Ill share my thoughts on Venice as such in a separate post, but Ill say upfront that we had an incredible time. If youre arriving from the airport or train station, the only way to get to the hotel is by water taxi, so youd access the hotel through the front entrance what a fun way to arrive at a hotel! While we do try to list all the best miles and points deals, the site does not include all card companies or credit card offers available in the marketplace. The Euros being asked for the suite Eu 3,300 are way out for something that is exceptionally poorly furnished , the style of furniture is circa 1970,s and cheap and sparingly used. @ Lucky - why is the name on the welcome card blocked out? Most helpful comments ( as chosen by the OMAAT community ). Back in the 1980ies it was one of THE top hotels in Venice, but I do feel they are losing ground a bit. I found it disappointing in many aspects, my initial room, service, food. That drink below and to the right is the propertys take on the bloody mary, and it has to be the most imaginative one Ive seen anywhere. Charging 3000 euros, during a spring shoulder season, for a non distinct suite facing a courtyard is utterly insane. Unfortunately there is no sense of place. I am intrigued by the obsession of the focus on one picture of a breakfast dish in a multi-photo and detailed review. ", The Gritti Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Venice, Campo Santa Maria del Giglio 2467, 30124 Venice. The public areas of the St. Regis Venice are expansive and feel incredibly luxurious. The rooms are pure opulent Venetian style, though quite a lot of them are located in the modern annex of the hotel.
Even though I generally dont like them at all, the Hilton Molino Stucky could be a very good alternative if you want to find a good bargain (and that rooftop pool is a-mazing!). Both the St. Regis Bar and Gios Restaurant have breathtaking views of the Grand Canal, along with great quality and service. ??? I have stayed in this hotel pre-rebranding and renovation (Westin), and I actually believe the hotel lost quite its charm with this rebranding. This is how you enjoy a country. If Id plan a wedding (or big party) and the Cipriani was too expensive, then Id pick the San Clemente Palace Kempinski. So, its possible to find a good bargain as well.
Well, there is no denying the hotel is beautiful, quiet, has a big garden, and a big pool. However, the gym was pretty well equipped, had the basics, and wasnt crowded when we used it. The St. Regis is also near Calle XXII Marzo, which is a street with some of the highest end shopping in the city. Stayed there in 2017 under the Westin brand, paid ~250EUR in June/July. This is such a stunning space. The Bathroom is cluttered for the space again cheap fit out by todays standard. So Im not sure if the gift was intended for us and the card was just wrong, or if the gift was intended for someone else but was just placed in the wrong room. Your feedback is important in helping us keep our community safe. It is also the only hotel in the inner city with a big garden terrace and has by far the biggest entry-level rooms. This looks like an airport hotel to me. Drinks were pricey 20-25 Euro, but youre ultimately paying for the view, and could order a drink and sit there for a couple of hours. We didnt get any treatments during our short stay. Yum. The bar has indoor seating, including plenty of couches, tables, and high-top seating. Given how space comes at a premium in Venice, youre typically not going to find very impressive gyms, and this was no exception. Food was superb but our final bill for 4 person was less than you paid for one person. Sure a refreshing change from properties in North America. In terms of pure luxury, it has to be noted that its not en par with the Aman the Belmond or the Danieli. The website states its a place of exceptional art and elegance with a homely feel and there is little else to add. The hotel has six floors in four different palace buildings, so really we were in room 102 in the second building (because usually youd think room 2102 would be on the second floor). My advice for you Ben is: When in Italy go and eat food in a restaurant which is not located in a hotel. Reception was right in the center area of the lobby, and consisted of two desks where guests could be seated while checking in. In a way, you could say that spending 500 USD or more a night in Venice is a waste of time. I'm wondering whether they have a private boat service between the hotel and at least Santa Lucia (the train station).
You can basically walk all over Venice from here, as there are plenty of bridges connecting most of the islands.
