"I apologize for being late with my review. I went in mid November so by the time I got back home I had to jump right into Thanksgiving and Christmas prep and then I forgot to do it. My stay at this hotel was amazing. I was welcomed by staff as soon as I walked in the door. They seemed almost as excited as I was. They happily let me know that I had the best room in the house and they hoped I liked it. I loved it. My daughter was joining me there the next day and they had everything prepared for her.
The room was furnished in a classic Venetian style with a chandelier. When I'm staying in an area like this I like this type of furnishing because it has a more authentic feel. And while the style is classic the amenities are modern. The room was recently renovated and the bathroom is new, modern and like the rest of the room is very clean with a bidet. The bathrobe and slippers are always a favorite touch with me. And yes, there is air conditioning, a refrigerator, a tea & coffee service, a safe and a flat screen tv. The room was also of a good size. I had a king size bed, night stands, a dresser, two chairs and a table and I still had room without being crowded. There are two sets of windows on the front and another set on the side. Canal views everywhere. And the best thing of all is that I had a balcony. At night I would bring my chair to the balcony and have a glass of wine. And in the morning I would get up to see the city waking up before I went downstairs to eat my breakfast which was included in my rate. It was magical and everything I expected.
The hotel is right across the canal from the train station. I picked this on purpose because I didn't want to lug my suitcase a long distance to a hotel. Let me tell you, my first view of Venice upon coming out of the train station did not disappoint. I just had to walk a few yards to the Scalzi Bridge, up and over, and then a few yards to my hotel. I didn't have a problem with my luggage because I've learned the hard way. When traveling in Europe, overpacking can put a damper on your trip. Europe is full of train travel, stairs and cobblestone streets. Heavy, wheeled luggage doesn't fare well. Take heed. If you can't lift it over your head don't bring it. I went to Italy for two weeks with a wheeled carry-on and a back pack. My family said it couldn't be done but it worked out perfectly with a little mixing and matching of my clothes. But just in case you don't heed this advice there are "unofficial" people with carts who can help you to cross the stairs that are the bridge and I think to some of the hotels. But don't forget to stop to look at the canal on your way across.
You may think that being across from the train station it is a mad house. And yes it does get busy during the day. But it doesn't feel maddening. It gets quiet around 11pm. It's a walk, but Venice is very walkable, to get to a lot of the main attractions but getting lost on your way to finding them is part of the beauty of Venice. And if you don't want to or can't walk a little distance you can always take a vaporetto (water bus) or water taxi. There are also many food options in the area.
I can honestly say that this is one if not my favorite trips to date. If I ever return to Venice I will stay here. Every time I see the hotel in a video I still smile and point out "my room". Just so you know, "my room" is the right hand side balcony on the second floor."
