OliverB

Beggars can't be choosers and I'd be content with any upgrade offer but I want to be transported back to the grand ornate palazzos of 14th century Venice. I would love to spend 10 night sin the Pisani Suite. Given the circumstances of our booking though, would you bother spending an additional 200K SPG points or stick with the Giglio Prestige Room and wait to see if an upgrade offer to suite level is extended, as I expect will be the case? Again, we're staying low season; arriving Oct. 20th. Looking at this year's calendar, there is still plenty of room inventory at the property over the same dates, including many suites. I expect that to be true of 2016 as well, and this is partly why we chose to travel end of October - to avoid tourists and crowds.

arkyrab

My wife and I just left today from a 2 night stay on points at The Gritti. The hotel is wonderful in every way. We are Platinum and did not receive a suite upgrade but we did receive amenity full breakfast for two both days and free internet. Our room while not a suite upgrade was wonderful with ample space and fabulous decor. The staff is pleasant and attentive. Outside breakfast on the terrace by the canal was a spectacular setting. (We did visit the Danieli lobby and agreed that looked wonderful as well. While the Danieli outside entrance is grand compared to Gritti I don't believe that hotel has as spectacular a breakfast setting.)

jaejaez

When is the slowest period for Venice? Looking to visit soon but the rates are constantly sky-high (EUR1000+)– was wondering if there’s a slow season I can target…
Or is Venice like LA where it’s just busy all year round?

bombnthud

Wow, what an amazing hotel. We switched to the Gritti Palace for one night after spending the previous night at the Westin Europa & Regina. Considering they're both 5-star hotels due to their locations, the Gritti is leaps and bounds ahead. We were able to score a cash and points booking, and they upgraded us to a canal room. The hotel is beautiful all the way through. The check-in agent escorted us to the room and pointed out various details, including a little stuffed lion they placed on the bed for our toddler. Our room's ceiling were high with a large Murano chandelier, and the windows were tall, letting plenty of natural light and air in when they were opened. It was almost hard to actually leave the room. Great SPG property.

Jonesdds

Gritti vs. Danieli? Planning travel and will probably use three nights with points. Same for both but looks as though the cash price is quite a bit higher so more bang for the buck using points. I know Gritti has been recently renovated(2013?) but wonder if Danieli is aging if not been renovated.

What about rooms in comparison, size and decor?

What are the best rooms to stay in. Will book a Queen Venetian at Gritti, wondering what the upgrade would be and what should I be requesting. It's our 25th wedding anniversary so I'm hoping they are extra accommodating.

SanDiego1K

I love the Gritti in part for its location. It's in a quiet neighborhood, yet by a water stop with a great deck over the water. It's an easy walk to San Marcos Square. Danieli has no water deck, though it has an amazing roof top restaurant with stunning views over the water. The space between the Danieli and the water has thousands of people walking by each hour. It's a boat parking lot with many different boats stopping for various routes. The Danieli is ON the canal so nobody can get in the way of your view. You should walk thru the glorious public space of the Danieli, but for me, it's the Gritti every time.

dingo

Couple of questions on the hotel.

1. The spa - are there any areas open to guests without a treatment appointment? Steam room? Whirlpool?

2. I see something called Luggage Liaison on their website. Anyone have any details on it? Here is the text:

"The Luxury Collection’s exclusive partnership with Luggage Forward™ is the corner stone of Luggage Liaison, one of our newest signature programs. Luggage Liaison, a suite of travel services, also includes luggage storage and unpacking/packing services upon request.

Luggage Liaison eliminates the need to carry luggage to and from the airport, wait in long check-in lines or at baggage claim or worry about lost luggage. With Luggage Liaison, Luxury Collection guests will be able to travel confident that their luggage will be waiting for them upon arrival at any destination. As the exclusive hotel partner of Luggage Forward, The Luxury Collection offers exceptional pricing available only to its guests for door-to-door luggage delivery. Discover the ultimate in luxury travel, while collecting the world’s experiences."

dc2005b

What a fantastic, historic property! My SNA cleared (@ 5 Days) into a Sestiere Suite suite on the 4th floor for my stay. My room overlooked a side canal (I was told only 9 of the 82 rooms face the Grand Canal) and I enjoyed the music from gondolas floating by. While I wouldn't necessarily call this room a true suite due to lack of door between LR & BR it was nice to have the little extra space and a couch. Everything was well appointed and of good quality, including the ample and fantastic Acqua di Parma toiletries.

I had dinner on the bar terrace one night and it was nice but the service was a little slow. Breakfast on the other terrace was delicious with a wide array of items on buffet and a full menu to order from along with tons of staff to keep up during the busy period. The full breakfast was priced at €59 iirc, so one of the rare times I chose breakfast over points as platinum amenity.

A private water taxi from the airport is €110 and is worth it in my opinion, what a ride and docking directly at the hotel is a huge plus with luggage- no walk! A water taxi at 630 am to the train station was €80 because it was night hours, would have been €60 after 7am I believe.

Overall I had a great stay at this historic hotel, the decor and overall ambiance of the place is one of a kind. The location was great with direct water access for fast transportation and easy walking distance to main sights such as St. Marks Square and plenty of eating and drinking options, hope to return some day.

dingo

Thanks for the report. Question on the 'private water taxi'. Is that just the regular water taxis or is it something you arranged through the hotel? I think the set rate for a taxi is the 110??

dc2005b

It is just regular water taxi with fixed rate from the airport. I booked at a booth after exiting baggage claim and paid with credit card, some only take cash though.

The hotel does offer a meet & greet service where they arrange the water taxi in advance and provide a porter to push your luggage cart down to the dock at airport but I didn't feel it was necessarily worth the extra €135 (they quoted private hostess transfer for €245 on their website)

dingo

I'm all for a good splurge every now and again, and that is a pretty long hike. But I think I can spend the 125 on drinks in the square and pull the bags myself!

tangel

I think I had the same suite (412) last week. Hard to complain about this hotel but it would be nice if they upgraded beyond the minimum required as they do have a number of true suites.

Breakfast is great. Love any hotel that lets you pour your own champagne. Drinks normally run 22eur (more than Harry's Bar!).

All the water taxis we used were in nice shape. Ride to/from train station is only 60eur.

Definitely take the Gritti -arranged Murano Cenedese tour. Doable in two hours but allocate three or four if you think you may buy something. They provide free water taxi and it's really amazing watching them work in the shop. We were late to lunch so they also called the restaurant to let them know and arrange special transportation for us. It's hard not to buy anything since the stuff is so beautiful but the price will do its best to deter you.

bhrubin

I just posted a review of our recent September/October 4 night stay at the Gritti Palace in the Luxury Hotels forum--since that is where I do most of my travel and post most of my submissions.

But since it obviously is relevant to this forum and thread as well, here it is:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxur...l#post27349332

Needless to say, we LOVED the Gritti and highly recommend it. It is undoubtedly one of the finest properties in the SPG portfolio...and in the now combined Marriott portfolio!

itsaboutthejourney

I wonder if Marriott will turn this beautiful property into a TownePlace Suites?

dingo

Ha!

I think it will certainly change. I look forward to seeing a sign on the front desk like I saw at the Marriott in Rome which stated the number of platinums in the hotel that day as a kind of "no you didn't get upgraded and don't even bother asking" thing.