Talk about a good use of points sometimes Bonvoy is awesome! But that doesnt mean that there arent some nice 4 or 3 star hotels in the city. The bathroom was back near the entrance, and was a good size. You see, space is incredibly limited in the inner city and most of the exciting houses are centuries old making it hard to make adjustments according to the needs of modern luxury hotels. Book the St. Regis Venice directly on booking.com. If you love luxury hotels then you certainly heard of the Leading Hotel of the World.
More on that in the next installment. So I of course had to order the santa maria (the hotels take on the bloody mary), while Ford had the red negroni. The amazing ballroom on the first floor is nothing short of spectacular. Drinks at the Bauer rooftop bar first. Lucky, did you request a late check out, and if do did the hotel honor it? FYI we stayed in this Hotel in its previous life as the Europe and Regina and it was infinitely better. Contact Ford ([emailprotected]) for more details. the big park is just ideal and there is a chapel! The hotel only opened in 2019 and they basically took over the former Westing Europe & Regina hotel.
It tasted almost like any other bloody mary Ive had, but looked completely different, as you can tell. At the same time, there is no big ballroom or rooftop-terrace. Youll find it very close to the Rialto Bridge (5 minutes away), so its also perfect for exploring both parts of Venice. They said the usual "we'll do our best to upgrade you to the best room available" speech but the morning of, I noticed they had swapped my room for both nights which was a pleasent surprise considering how busy they were. I would say it honestly really comes down to what style you prefer. Now it is just plain dark wood. The St. Regis Bar is open almost the entire day, and is on the ground floor next to the lobby. I think its only natural that your first impressions help form your opinion of an experience, and sitting here while jetlagged in beautiful weather and soaking in the views was lovely. ", "This amalgamation of the former Hotel Britannia and Hotel Regina is easily one of Venice's still-undiscovered gems. LA or NYC sure but not Kansas City. Hotel rooms are considerably smaller here than in other places around the world, and perhaps also a bit more expensive. I expected something a little more old-school Venetian or Belle Epoque-era.
@Reyyan, I totally agree! The 169-room St. Regis Venice only opened in 2019. Venice has a lot of historical buildings, so as youd expect, this isnt a new build. Their signature butler service and their luxurious classic design sure make the choice hard. We have visited one of many Agroturismo. I never asked for a glass tour and would have been happy to get off where the water buses drop rather than be treated like a dimwitted tourist. Told them I was checking out and they moved me up a category to a larger room (not a suite) on a floor with taller ceilings. Ben really loves using the phrase "for context. Have to agree with BobbyJ. On another note @Lucky - why choose the Bonvoy properties in Venice versus some of the World of Hyatt On another note @Lucky - why choose the Bonvoy properties in Venice versus some of the World of Hyatt properties there? The drink selection was pretty imaginative, and Ford had the clear negroni, while I had the pink spritz.
There are stucco, gold, silk, and crystals everywhere you look and most rooms share this rather opulent design. The photos of the rooms were really disappointing to me.
I am a bit reluctant to mention the Hotel Metropole on this list. One thing I've noticed is they appeared to switch their bathroom amenities in their suites to Aqua di Parma rather than the regular St. Regis Laboratoire Remde - same thing they do at the St. Regis Rome. So, if you are wondering where to stay in Venice just pick what appeals the most to you! Inside the entrance was the bathroom to the right, and then the living room straight ahead. Compared to the room price the restaurant prices are a bargain.
