Luxury Hotels - Which luxury hotel in Venice?

I plan to go to Venice soon but I cannot decide on which hotel to stay at. The Cipriani looks great but the prices are incredibly high. The Danielli & the Gritti seem to be the places to be, but I am a bit afraid of the size of the room, they look so small! What is your personnal experience? How are The Bauer and the Londra Palace? What about the San Clemente Palace? It's said to be extremely quiet and vast with much bigger roms than any other hotel in Venice? Thanks in advance for your comments! ;)

I have only been to Venice twice, each time mid february (Valentine's Day break) and I followed my rule which is to go for the classic palace and chose the Danieli, because for me it's like the Raffles in Sing. or The Pierre in NY, you have to have stayed there at least once. I was not disappointed one bit, it was both times fairytale stuff. The first time, I naively, picked up the riva (btw: it's not included in your room rate) from the airport and turned up without a reservation with a bag in one harm and my girlfriend in the other. To my surprise, I was not the only chap who fancied Venice for a romantic break :) . The hotel was almost fully booked and all I was offered was one of the best suites with a price to match. The front desk guy must have seen on my face that despite the Louis Vuitton bag, I was pretty young to splash that kind of money and he also saw the potential embarassment (not to mention the death of any prospect of me developping a burgeonning relationship further) and he graciously wrote a rate on a piece of paper for me only to see. I had been given the upgrade of a lifetime! The service during my stay was faultless, courteous without ever being pretentious. The advice for dining venues always original and perfect. They even served us our last lunch on the terrace outside serving hours as we had to catch our plane. It's my experience and some might have had others, but I give the Danieli 10 out of 10.

Cipriani is too far out if you've never been before - you want to be on the mainland.

Il Palazzo at the Bauer is generally seen as the best high-end option, although I've never stayed there. I have stayed at the Gritti and cannot recommend it, unless - possibly - you splurge on a massive suite at the front. The standard rooms are certainly not worth it. The Danieli is also loved but, more often, hated - see the Starwood forum.

If you're in the UK this month, the current edition of Conde Nast Traveller has a big feature on luxury accommodation in Venice - it may (or may not) get copied over to the US edition as well.

You may also find this extract from the Gallivanters Guide newsletter helpful:

http://freespace.virgin.net/gallivanters.guide/

Thank you for the link!

Usually I like to go to "historic" places as well. I stayed twice at the Raffles in S'pore and the experience was fantastic. Same at the Oriental in Bangkok. However, some hotels are not worth the money, they rely too much on their glorious past. To me the Savoy in London belongs to this category (we were so disapointed by the very small rooms and old amenities).

I fear it might be the case with the Gritti and the Danielli except if you're ready to pay 2000 or 3000 Euros +++ for a night in a premier suite with a Canal view.

The San Clemente (even if it's a bit far) can be a nice alternate I guess. The shuttle boat needs 15 minutes to reach San Marco, and for a romantic break I guess the hotel offers the required privacy and quietness with really nice rooms in comparison with many other hotels there.

Just got back from Venice less than a week ago. We stayed at the Danieli, and loved it so much, we extended our stay. The hotel was nice enough to upgrade us to a suite, and we thoroughly enjoyed the stay. I would rate it as one of my top five hotel experiences, including historic and five-star properties in the US and abroad.

Thank you for the link!

Usually I like to go to "historic" places as well. I stayed twice at the Raffles in S'pore and the experience was fantastic. Same at the Oriental in Bangkok. However, some hotels are not worth the money, they rely too much on their glorious past. To me the Savoy in London belongs to this category (we were so disapointed by the very small rooms and old amenities).

I fear it might be the case with the Gritti and the Danielli except if you're ready to pay 2000 or 3000 Euros +++ for a night in a premier suite with a Canal view.

The San Clemente (even if it's a bit far) can be a nice alternate I guess. The shuttle boat needs 15 minutes to reach San Marco, and for a romantic break I guess the hotel offers the required privacy and quietness with really nice rooms in comparison with many other hotels there.
If this is your first trip to Venezia- and you like historic places- the Danieli should be your choice without a doubt. I would like into a suite- this place is generally regarded as the best hotel in Venice if you splurge for a suite. Please consider it will not be that modern- in fact not a lot has changed since Hemingway sat in his room and wrote about wars- but the history, the ambience, it is quite a special place. By the way, I would skip the hotel restaurant- this is NOT good value.

It's really all about what room you get - a small old dark room at the Gritti or the Danielli is pretty grim... and still expensive. Last trip, we had a Jr. Suite at the Londra Palace with full 30 foot long balcony & incredible view - at half the price of our friend's teeny warren looking out on a side canal next door at the Danielli. They about choked when they saw our room.

I stayed at the Cipriani about 20 years ago. It was very expensive back then - and the standard room I had was really tiny. I assume that as of today - the rooms are still tiny - but the prices are much much higher. Can't give a total thumbs down to the place - but I suspect you can do better. Robyn

I thoroughly enjoyed my stay last year at the Westin Europa and Regina. Having SPG Platinum status resulted in a double-upgrade to a suite, so perhaps my experience wasn't truly representative -- but I had no complaints at all. The service staff was attentive without being fawning, the suite was lovely, and the appointments and amenities were top-drawer.

Aloha,
--jt

We loved the Gritti Palace, right where all the activity is and a beautiful historic hotel. Our room was on the canal and I think worth the extra money just for the ambiance (and size). Most things are walkable and if not, the gondolas and water taxis are close by - and one other thing, because we booked direct they took 10% off our hotel bill.

