[Leaving Jan 2023] The Danieli, Luxury Collection, Venice, Italy [Master Thread]
#136
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Capetown
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Plat, IHG and Hilton Diamond, LH SEN, BA Gold
Posts: 10,163
Yup, that's me. We booked two rooms, both under my name (I'm PLT). We were informed that breakfast for all would be free, though no physical vouchers were given. The restaurant asked for our room number the first day and said everything was free. Never saw a check after that.
#138
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Washington DC
Programs: Marriott Platinum, United Gold, Virgin Silver
Posts: 418
upcoming one night stay next week on points- my first time staying here or in any SPG property in Venice. Had originally held a room at the Gritti Palace but needed to move the reservation back a night and only the Danieli had a room.
I'm SPG platinum and there seem to be a number of suites available (to book) on the SPG site. For regulars who are platinum, what's reasonable to expect if availability stays the same? Jr Suite vs. Executive? Is there any value in calling the hotel ahead of time?
My sense is that breakfast on deck facing the grand canal is an experience not to be missed. Any other suggestions to make this special without breaking the bank?
I'm SPG platinum and there seem to be a number of suites available (to book) on the SPG site. For regulars who are platinum, what's reasonable to expect if availability stays the same? Jr Suite vs. Executive? Is there any value in calling the hotel ahead of time?
My sense is that breakfast on deck facing the grand canal is an experience not to be missed. Any other suggestions to make this special without breaking the bank?
#139
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Washington DC
Programs: Marriott Platinum, United Gold, Virgin Silver
Posts: 418
Excellent one-night stay at a Platinum, Summer 2015
One night stay on points, June 2015 as a PLAT.
Intermittent reply from concierge to per-arrival e-mails. Slight delay upon arrival in being checked in. The negatives ended there.
Upgrade to renovated suite in the main building. At this point, the hotel consists of three connected buildings, and there does seem to be an advantage to being the main room.
The hotel is old, grand, and majestic.
Our room was a pink suite, with a small but comfy sitting room. There was a bottle of Cava on ice with Biscotti when we arrived. This made our afternoon.
Complimentary shoeshine was handled quickly and well.
Breakfast on the terrace was a highlight of the entire time in Venice. Gorgeous view and ambiance.
We checked out at 4pm, were not rushed, were able to store bags in the hotel, and had access to the gym after checkout.
Five star stay. Magnificent.
Intermittent reply from concierge to per-arrival e-mails. Slight delay upon arrival in being checked in. The negatives ended there.
Upgrade to renovated suite in the main building. At this point, the hotel consists of three connected buildings, and there does seem to be an advantage to being the main room.
The hotel is old, grand, and majestic.
Our room was a pink suite, with a small but comfy sitting room. There was a bottle of Cava on ice with Biscotti when we arrived. This made our afternoon.
Complimentary shoeshine was handled quickly and well.
Breakfast on the terrace was a highlight of the entire time in Venice. Gorgeous view and ambiance.
We checked out at 4pm, were not rushed, were able to store bags in the hotel, and had access to the gym after checkout.
Five star stay. Magnificent.
#141
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: La Jolla, CA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador, Lifetime Titanium, Delta Plat, Hilton Diamond , Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,615
The Danieli, Venice, Italy 2007 onward [Master Thread]
This is our absolute favorite hotel in the world- we've stayed here 4 times and always received wonderful Platinum treatment- we had a magical visit here for our 30th wedding anniversary & are already planning to celebrate our 40th there. "When I went to Venice, my dream became my address " Marcel Proust
#142
Join Date: Apr 2013
Programs: Starwood/Hyatt/IHG-PLAT/Hilton-DIA
Posts: 468
Best way to get from Santa Lucia Train Station to Hotel Danieli
Hi there - first time to Venice w/wife coming up and we are staying one night at Hotel Danieli.
We arrive by Italo high speed train at 1100 am at the Santa Lucia station and are only in Venice one night before flying out to Paris the next day on a 245 PM flight out of Marco Polo airport.
I spent about 2 hours researching all the private boat ($180 each way 25 mins) and group taxi ($75 for 2 people each way 30 mins) and public waterbus ($20 for 2 people each way 45 mins) options from Santa Lucia to the Hotel Danieli and I am still confused as hell about what the best option is that you season veterans would chose?
Which is the most scenic disregarding the length of time it takes or quality of the vessel?
Which is the least stressful with least risk to get swindled or overcharged?