Sorry, these types of reviews just don't speak to me. A few years ago we were in Puglia. For our starters, I ordered the red tuna carpaccio with marsala marinated raisins, fennel, and orange Sicilian salad. no pool (but there is a little spa & gym), Beautiful restaurant terrace on the Canal Grande, amazing signature suites with direct Canal grande view, amazing location; directly next to the Doges Palace, located on Guidecca & have to take a water taxi to see the city, a modern hotel without a historic context, house with lots of tradition in a good location, pure Venetian design (lots of gold, silk, crystal, etc), the new part of the hotel is quite ug..i mean interesting, Service not as over the top as in other luxury hotels in Venice, beautiful new property with a lovely pool, less over the top than the other hotels on this list, suites with amazing Grand Canal view terraces, beautiful location right across San Maria della Salute, no a historic property & standard contemporary design, beautiful pool and park on a private Island, Member of the Leading Hotels of the World, need to take the water taxi (15min) to get to the city, traditional Venetian design (but not too oppulent=, no garden terrace or lagoon view restaurant, good location (5 minutes to Doges Palace). Its located in an ancient 16th-century palazzo. While the meal wasnt cheap, the food quality, service, ambiance, and view, were simply unbeatable. As base rate at Aman Venice is 1150 euros. Please view our advertising policy page for additional details about our partners. I was truly prepared to leave and move to the JW as I don't like throwing a hissy fit to get a better room so I give them props for moving me. We payed around 220 euro's a night for the Westin in 2016. Food was superb but our final bill for 4 person Nice review. The St. Regis Venice has a gym, also located on the first floor. Then again, the bar area is so gorgeous as well, and has views. Both the suite and public space at this St Regis are nicely done sort of with exception of the wall in this particular suite feels a bit empty. If you are eating your breakfast in a ballroom that is almost as old and opulent as the Doges Palace you added so much more depth to your stay.
For the record, the water transport service between the airport and Venice is the ALILAGUNA.
Authentic pictures and insider information are its hallmark. The minibar didnt have any drinks, aside from four complimentary bottles of water. The Terrazzo floor, etc. Staying here really feels like you were part of the Venetian aristocracy for a day or two. But I digress. I hadnt been to Venice in over 20 years, so I figured it was time to check out this magical place again. One particular was shot at the bar at Hotel Regina. Yum Italian coffee. Rather this hotel was the former Westin Europa & Regina, but it underwent a significant renovation for two years, before being rebranded as a St. Regis. I also feel, you get a bit more value at the St. Regis or the Danieli for almost the same price. It does take 20 to 25 minutes to get to St. Marks Square by boat though.
Note: I earn a small commissionfor purchases made through links in this article. Mandatory 24h empty period between stays is jacking up rates for sure. The lobby of the historic hotel has been featured so often it could be considered a landmark in itself. The restaurant serves Italian cuisine, and you can find the Gios dinner menu here. I stayed here September 2021 and had the most amazing time. Theres an ever so slight modern twist on classic Venetian design and the location right behind the Royal Gardens is just fantastic for exploring the inner city. If I remember correctly there are at least 3? It had double sinks, a soaking tub, a huge walk-in shower, a toilet, and a bidet. I decided to apply a Marriott suite night award to our reservation, and was pleased that this was confirmed a couple of days in advance. The Gritti Palace, A Luxury Collection Hotel has a TripExpert Score of 92 with recommendations from 15 sources like Lonely Planet, Cond Nast Traveler and Frommer's. Why? Well, in the end I absolutely loved the St. Regis, and wish we had spent more than one night here. What an unbelievable room, especially given what we were paying! The best things to do in Madeira, Portugal, Spotless service and very refined modern luxury. To kick off our trip to Italy & France, we spent a total of four nights in Venice. "If you're going for luxury status and the classiest hotel on the Grand Canal, the Gritti has been it for decades. look here.Ben is a snob..sorry. Review: Air Serbia Premium Lounge Belgrade (BEG), My Frustrating Air Serbia Transfer Desk Experience. Just imagine pallet of culinary offer you have in Venice. I was also excited to be able to review two points hotels that been on my radar the St. Regis Venice, where we stayed for one night, and The Gritti Palace Venice, a Marriott Luxury Collect property, where we stayed for three nights. That's interetsing, I'm booked there on Friday evening. Going back even further than that, this hotel initially opened in 1895, as the Grand Hotel Britannia. Direct link to booking.com for the Gritti Palace. Also in the lobby is a library area given at what a premium space comes in Venice, its incredible how much space is dedicated to public areas for guests that arent really monetized. It currently ranks as my all time favourite Bonvoy hotel (although I will be at the Bodrum EDITION this summer so we'll have to see how that ranks). Wi-Fi in the room was fast and free, and there was also turndown service in the evening. From the menu I decided to order the eggs royale with smoked salmon, while Ford had the avocado toast with a poached egg. Its the perfect place to propose or have a very romantic holiday. Usually 2 a year, almost never about a hotel.
