Carlton on the Grand Canal

"We stayed at Hotel Carlton on the Grand Canal for what was meant to be a three-night stay, but checked out after the first night because the experience was extremely disappointing. We were travelling with our four-month-old baby, and the room was much smaller and less spacious than it appeared in the photographs, especially once the baby cot was placed inside. More concerningly, the cot provided was very old and the netting was visibly dirty, which we did not consider hygienic or suitable for a young baby. We had also contacted the hotel several times before arrival because we needed basic assistance with preparing our baby’s bottles, specifically access to a kettle or reliable hot water. Despite this, nothing appeared to have been arranged when we arrived, and we did not find the hotel particularly helpful in trying to assist us. Our baby was very uncomfortable in the cot, and we eventually had to sleep with her in the main bed, resulting in a very poor night for all of us. We therefore checked out the next morning and had to pay for alternative accommodation elsewhere in Venice. What made the situation worse was the lack of response afterwards. We contacted the hotel multiple times to request a refund for the unused nights, but received no meaningful response. The location is convenient, but unfortunately the overall experience, cleanliness concerns, lack of practical support, and poor follow-up meant we could not recommend the hotel, particularly for families travelling with a young baby."

"This is a run down and neglected hotel. It needs a full renovation. The rooms are very cramped with no storage. You end up living out of your suitcase. The location is ok if you’re coming from the airport or on a train, but it is not a good part of Venice. Instead of the view being beautiful ancient buildings it’s the train station. The only redeeming feature is the staff are super friendly and helpful, I feel badly they have to make up for the neglected building."

"The hotel was highly overpriced. I paid almost 700euro per night, which they explained by high season with film festival going on. The room was the size of my clothing room, the bed was not very comfortable, I couldn’t sleep well. But you shouldn’t expect much from the hotels in Venice. They are most of low value and overpriced."