i searched the forum and there weren't other threads on this hotel, so i started a new one.
i am going to add to this later, but i just wanted to get some brief thoughts out for those traveling to venice.
upon arriving, mr. Gabriele Gneri, the front office manager of the Westin Excelsior Lido and the Des Bains greeted me. he told me that the hotel was monitoring the progress of my flight (i left on blackout thursday). mr. gneri waited for me to complete the paperwork and personally escorted me to my room. the room had a beautiful assortment of fruit and a great bottle of prosecco (sparkling white wine).
my parents were on the same trip. we had a large sitting room that joined two bedrooms. the room had a gargantuan terrace, the only terrace on the front of the hotel facing the ocean. the room was absolutely magnificent. the terrace had about eight full lounge chairs, several sitting chairs, a couple of tables, and an umbrella in case the sun was too much.
let's just say that i don't think i have ever been so warmly greeted at a hotel in my entire life. this would be a theme throughout the stay. the service from the concierges, the front office, the pool staff, the restaurant staff, the roomservice staff, the housekeeping staff, etc. were all excellent, professional, friendly, and took great pride in their their hotel and their work.
the hotel was constructed in 1900 and was in pristine shape. unlike a recent stay at the royal hawaiian (another old hotel), there was no evidence of peeling wallpaper and chipped doors. this hotel was in magnificent shape. the pool is amazing/huge/beautiful. there is a connecting kids pool with a small bridge over the water connecting the two pools. there are several clay tennis courts.
the buffet breakfast was very nice and the coffee was great.
upon checking out, mr. gneri came to wish me well. again, he is very proud of this hotel and was beeming every time i met him. this is a man that loves his job.
in addition to the initial amenity i received (mentioned above), within a half hour of arrival, a second bottle of wine with a delicious box of cookies arrived. then, the evening before my departure i arrived home from dinner to find a beautiful bowl of fruit in my room to enjoy on the terrace.
what a great stay. A++++++
i will write more later.
[This message has been edited by fly co to see the yanks (edited 08-20-2003).]