I read some scary reviews about all the shady people that bait and switch and lie and swindle to overcharge you for the private boats, so I started to sway more towards a group taxi situation where we couldn't be taken advantage of.
Thanks in advance!
We arrive by Italo high speed train at 1100 am at the Santa Lucia station and are only in Venice one night before flying out to Paris the next day on a 245 PM flight out of Marco Polo airport.
I spent about 2 hours researching all the private boat ($180 each way 25 mins) and group taxi ($75 for 2 people each way 30 mins) and public waterbus ($20 for 2 people each way 45 mins) options from Santa Lucia to the Hotel Danieli and I am still confused as hell about what the best option is that you season veterans would chose?
Which is the most scenic disregarding the length of time it takes or quality of the vessel?
Which is the least stressful with least risk to get swindled or overcharged?
I read some scary reviews about all the shady people that bait and switch and lie and swindle to overcharge you for the private boats, so I started to sway more towards a group taxi situation where we couldn't be taken advantage of.
Thanks in advance!
#143
Join Date: Apr 2013
Programs: Starwood/Hyatt/IHG-PLAT/Hilton-DIA
Posts: 468
Hi there - first time to Venice w/wife coming up and we are staying one night at Hotel Danieli.
We arrive by Italo high speed train at 1100 am at the Santa Lucia station and are only in Venice one night before flying out to Paris the next day on a 245 PM flight out of Marco Polo airport.
I spent about 2 hours researching all the private boat ($180 each way 25 mins) and group taxi ($75 for 2 people each way 30 mins) and public waterbus ($20 for 2 people each way 45 mins) options from Santa Lucia to the Hotel Danieli and I am still confused as hell about what the best option is that you season veterans would chose?
Which is the most scenic disregarding the length of time it takes or quality of the vessel?
Which is the least stressful with least risk to get swindled or overcharged?
I read some scary reviews about all the shady people that bait and switch and lie and swindle to overcharge you for the private boats, so I started to sway more towards a group taxi situation where we couldn't be taken advantage of.
Thanks in advance!
We arrive by Italo high speed train at 1100 am at the Santa Lucia station and are only in Venice one night before flying out to Paris the next day on a 245 PM flight out of Marco Polo airport.
I spent about 2 hours researching all the private boat ($180 each way 25 mins) and group taxi ($75 for 2 people each way 30 mins) and public waterbus ($20 for 2 people each way 45 mins) options from Santa Lucia to the Hotel Danieli and I am still confused as hell about what the best option is that you season veterans would chose?
Which is the most scenic disregarding the length of time it takes or quality of the vessel?
Which is the least stressful with least risk to get swindled or overcharged?
I read some scary reviews about all the shady people that bait and switch and lie and swindle to overcharge you for the private boats, so I started to sway more towards a group taxi situation where we couldn't be taken advantage of.
Thanks in advance!
#144
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium/LTG, IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,921
I spent about 2 hours researching all the private boat ($180 each way 25 mins) and group taxi ($75 for 2 people each way 30 mins) and public waterbus ($20 for 2 people each way 45 mins) options from Santa Lucia to the Hotel Danieli and I am still confused as hell about what the best option is that you season veterans would chose?
#145
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Tennessee
Programs: Bonvoy Titanium Elite, Bonvoy Lifetime Platinum, Southwest AL CP, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 223
Hi there - first time to Venice w/wife coming up and we are staying one night at Hotel Danieli.
We arrive by Italo high speed train at 1100 am at the Santa Lucia station and are only in Venice one night before flying out to Paris the next day on a 245 PM flight out of Marco Polo airport.
I spent about 2 hours researching all the private boat ($180 each way 25 mins) and group taxi ($75 for 2 people each way 30 mins) and public waterbus ($20 for 2 people each way 45 mins) options from Santa Lucia to the Hotel Danieli and I am still confused as hell about what the best option is that you season veterans would chose?
Which is the most scenic disregarding the length of time it takes or quality of the vessel?
Which is the least stressful with least risk to get swindled or overcharged?
I read some scary reviews about all the shady people that bait and switch and lie and swindle to overcharge you for the private boats, so I started to sway more towards a group taxi situation where we couldn't be taken advantage of.
Thanks in advance!
We arrive by Italo high speed train at 1100 am at the Santa Lucia station and are only in Venice one night before flying out to Paris the next day on a 245 PM flight out of Marco Polo airport.
I spent about 2 hours researching all the private boat ($180 each way 25 mins) and group taxi ($75 for 2 people each way 30 mins) and public waterbus ($20 for 2 people each way 45 mins) options from Santa Lucia to the Hotel Danieli and I am still confused as hell about what the best option is that you season veterans would chose?