This hotel looks fine. And secondly: Venice is a very densely populated city. I wanted to make a comment about the "only way" to reach the St Regis.
I redeemed Marriott Bonvoy points for our one night stay at the St. Regis.
Prices are quite fair and there is a huge park around the hotel.
Spend 1/3 the price at a middling local hotel and blow the difference at the St Regis bar. ), My Experience Learning To Ski In Courchevel, Review: SWISS Senator Lounge Geneva Airport (GVA), Review: SWISS A220 Business Class (GVA-FRA), Review: Luxx Lounge Frankfurt Airport (FRA), Review: Singapore Airlines A380 Suites (FRA-JFK), The Gritti Palace Venice, a Marriott Luxury Collect property, St. Regis & EDITION Coming To Red Sea, Saudi Arabia (With Overwater Bungalows), Review: St. Regis Deer Valley (Park City, Utah), Please view our advertising policy page for additional details about our partners. Apart from the ranking, I also provided a direct link to booking.com for each hotel. Book the Baglioni Hotel Luna on booking.com.
Whether you like two swim in a pool after a long day exploring Venice or want to sleep in an authentic palazzo, Im sure you will find some good inspiration here. I personally prefer the more modern look and feel of the St. Regis as someone who's also young, although some people really enjoy the Venetian style of Gritti more. Book the Bauer Palazzo directly on booking.com. Mind you, its all very plush and golden, but I didnt feel the interiors of the 15th-century palazzo were dusty. If you want to live like royalty and be treated like it, then this is your place. Generic upscale/contemporary chic decor. The buffet was inside the restaurant, and was fairly small but high quality. Also, the lobby looks like it could be in Kansas City. Personally I prefer to eat where locals do. It is now run by Mariott. As far as luxury hotels go, this is only a charming small hotel with a good standard and a good location. Its possible to dine at most of the hotels I listed below. I gave it 11 out of 10 possible points because it truly exceeds your expectations. Im happy we arrived early (not just because of my slight obsession with photographing empty hotel spaces), but mainly because we were treated to a magical sunrise. Going in, my expectation was that Id prefer Gritti Palace by far, given that its historic, has such a sense of place, and is regarded as one of the citys best hotels. The bedroom was small and cozy, which I personally quite like.
You don't visit Venice to pay that kind of money for a courtyard view. Book the San Clemente Palace Kempinski on booking.com. Since the hotel underwent a renovation just a couple of years ago, it feels luxurious and fresh, while many other hotels in Venice feel a bit past their prime. Thank you for your very informative review. http://www.osterialletestiere.it/. As Ben said in his article, the welcome card had another guest's name on it, so I presume out of courtesy and privacy, he purposely blocked it out. No, the hotel doesnt have the sense of place that Gritti Palace does, but there are still so many beautiful aspects to the design, from the artwork, to the lighting fixtures, to the details on the ceilings, to the flooring. This isnt some impressive spa with whirlpools and a sauna, but rather consists of some treatment rooms, and thats about it. If you are looking for a hotel that offers pure and classic Venetian design, then the Bauer Palazzo is a good choice. I completely agree with everything in your review.
He may even be able to help if you already have a stay booked. The St. Regis Venice serves breakfast daily from 7AM until 10:30AM, also in Gios Restaurant. I was truly prepared to leave and move to We had the opposite experience. I feel like I could easily be in HK or Bangkok. This is the perfect hotel if you want to immerse yourself in the history of the city.
But which one is the best? Both dishes were good but small, though of course thats fine when complemented by the buffet. You'll make more friends and better stories. Great post.