Il Palazzo at the Bauer is generally seen as the best high-end option, although I've never stayed there.


i stayed at the bauer hotel a couple of years ago. i'm not sure if it's the same as il palazzo at the bauer. it's at the quiet end of a street beside a small canal. i was upgraded to a room with a balcony overlooking the square. it was really nice! ;)

Just got back and had the oportunity to bracket the trip with stays at Il Palazzo at the Bauer and the Danieli. Here are impressions:

Il Palazzo: upgraded to a canal view room. This had a small, remote feel. Very Quiet (hotel right on Grand Canal with no pedestrian traffic; out-of-way entrance from tiny alley). Room was very elaborate (and very red!). Took photos of the crown molding. Spectacular view.


Danieli: regular room (no upgrade likely due to Venice Film Festival starting - they were apologetic). Larger property with more activity, grand lobby. Suspect that upgrade to a view room would have been mixed blessing given lots of activity out front and likely resulting noise). Room was less elaborate but more up-to-date and seemingly less worn (not that Il Palazzo was shabby).


If you want small small, quiet luxury, recommend Il Palazzo. If you want to feel more like you're in the middle of things, recommend Danieli. Also saw Gritti from the outside and lobby and this one seemed to be more similar to Il Palazzo. Il Palazzo and Gritti are west of St. Mark's in the same area as all the luxury boutiques. Danieli is to the east, about 2 buildings past the Bridge of Sighs.

We loved the Gritti Palace, right where all the activity is and a beautiful historic hotel. Our room was on the canal and I think worth the extra money just for the ambiance (and size). Most things are walkable and if not, the gondolas and water taxis are close by - and one other thing, because we booked direct they took 10% off our hotel bill.
Bruiser, am I correct in assuming that you paid for your room and did not book via Starwood points? From what I have read on FT and from my own experience, it seems that Starwood Pax are often given nice, large rooms in the newer annex on the side canal. Yes, they have lots of suites, so many feel good about a suite. OTOH, the very best rooms at the Gritti are on the low floors in the original building facing the Grand Canal. Also, remember to eat at the outside bar where food is served, as opposed to the outside restaurant where the food is served. Service is more casual in the terrace bar, and you might pay 100 Euros for a couple of sandwiches and a carafe of wine. But, if you like good theatre; you will love the Gritti How great is it to see some of the great Divas and Industrialists disembarking from their watertaxis

If this is your first trip to Venezia- and you like historic places- the Danieli should be your choice without a doubt. I would like into a suite- this place is generally regarded as the best hotel in Venice if you splurge for a suite. Please consider it will not be that modern- in fact not a lot has changed since Hemingway sat in his room and wrote about wars- but the history, the ambience, it is quite a special place. By the way, I would skip the hotel restaurant- this is NOT good value.

Alas, Hemingway stayed at the Gritti. They have named a suite after him and on one of my many stays there I actually received Starwood's ultimate upgrade to that suite. FYI, the usual plat suite upgrade is to a good sized, well furnished suite at the rear of the hotel overlooking the small piazza of Santa Maria del Giglio. Overall the Gritti is my preference (not just because of that once in a lifetime upg) but because it has just +/- 80 rooms and a very high staff/guest ratio. The "lobby" is more like a living room!

If you are a paying guest, the ROH rooms at the Danieli are in the new building on the west side. They are decent sized, and nothing special, and do not have a unique view. The mid priced rooms are in the older two buildings, and do not have a view. The danieli has very few suites on the canal. In 8 stays all of a week or more, 3 as plat, I have had a canal front room only once.

The R&E has a large number of rooms on the canal. The suites tend to be smaller. Never done the Gritti or the Bauer.

There are a number of new lux hotels being opened and in off season, they are offering great view suites at extremely low prices. Last Feb, some were as low at €200. Rather than one of the major hotels, consider one of the smaller palaces located on the water. Far better rooms than the Danieli at a week price less than the daily price at the Danieli(where breakfast was €50pp in Feb 2004).

I think the Cipriani and the San Clemente and Lido are a bad idea if you wish to go to venice. Stay in center city so you can go where you want when you want. I cannot imagine going out to dinner, taking the Vap. to the shuttle at 11:30pm, then waiting for the shuttle to go to room.

I plan to go to Venice soon but I cannot decide on which hotel to stay at. The Cipriani looks great but the prices are incredibly high. The Danielli & the Gritti seem to be the places to be, but I am a bit afraid of the size of the room, they look so small! What is your personnal experience? How are The Bauer and the Londra Palace? What about the San Clemente Palace? It's said to be extremely quiet and vast with much bigger roms than any other hotel in Venice? Thanks in advance for your comments! ;)

I've stayed at the Danieli once (fairly recently) and the Cipriani several times, and would choose the Cipriani over the Danieli in a second. Advantages for the Cipriani:

-- Far better, more personal service. The Danieli is fine, but is a larger hotel with what felt like fewer staff for the number of guests.

-- Better location (IMHO). The Cipriani is a 3-5 minute boat ride from the Piazza San Marco. The boat ride gives you a chance to decompress, and the setting provides a break from the tourist crowds that surround the Danieli. At the Danieli, for much of the day you have to fight through mobs of people just to get to the front door.

-- Better breakfast (by far). The Cipriani includes an excellent buffet breakfast in a beautiful outdoor setting. The Danieli's is overpriced and pedestrian.

-- Slightly nicer rooms. Here they're pretty close, but the Danieli felt just a little more run-down to me than the Cipriani.

-- Pool. If you care, the Cipriani has a beautiful Olympic-sized pool. At the Danieli you have to take an unreliable shuttle to the Lido, then walk to one of two other Starwood properties there, taking up the better part of an afternoon. If you have limited time in Venice, this effectively means no pool at the Danieli.

Overall I wouldn't rank the Danieli in my top 5 for Italy -- maybe not even in my top 10. The Cipriani would be near the top of the list.