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Venetian magic can still linger when you retire for the night, whether you're staying in a grand hotel or budget locanda (inn). Some of the finest Venetian hotel rooms are lighted with Murano chandeliers and swathed in famed fabrics of Rubelli and Bevilacqua, with gilded mirrors and furnishing styles from baroque to Biedermeier and art deco.
Though more-contemporary decor is working its way into renovation schemes, you still may find the prized Venetian terrazzo flooring and canal views in more-modest pensioni. Your window will open, sometimes onto a balcony, so you may enjoy gondoliers' serenades, watch the ebb and flow of city life in the campo (square) below, or simply contemplate what the lack of motor traffic permits you to hear, or not hear.
Even if well renovated, most hotels occupy very old buildings. Preservation laws prohibit elevators in some, so if climbing stairs is an issue, check before you book. In the lower price categories, hotels may not have lounge areas, and rooms may be cramped, and the same is true of standard rooms in more expensive hotels. Space is at a premium in Venice, and even exclusive hotels have carved out small, dowdy, Cinderella-type rooms in the "standard" category. It’s not at all unusual for each room to be different even on the same floor: windows overlooking charming canals and bleak alleyways are both common. En suite bathrooms have become the norm; they’re usually well equipped but sizes will range from compact to more than ample; tubs are considered a luxury but are not unheard of, even in less expensive lodging. Carpeted floors are rare, as they’re traditionally considered to be unhygienic. Air-conditioning is rarely a necessity until mid-June. A few of the budget hotels make do with fans. Mosquitoes can begin to pester in midsummer; turn lights off in the evening if you leave windows open, and ask the hotel staff for a Vape, an anti-mosquito device. The staff members at most Venetian hotels will be able to converse with you in English, and don’t be afraid to ask for anything you need or even to change rooms if you consider it necessary to do so.
Spending time at this charming guesthouse near the Ca' d'Oro vaporetto stop is like staying with a friend: service is warm and helpful, with lots of suggestions for dining and sightseeing. Attractively appointed guest rooms overlook canals or the spacious enclosed garden and patio—a perfect spot to scribble postcards.
A quiet courtyard secluded from the San Marco melee offers an island of calm in six guest rooms and two apartments (some with private terraces overlooking the Doge's Palace, one with a Jacuzzi), which are individually decorated with contemporary furnishings and accessories. The public areas entice with classic Venetian elements like the marble stairway, exposed-beam ceilings, and mosaic tiles. Service is highly personal, and guests are often welcomed by one of the owners. There's a courtyard where you can enjoy breakfast or an evening interlude. One room has a Jacuzzi, and one attic apartment is available.
The grounds of the famous Orsoni Mosaics factory is the setting for these five spacious rooms with quirky golden mosaic flourishes. As a guest, you can get a free tour of the mosaic factory. There's a terrace for relaxing or taking breakfast in temperate weather. On-site service is limited to mornings and afternoons, but there is 24-hour assistance by phone.
At this hotel—once home to the Santa Croce branch of the Mocenigo family, which counts a few doges in its lineage—a columned courtyard welcomes you, and guest room decor nods to the building's history, with canopied beds, striped damask fabrics, lustrous terrazzo flooring, and gilt-accented furnishings. Indeed, the whole interior has been meticulously renovated to incorporate exposed-beam ceilings, Murano chandeliers, fireplaces transformed into writing nooks, and other distinct architectural features. A sauna is nice for unwinding after a day of sightseeing. The hotel is on a side canal convenient to any number of sights, cafés, restaurants, and shops. It's deservedly very popular, so book well in advance.
If eclectic Venetian charm is what you seek, this luminous residence near the Rialto has it: each of the individually decorated guest rooms has its own theater-theme wall painting by a local artist. The furnishings might be traditional, but the amenities are all contemporary, with signature linens, free Wi-Fi throughout, a kettle in every room, and a complimentary kimono in every bathroom. Every bed is king-size. Larger rooms have Venetian parquet flooring; the two upstairs "garret" rooms feature electronically controlled skylights.
Neatly decorated and light-filled rooms between St. Marks Square and the Rialto Bridge offer guests something rare in Venice—a central yet quiet base from which to explore the city. Five of the seven rooms have their own en-suite bathrooms and air conditioning, two have a shared bathroom and ceiling fan, and a few have canal views. A simple breakfast is served in a cheery breakfast room that overlooks a canal. The hospitable owner is around during the day to answer questions and offer restaurant suggestions; during the night, you are on your own.
Tucked behind Campo San Stefano in a charming little courtyard, this oasis offers small but peaceful rooms decorated in 18th-century Venetian style. Palazzo Grassi, Museo Fortuny, and the Accademia Museum are just steps away; San Marco and Rialto are both about a 15-minute walk. In the warmer months, breakfast is served alfresco amid the flowering garden overlooking Campiello Novo. Discounts are given for payment in cash.
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