Westin Excelsior - Venice Lido left Starwood 11/1/2008 [Master Thread]
 

I have made reservations at the Excelsior on the Lido in Venice. Of course, I indicated my platinum status on the reservation request. I reserved a sea view, high floor. Any ideas as to what upgrade (if any I can expect) or amenities might be available.

Stayed there last year for 2 nights as plat. using a free saturday and points for sunday. I didn't have a "sea view room", but my absolutely immense suite still had a view of the sea. I felt like I was on the second-to-last floor of a castle. High ceilings, pillars around the bed, tons of windows. I wouldn't call the amenity a fruit tray - it was more like a fruit table, with nearly everything you can imagine - and champagne to boot. My g-friend (at the time) was quite impressed.

Word of warning: it's far from the train station.

goldstj2,

I am pretty concerned about your warning about the distance from the train station. My wife and I will be staying there next week. We will arrive Venice by train and will have two weeks' worth of luggage with us. Can you suggest a good way to get from the train station to the Excelsior on Lido? Thanks in advance.

Regards,

Schubert

--telephone the concierge--he will have answers to all of your questions--

[This message has been edited by obscure2k (edited 06-11-2002).]

Was in Venice 2 weeks ago (stayed at the Danieli) and can give you this advice: lowest cost option to get to Lido is to simply take one of the "water buses" (vaporeto) that stop directly in front of the train station. There are many different vaporeto lines, but they are well laid out--cost is about 3 euros each. The info stand right in front of the station can tell you the exact vaporeto # that will take you to Lido. You can also simply take a private water taxi, which I'm guessing will probably run about 50 euros or so. Finally, as previously suggested, contact the hotel's concierge: the Starwood hotels in Venice have their own shuttle/launch that circles between the properties, but I'm not sure what the cost is on that. FWIW, I also had quite a few bags and had no problem with the (low cost) vaporeto. Just figure on about an hour's boat ride for the vaporeto from the train station to Lido (taxi obviously would be much faster).

I took the Starwood water shuttle between Lido and the Venice hotels several times - it's free and runs every 30-60 minutes. The hotel can give you the schedule.

Lowest-cost option is definitely the vaporetto, but that doesn't work very well if you have a 7 am train on the day of your departure.

I certainly don't want to interrupt the good exchange of information being related on this thread, but I am advised by a trusted colleague that is a supervisor for The Luxury Collection/St. Regis brands that when making arrangements such as tee-times, dinner reservations, airport shuttles, etc. at Starwood's luxury hotels, there is a dedicated Luxury Collection Concierge Desk that exists for these exact type of requests. The guest doesn't have to be a Platinum member -- they simply need to have a reservation booked at a Luxury Collection/St. Regis member hotel (which some Westins still are, by the way). Most of this information is at their fingertips; if they don't have it, they can still get it in faster time than you could. Anything you could go through the hotel for, they can do -- but more importantly, in faster time, and in your language and timezone. Also, they know exactly who to contact at the hotel to fulfill your request. Probably best of all, it will cost you nothing.

Give'm a try sometime, folks. Call 1-800-325-3589. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Specialist, E-Communications Department
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

[This message has been edited by Starwood Lurker (edited 06-12-2002).]

all i know is that everytime i check the rates for this hotel, it's very expensive. i had a friend stay there about three weeks ago and loved it.

It's been about a year since I was at the Excelsior on the Lido. I have stayed there twice and both times were outstanding. As a platinum, we were upgraded both times (once to a fabulous very large room with balcony over looking the beach, and the other time to a low floor suite overlooking the beach...frankly, the room was nicer than the suite). They have water taxis that leave very frequently for Venice and they will drop you off at the Danielli or the Gritti Palace. The ride both ways is delightful and relaxing. The beach is great and so is the pool. You'll relax at your oasis away from the noise and excitement of Venice and be able to go into the city at your convenience. Have fun!

Westin Excelsior - Venice Lido (Master Thread)
 

http://www.e-traveller.net/pics/2004...-des-bains.php

Thanks to the help of LH 738!

name of the hotel is not the hotel des bains.

Thank you!
 

Thank you for sharing your pictures with us. I enjoyed seeing them very much. Will you be posting a trip report? I would love to hear the details of your trip.

Thanks for posting the photos. I've seen a lot of photo websites and I like how your photos just roll down the page. Very easy to view!

I had to chuckle when I saw the two twin beds in the junior suite. I would think that a junior suite would most likely be occupied by a couple who would want to share a double sized bed or larger. I must be in the minority of this view point, since Westin thinks that this is the best bed choice for this room.

Quanto Costa ?
 

Sorry if I butchered the language but, if it's not too personal, what kind of rates are SPGers able to obtain at such hotels as the Westin ? I've been to Venice but ceratinly not in such opulent hotels...the junior suite looked quite nice. Answer if you feel comfortable with doing so.

Cheers,

Singlepoint

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.

Thanks for the pics. Staying there on my honeymoon - looks very nice!