AmanCGV / Venice September 2019

Took lots of to & fro by email from last year with Claudia S , till when she moved to AMAN ‘ s Swiss HQ , then with some of her team .. even right up to when new GM came onboard in August ..

It became extremely annoying and eventually , thankfully after she moved on , other AMAN GMs who were more with it resolved the situation .

Many calls by our concierge too to AmanCGV during the process ..

Giampaolo P , the current GM , was helpful not only during our stay but pre & post though still imbibing the AMAN way ..

So we did not cancel our stay , yes it did come to the point where we contemplated it , when Claudia did not get it - peculiar for someone who has been with AMAN for awhile and whom we had met many times before even at Kila .

Since it was either Florence or AmanCGV but Venice came through as you are reading this .

We were very pleased to be away from the cruise terminal and arrive at the AMAN sanctuary in Venice . We did not need the pricey ( of course but with AMAN comfort / perks ) AMAN boat transfer as Seabourn Odyssey accorded us complimentary ship to AmanCGV :)

Before the team could gather to welcome us , we had a soothing sight of AmanCGV jetty .

After the warm AMAN welcome , we were shown around the grounds - 2 gardens ! - and parts of the  Palazzo / Palace ..

Did not get round to touch , let alone play / tinkle on , the ivories of this centuries old grand .. next time ;)

The grand staircase 

Other perspective - some photos to show the details 

Just beautiful , note the intricate craftsmanship and artwork  

Got a trifle worried that our room was going to be similar !

One of the link “ bridges “ from the old wing to the older wing ;)

After using 2 sets of elevators / lifts and navigating various passageways and rooms we arrived at our 5 th floor Chamber Luminoso with a view of the grand canal and beyond !

Check in was swift and also showing us around the spacious room & bath area and explaining about the complimentary fridge and goodies drawers was clear / smooth .

.. it had to be , as a critical RWC match was about to begin . The AMAN team was alerted and it was all set up ahead of time !

As the rooms here are all different , we left it to AMAN to choose our room - a Palazzo Chamber Luminoso - understand that there are only 4 in this category . Plus running at full capacity during the period . With just 24 guest rooms and suites , quite possibly a frequent occurrence ;)

Entry / foyer to ours . Peaches like at Zoe , just a bit smaller .

Very comfortable bed , doorway leading to bath area

Brightly lit room , with morning sun light streaming in

2 different fresh mixed refreshing fruit juices with bottle of mixed nuts above the goodies drawer

We had this beautiful floral arrangement and pralines / truffles daily :) 

Bottle of mixed dried fruits & nuts ..

The drawer :) full of yummies - complimentary :) :)

Views from the room :)

These smaller windows belong to the penthouse where the family lives 

Our neighbours and ourselves also overlook the front garden . Should be lovelier in spring and summer when the wisteria , etcetera are in bloom .

We enjoyed looking out at this .

On another morning , we spot a huge cruise ship sailing by above the rooftops - rather surreal initially before one realises what one is seeing ..

These series of photos should give one a perspective of why the Venetians are worried about the number of cruises docking here .

We rather liked the bath area . Even if there is a step up to the part with bath tub , shower and WC .

The large windows let in natural light / indirect sunlight .

From the bedroom , we walk through this antechamber to the bath area with a “ lounge “ 

The lower area with the his and hers and the lounge

The full size mirror in the vestibule

The windows in the changing / lounge area .

Bath tub and shower room 

View from the bathroom window 

My slight angst is to enjoy this view is that others might see us in the loo :( the tree helped but what when fall comes ?

The shades & pulls are too close & touch us when using the facilities that is why they ( blackout & day curtains ) are often drawn up when we were in ;)

What can one say , but some Italian designers on the AmanCGV project team must have been exhibitionists !

Was rather relieved though that it was not a TOTO found in more AMANs these days .

Here with the day curtain down , interesting light fixture .

Italy , remember ? ;)

We enjoyed our breakfasts in the main area of the dining rooms - yes , rooms . The middle table by the larger , 4 , tall doors opening onto the balcony . This must have been quite spectacular with the canal scene during certain seasons .

View from the corner table in the room off to the right - Red Room ?

Frittata of the day

Thai crab omelette 

AmanCGV signature :)

Moderators please delete if too many breakfast photos . Truly delicious so some items were repeated .

Evening look

The chefs must be much better as we thoroughly enjoyed our various meals . Our other meals like dinner were in the Blue Room next to the main area , which we had all to ourselves . As mentioned , it was at capacity and it was evident during dinners . Plus an event on the Saturday evening .

We managed to squeeze in separate massage sessions :) in the rather small spa compared to other AMANs with spas . 

Loved the treatment room - soothing with different woods being used from rest . Centuries old ceiling beams , etcetera were painstakingly restored & maintained annually . Appreciate such care and understanding of keeping historical works , just environmentally conscious . Along with the bamboo straws ;)

Just look at the beams , wonder what they have witnessed ..

