a regular guest and thus pays much lower prices than those on the menu...

Our family of 5 is staying at the Residence Corte Grimani in early June. It opened last summer, I believe, and the Trip Advisor reviews are excellent. I mention it because it seems like as close to an "Embassy Suites" set up as one can get, but in an old palace on a canal. You could all be in one apartment.

With 3 kids I'd check the availability of an apt. even for 3 nights. You can go back "home" for quiet time, eat when you want (do you realize what a Venezia restaurant charges for 5 ?!)
Some great apts. can be found on www.slowtrav.com search or email to Eva at studio immagino (link from my site www.elegantetruria.com)