Which is the most scenic disregarding the length of time it takes or quality of the vessel?
Which is the least stressful with least risk to get swindled or overcharged?
I read some scary reviews about all the shady people that bait and switch and lie and swindle to overcharge you for the private boats, so I started to sway more towards a group taxi situation where we couldn't be taken advantage of.
Thanks in advance!
#146
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Washington DC
Programs: Marriott Platinum, United Gold, Virgin Silver
Posts: 418
I think you're going to love the Danieli and hopefully Venice, as well.
rb, you ask two questions:
1) Which is the most scenic disregarding the length of time it takes or quality of the vessel?
Going by boat will be scenic. A water taxi will be more direct, but you move faster and have a better view. The public ferry will take longer, be a slight hassle (moving bags, waiting, standing), but you have a view.
2) Which is the least stressful with least risk to get swindled or overcharged?
You will not be swindled or overcharged if you take a ferry. You should buy two 24 hour unlimited ferry passes, which will give you access to the entire city.
There's a third question I think you're implicitly asking: what's the best experience / time-value for money?
If you're spending cash or cash + points on your Danieli room, I'm willing to bet you'll prefer taking a private or shared taxi. If you are firm, you won't get ripped off.
If you're on points and/or are frugal with expenses, take the ferry. It takes 45 minutes, but it's authentic and will get you there with a view.
For flying out of Marco Polo, I would suggest splurging on a private water taxi, which will be faster than the allilaguna (sp?) service. We missed our Allilaguna by a minute or two and then missed our flight to Paris. If I'd had a cool head, I would have booked a private water taxi. As the previous poster noted, it's also a gorgeous view.
Depending on how you want to spend money, I'd do:
1) Ferry to Hotel from Train station, water taxi to airport.
2) Shared water taxi from train station, water taxi to airport.
rb, you ask two questions:
1) Which is the most scenic disregarding the length of time it takes or quality of the vessel?
Going by boat will be scenic. A water taxi will be more direct, but you move faster and have a better view. The public ferry will take longer, be a slight hassle (moving bags, waiting, standing), but you have a view.
2) Which is the least stressful with least risk to get swindled or overcharged?
You will not be swindled or overcharged if you take a ferry. You should buy two 24 hour unlimited ferry passes, which will give you access to the entire city.
There's a third question I think you're implicitly asking: what's the best experience / time-value for money?
If you're spending cash or cash + points on your Danieli room, I'm willing to bet you'll prefer taking a private or shared taxi. If you are firm, you won't get ripped off.
If you're on points and/or are frugal with expenses, take the ferry. It takes 45 minutes, but it's authentic and will get you there with a view.
For flying out of Marco Polo, I would suggest splurging on a private water taxi, which will be faster than the allilaguna (sp?) service. We missed our Allilaguna by a minute or two and then missed our flight to Paris. If I'd had a cool head, I would have booked a private water taxi. As the previous poster noted, it's also a gorgeous view.
Depending on how you want to spend money, I'd do:
1) Ferry to Hotel from Train station, water taxi to airport.
2) Shared water taxi from train station, water taxi to airport.
#147
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: BKK
Programs: World of Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Bonvoy LTP; IHG Plat
Posts: 2,231
Stayed here about 2 years ago and loved my stay so much. Great plat upgrade, nice rooftop breakfast with terrific view.
However this time (3 nights in early december) i found the room rate at westin was 50Euro/night cheaper.
Should i give them (westin) a try or stick with the danieli?
(Room booked: permium deluxe room with breakfast at both hotels)
Thanks in advance.
P.S. The gritti palace is always my top pick in venice but this time there is no c&p availability. (The cash rate is out of my reach.)
However this time (3 nights in early december) i found the room rate at westin was 50Euro/night cheaper.
Should i give them (westin) a try or stick with the danieli?
(Room booked: permium deluxe room with breakfast at both hotels)
Thanks in advance.
P.S. The gritti palace is always my top pick in venice but this time there is no c&p availability. (The cash rate is out of my reach.)
Last edited by 3rdworldresident; Nov 16, 2015 at 12:11 am
#149
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Capetown
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Plat, IHG and Hilton Diamond, LH SEN, BA Gold
Posts: 10,163
#150
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Charlotte, NC USA
Programs: AA EXP; Marriott Lifetime / Annual Titanium; Massively Missing Starwood
Posts: 5,336