hi.

No suite upgrade but got upgraded to room on the 6th floor of the guidecca wing with great views over the canal and churches including the st Mark's camponile and wonderful sunrises.

Do not see that many people but pool can be reserved full. Unable to use it last sunday but able to use it each day since then


Hotel looks busier today Thursday. Breakfast at 8am is the busiest I have seen it this week but maybe 40% of tables occupied

Had to wait a minute for the elevator going up for the first time this trip today as they recommend oly 3 people in the lift for social distance with a normal limit of 8
Venice is busier than I thought. With large queues for cmthe camponile with reduced elevator capacity , doges palace esp if do did not pre book and the basilica which now is apparently closed for maintenance so you can only access the museum

Lots of space iin the square

No 1vaporetto up the canal grande always seem pretty packed

Once away from the main areas it is a lot quieter

I would hate to see it in a normal summer. Several hotels still look shut.
hilton shuttle boat only runs hourly currently and starts at 9am with no problems getting on but I alternate this withis walk to planaca and get the no 2 vaporetto which is a lot easier for social distancing than no 1

Despite the heat venice is beautiful

Regards
TBS

Hi.

Just to let others know. The pool at 5PM today Thursday was the busiest this week. There is a lack of sunbeds and chairs so had to settle for a raised platform to put my stuff. So civil distancing is not observed in the pool and it is impossible to swim lengths. However it is good for a dip to cool down after walking in burano and trocelo today. The views also are the main selling point imho

Seems to be a lot of families today and probably this weekend.


Got a 3PM timeslot tomorrow


Regards
tbs

Hi,

Just got back late last night from Venice.

The Friday 3pm swim was cancelled after about 35mins as the pool was evacuated due to a thunderstorm passing over Venice


Thunderstorm approaching Venice Fri 14th Aug

It stopped raining about 5 so it was a fresher evening after that.

Some room photos from 624


King bed

Bed was very comfortable


Table and chair- coffee is kept in the cupboard underneath the tv but i kept it on the table to plug in



TV and mirror and cupboard with two shelves and the minibar( small shelf in the minibar for personal use ie 2 500m bottles


Wall decoration by side of bed


Interior of the cupboard- found it unusual and interesting to have the outline of the building included



Sunrise from my window. It is easy to ignore the slightly messy foreground view ( Fortuny factory/show room) and just admire the view)

Another day another sunrise

Early evening view from the swimming pool (1740) with similar views from my room)


On check out day normal check out is at 11am but I was able to get a 130pm check out. I was able to use the lounge till 230pm when my taxi was booked. Booking via the hotel is expensive ( 140e) but you can charge to the room and as I did not spend as much as I thought I would I splashed out a bit ( esp given the possibility that other overseas trips may not happen this year.

One day I took the Vaporetto line 2 from Sacca Fisola intending to get off at Ple Roma but after passing the empty cruise port the seats at the bow of the boat were empty so I decided to stay on and cruise down the Grand Canal to Rialto ( after the Ferrovia stop line 2 continues non stop to Rialto irregulaly ie about every second service until 630pm) and had a beautiful trip on a empty boat

Whilst the app listed the benefits as continental breakfast, the full breakfast was included.

Overall an excellent stay.

Regards

TBS

Hi,

Some general hotel photos ( from my mobile phone)


Afternoon snack selection in the executive lounge ( soft drinks in the cooler to the right) .Snacks all prepackaged.


Tea and coffee in the EL . Also some cereal bars. Containers ( for hot food) not in use during my stay)



History of the hotel beside Il Molino restaurant



More history

Part of the Breakfast buffet area ( dring my stay the staff get items and bring therm to your table)



Hotel hallway from elevators to my room, the breakfast area, and pool. Reception at the far end

and finally;


Hotel building on right ( taken from water taxi to VCE) The Hilton hotel occupies the furthest away part ( beneath the spire). The glass barrier behind which is the rooftop swimming pool can be seen on top of the building