With regard to rates, I'm sure it depends on time of year/occupancy/ hotel expectations. I had made a reservation at the E &R for 8/31/03. The rate was initally e385 a couple of months in advance (turns out my date was in the middle of the Venice Film Festival, of which I was not aware). I kept checking rates, and slowly it kept coming down---e238, e209 etc. Day before I left for VCE, I checked and saw the room rate had fallen to e179 (including full breakfast!!) ~~ I quickly changed my rate once again, making sure to keep the written confirm. Turns out, occupancy for the VFF was 'not quite as they had expected' and they had lots of rooms to go. As a Platinum (even with the cheap rate) I was given a suite with a view of the Grand Canal.