Originally Posted by
STARFLEET
Hi all -- Just returned from my nightmare experience at the Piazzale Roma and the Santa Chiara! Be forewarned -- the Santa Chiara is the worst hotel ever!!! (warning -- ugly description to follow....)
Actually, I think I will spare you the awful details -- just take my advice and avoid this place like the plague. The rooms were bait and switch, the desk staff laughed at the guests rather than share any useful advice, and the lack of taxis for an early departure to the airport made this departure from Venice enough of a stressful nightmare that the whole stay was tainted!!! Truly terrible.
Enough? No. Dirty rooms with no lights in the lobby, scary location with drunks and vomit (or was it vomiting drunks?), nasty automatons behind the desk, decor that made my past hospital stay seem pleasant by comparison...
Why didn't somebody warn me? Oh well. Got back today, and lived to tell the tale, but you may not.
Oh my. I'm not trying to be an apologist here, but I do think it is worth pointing out that you were in Venice during the Redentore, the single biggest party Venice hosts. (I know some will say what about Carnivale - the difference is that Venetians leave town that week. For Redentore, not only do locals stay in town, they invite friends and family AND it is the height of the tourist season.)
I can't attest for the interior of the hotel or the staff, etc..I can state absolutely that the Piazzale Roma is a remarkably safe location. Yes, there are some pickpockets in the area - but not as many as you find in Rome, or for that matter, NYC.