You can read my detailed review of Aman Venice here, The Gritti Palace hotel opened in 1895 and has been a Venetian landmark ever since. If youve stayed at the St. Regis Venice, what was your experience like? A lot of the big suites have a direct view of the Grand Canal and they are quite spectacular. Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Lol look at the quality of the build out. Introduction: A Spring Trip To Italy & France, My Eurowings Discover Flight Was Canceled, And I Messed Up (Kind Of), Review: Eurowings Discover Business Class A330 (TPA-FRA), Review: Lufthansa Senator Lounge Frankfurt Airport (FRA), Review: Lufthansa A321 Business Class (FRA-VCE), Review: Gritti Palace Venice, Marriott Luxury Collection, Impressions From Our Trip To Venice, Italy, Review: Trenitalia Business Class (Venice To Milan), Review: Trenitalia Executive Class (Milan To Chambery), Review: Les Airelles Hotel Courchevel, France (WOW! I loved the mix between contemporary design and original frescos by Tiepolo and other famous artists. Thats where I always book my short stays and over the years I just found them to be the cheapest overall (besides theyd match any cheaper price). The staff and level of service were just as amazing as well and were incredibly helpful with everything throughout the stay including the Butler service. I preferred this hotel's warmer-feeling interior when it was the Europa & Regina.
Luxury hotel pricing as global travel starts to recover is just other-worldly, and I dont try to make sense of pricing anymore. Insert city of hotel here. Just imagine pallet of culinary offer you have in Venice. no issue with it--but yeah. My father raves about it constantly and cannot understand why I absolutely want to stay in the city. Most of this looks beautiful, but the suite itself feels very blah.. See more about our ethics policies here. Starting from the 1970ies, the biggest movie stars and celebrities all stayed here. I didn't mind switching rooms mid-stay so I was fine with just one night clearing, however on the night before, I noticed a Grand Canal View Terrace Suite was showing as bookable for the 2 night duration so I tried my luck and asked them if they would be able to uppgrade me there instead so I wouldn't have to swap rooms mid-stay. Its very classic, to be sure, but beautiful nonetheless. Annes de Plerinage is a travel blog that focuses on luxury hotels and unforgettable cultural experiences. So the hotel has a lot of history, and some of that is preserved. Theres a huge lobby seating area it almost seems like a waste that this isnt used a bar or a place for afternoon tea. Just masking/vaxxing/immigration stories to wind up the white nationalists and anti-vaxxing misinformation spreaders that "flourish" in the comments there. After a day exploring the city, could you think of something better than relaxing an hour or two at the pool? Our check-in experience was great the associate checking us in was friendly and efficient.
I split my 2 night stay as 2 individual reward bookings so I could play my chances with Suite Night Awards as I had noticed more rooms available on 1 night compared to the other. But I digress. This was served with some olives, crackers, and chips. We had the opposite experience. As youd expect given the complexity of combining buildings in this way, the hallways had lots of turns, as well as stairs. Are you serious? OTOH looking at a map of Venice, the St Regis is at the distant opposite end of the Grand Canal. Meanwhile the water taxi from the train station takes around 15 minutes, and a private water taxi costs around 60 Euro. I was probably one of those people who wouldn't think of going back to Venice more than once (or maybe once every while like what you did) but I would also come back here in a heartbeat with the impression it left on me. Factoid: One of the scenes in The Talented Mr Ripley was shot in Venice. Both the living room and bedroom faced the quiet courtyard, so there were no canal views.
Top floor means low ceilings, tiny windows, and tiny room. Venice or Rome? I wouldve only had one drink, but then I remembered that each St. Regis has a signature bloody mary, and Ive made habit of trying them at each property. Then Ford had the beef tartare with capers, dijon mustard, shallots, quail egg, and bread chips.
The public spaces at Aman Venice is spectacular to say the least not to mention service level.
