I know this topic has been done to death, but my wife and I have decided that we're going to finally do Venice next year for our international trip and I have some very specific questions. We're planning 2.5 weeks between Venice and Vienna, with several nights in Salzburg as well.

Here are the hotels I've narrowed it down to:

- Gritti Palace in one of the Heritage Suites (La Fenice) or the Pisani Palazzo Canal Suite.

- Aman Canal Grande

- Luna Hotel Baglioni in the San Giorgio Terrace Suite or Sansovino Grand Lagoon Suite

- Bauer Il Palazzo in the Grand Canal Suite with frontal view; perhaps the Royal Suite depending on cost. I haven't checked rates. This one is probably my last pick of the three, but I'd like to weigh in all considerations.


Here's what we're specifically looking for:

* Smaller hotel with private apartment or boutique feel that isn't right in the middle of all the foot traffic and tourists. Something that offers tranquility and privacy without feeling out of the way either.

* Picturesque views! Ideally of the canal (in which case, private terraces would be welcomed though not necessary) but I would still be content with a room looking down upon the narrow alleys and streets, so long as the room is laid out in a way that the views are thoughtfully framed, if that makes any sense. I'm sure the Aman Canal Grande is probably a good representation of what I'm trying to suggest, though I've never been so I can't say for certain.

* We do not want modern luxury! I want to feel as though we're travelling back through time into an era of lavishly ornamented rooms with gilded ceilings, painted murals, Louis XV furniture, etc. Venice is an animated city that breathes history and I want a property that reflects this. A luxurious palazzo tucked away in some hidden corner of the city that feels frozen in a more opulent era.

* Service should be competent and efficient yet secondary to all of the above criteria.


A few personal thoughts:

While the Aman would normally be my first pick without hesitation, there are a number of things holding me back. While the property itself (restoration of the building and interior) looks absolutely impeccable, I am not a fan of the design contrast that they've attempted to create with the contemporary furnishings and the only room which really appeals to me is the Alcova Tiepolo Suite.

Second, it's not cheap!!! I believe that room sells for € 3,650 per night (that's almost 5k USD) and there's no way that I can justify spending $35,000 for a 7-night stay in a city with so many other options! It seems over-the-top excessive, even for Aman prices. I can appreciate this type of concept more in a destination that's off the beaten path, where the appeal of the property is as much a part of the incentive for travel as the setting, and where the all-inclusive features level the playing field when it comes to cost and value. This doesn't feel as unique in a city like Venice, where much of the days and nights are spent touring or sipping aperitivos in small caffes and osterias.

Next up, the Gritti, which I see has been rebranded "Hotel Danieli". I don't know enough about this property aside from what I've seen on the website and pictures posted to TripAdvisor, but so far I'm very impressed and leaning heavily towards this as my first choice.

I would normally shy away from staying at any big American brand hotel in Europe as I prefer to go with the local institutions, but this is a unique exception; the gorgeous architecture dating back to 1525 which used to serve as residence for Vatican ambassadors looks exceptionally well maintained. Despite it being a Starwood property, it appears to have the feel of a smaller boutique hotel. It seems to check off all the requisities that I've noted; including waterfront suites.

I would greatly appreciate the input of this forum in conveying the "feel" of this hotel though. Is the building situated in a bustling area or is it removed from the immediacy of tourist traffic? Does service feel personalized and tailored?

What I also love about this option is that I can book entirely on reward points through Chase; though I'm not sure if Starwood allocate any of their Signature Suites to sites like Expedia. I've never booked a property like this through a third party broker that wasn't my travel agent. Eitherway, this seems to offer the most bang for buck. Signature suites are only around $600-700 USD per night compared to the almost $6,000 at Aman!

Luna Hotel Baglioni is one that I'm not entirely confident about, and would like some feedback from the community. The selling point of this property for me was the terrace suite, but I've just noted that it sells for € 4500 and up per night - too rich for me! The Grand Lagoon Suite is a bit more reasonable at under 2k per night, according to the website. I would still be interested in pricing this out with my Virtuoso agent and perhaps considering other rooms and working towards upgrades. I'd be interested to hear more about this property.

Last but not least, there's the Bauer Il Palazzo. While it looks lovely in photos, I'm just not certain it's up to the same standards as the other choices and I worry that the interior spaces might feel a bit "dated" - and not from historical appeal! I get the sense that this one feels more touristy and less like the boutique hotel / private residence feel that I'm looking for in Venice. I'm still interested in your opinions, but as of now, it's not weighing very heavily against the others.

My very last question (for now!) is concerning the Simplon Orient-Express. I was hoping to take the train from Venice to Vienna, however I've realized that the distance is too short as it's only a 4-5 hour route. Knowing that we're doing Venice, Vienna, and Salzburg but that we want to add a single overnight on the Orient-Express, what would be out best option? Do they only operate overnight routes and not sell evening tickets? Is Brussels departing from Vienna our trip the best bet, at the tailend of our trip? If so, would 2 nights in Brussels be sufficient?

Thanks so much for your feedback!!