As you can see , the ceiling is lower here . Note the small windows too . The families who lived here before were always occupying these rooms in winter as they were warmer ;)

The “ Nourishing “ oil with jasmine which the therapists applied was heavenly , will see if we can have the same in Japan :)

One must remember that this is not a new build AMAN but a centuries old lived in Palazzo !

As such she has numerous rooms like a library or 2 , drawing , music and others . One can get lost or wander from one space to another possibly huge space , over 4 / 5 floors in 2 wings .

The boutique where the count ‘ s glassware is displayed for purchase 

Note the side door leading down to water ! an alley canal ..

One of the living rooms 

Another 

What a beautiful function / meeting room 

Unlike other AMANs where boats are only for leisure , here in Venice they are a necessity to ferry guests about . From arrivals to departures . Then there are the excursions , many of which require a water transfer .

The boats are very comfortable and well equipped AMAN style according to guests guests needs and to the highest standards .

Passing the Rialto Bridge 

Look at the wood used

Very able skipper 

Oops , photos disappeared or out of synch .. sorry . May not retry posting - been attempting a few times .. including this single sentence :(

Now , can you see how beautifully sleek they are ? And the wood !

AMANs generally do not have Concierges . The “ city “ AMANs are somewhat different .

The concierge team here became about my best pals at this AMAN . Head Concierge Pier F F and his capable team including Ricardo always rose to the occasion . 

They helped with last minute requests with cool success . 

Critically , also our search team or key facilitators for lost items , that is a plural . Both big and tiny . These include 2 items which were found , one from the ship which we had just disembarked , they somehow retrieved . And another on site which was sent to us at Lupaia where we stayed next ! How they “ scoured “ the rugs , patterned floor surfaces to find this delicate minute / ‘ minutus ‘ item still beats me - no answers were proffered to reveal AMANCGV secret search mode of retrieval  .. They were also originally offering & going to courier it across continents to me ..

For sure , one can rest assured one will be taken care of here . Many on the team have been around since opening or before ! This is evident from interacting with them - nothing fazes them ! :) - even distraught jetlagging guests using them as de facto brains ;)

When it came to being present at amaand post stay , service has been & is phenomenal . One just wonders why reserving a stay though brings so much grief - schizophrenic style of AMAN these days . To welcome or not ?

With so much waterways & close cropped almost row / terraced buildings in Venice , it definitely was a welcome breather to find not one garden but 2 at AmanCGV :)

They also had kept the old trees on the grounds !

Sorry , but just noticed that our AmanCGV ‘ photographer ‘ did not take good photos of the front garden ..

Looking towards the canal , where the terrace bar / cafe is . Lovely spot for breakfasts , lunches & drinks / light meals in between .

Looking towards the wing where the spa is and our room on the top floor 

The city side garden with the gravel path to the gate 

Lovely gate

Out to the bustle of touristy Venice but conveniently leading to all , it seems like anyway , the critical walkable sites one wants including the Rialto Bridge.

And after the wanderings , back in to the sanctuary of AmanCGV - you must imagine what it is like coming back through the gates to the calming green of this garden space - after the frenzy just steps away . 

Prime - AMAN discreet but right on the Grand Canal of Venice !!

What more can one ask for ? Being on the Canal Grande Venice , she has a tiny side canal and yet AmanCGV is just steps away , really walkable , to the important / toursites including the Rialto Bridge plus has her 2 green spaces !

View from the jetty 

From the balcony of the main dining area 

While the whole AmanCGV experience could have been perfect , it was marred by poor decisions likely implemented by HQ ( s ) and a former rather rigid GM .

This combined with city restrictions that prevent AMAN boats / launches to go to certain points and prohibit sailings at certain times and such make it rather difficult for AMAN to be AMAN in the fullest sense .

Other public modes of transfers / transport are engaged in an attempt to make things seemless and to an acceptable standard .

The melding of the old - really old - and new at AmanCGV is flawless . Our chamber was extremely comfortable to be in , a delight and relief not to have ornate furniture and interior decor ;) ( having grown up with some - enough is enough ) .

Only the chairs in the dining area seemed really out of synch in that they are strangely low and taller folks would find it uncomfortable to sit through a meal - overheard comments from other diners too .

With the Venice water situation and her sinking , it is best not to have a pool . There will be no time to use it anyway - the bath tub will do just fine ;)

The glasses being used at AmanCGV have the original design ( emblem / ? ) etched on them and is / are what the count found . Brilliant that he reworked it for current use . Read about them when you stay ;)

A simply superb stay in a palazzo :)

One should not bother to stay elsewhere if finer things in life are already part of one ‘ s life or even de rigueur ..

Indeed , glad we prevailed over the annoyances and irritations to stay .

Just look at the farewell , and the AMAN launch / palazzo - does it not evoke a stay with us longer or come home again real soon emotion ? ;)