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.