Shame on St Regis. Because unlike all the other hotels on this list there is nothing truly unique about it. Not cool. This is valid for paid stays at BVLGARI, EDITION, Ritz-Carlton, Ritz-Carlton Reserve, and St. Regis. That terrace however, is marvelous. Book the JW Marriott Venice directly on booking.com. So, with all that experience, I compiled this list of my favorite luxury hotels in Venice for you. cringe comment. It's just not where I want to be. I went during La Biennale (The Venice Film Festival) so occupancies around all the luxury hotels in the city were very high if not full at that time. I don't know, maybe I'm weird, but I don't find the idea of having to take a water taxi as a lot of fun after a redeye from the US. What were they thinking? While that may (or may not) be true, I also feel a hotel can be so much more than just a bed.
Advertiser Disclosure: Some links to credit cards and other products on this website will earn an affiliate commission. It had a very comfortable bed, as I consistently find to be the case at St. Regis properties. "we were treated to a magical sunset. For 1/3 the nightly price you can rent a palatial multibedroom house with views of San Marco, to say nothing of other hotels in the city. I particularly loved the variety of fresh fruit (including several types of berries), but beyond that there was yogurt, cereal, bread, pastries, croissants, cold cuts, scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, fresh juices, and prosecco.
While the St. Regis looks nice, the lobby is just so bland and generic. Terrace was a highlight for us as well. The comments on this page have not been provided, reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any advertiser, and it is not an advertiser's responsibility to ensure posts and/or questions are answered. You wont even find the smallest bit of Venetian kitsch, which can be a bit overwhelming. So even though the temperatures dipped in the evening, it was comfortable to dine in this area. I really hope Bonvoy doesn't go full Hilton and stays at places like this won't be higher than sky high using points. In the morning we had breakfast there at exactly the same table where we ate at the night before. You were in Italy and you ate food in a hotel? So, if you just want to see the lobby or enjoy the view from the rooftop, it can be a viable alternative to staying there. In Venice do go to local restaurants off the main thoroughfares. The public areas of the hotel seemed so much more thought out. I'll be skipping it especially at that price! I hope no one stays here using cash. Its called culture. ", "Five connected historic palaces situated along the Grand Canal, with unsurpassed views of Santa Maria della Salute, the city's iconic 17th-century church. I feel if you are looking for a luxury hotel in Venice with a very contemporary design and first-class service, then this would be your hotel. Marriott Bonvoy Platinum members and above receive the full Exquisite Breakfast here, which ordinarily retails for 49 Euro per person. There was a lovely welcome amenity waiting on the table, consisting of a St. Regis branded bellini drink, plus pan dei dogi, which is an almond-based sweet bread thats common in Venice. The point of being in Venice is the city and not the room. I am intrigued by the obsession to avocado as a health food given that its the fruit with the highest calorie count. Good review as always (the best in the biz) but just not my type of city or hotel. It could be the lobby of a St. Regis in Hong Kong, Singapore, New York -- wherever. A lot of luxury hotels are close to St. Marks Square, but as you are probably planning to explore the whole city, it doesnt matter all much where you start. Unfortunately there is no sense of place. In my opinion quite a downgrade.
I have also been visiting the top luxury resorts in the world for more than 30 years. Norman is the face behind the blog and prides himself of having traveled for more than 30 years without stop or fail. You were in Italy and you ate food in a hotel? The current moderne furnishings don't appeal to me. It seemed so non-descript and sterile, with lots of empty space. But if you plan to stay a couple of more days in summer, Im sure this is a lovely alternative. From memory, you never edit the name on those pictures. On account of my Bonvoy Titanium status, she gave us the choice of 1,000 bonus points or complimentary breakfast, and of course we chose the latter. The St. Regis Venice is located right on the Grand Canal.
You are weird. Then again, in Venice youre typically going to pay a lot more to be looking at a canal.
Even though I generally dont like them at all, the Hilton Molino Stucky could be a very good alternative if you want to find a good bargain (and that rooftop pool is a-mazing!). Both the St. Regis Bar and Gios Restaurant have breathtaking views of the Grand Canal, along with great quality and service. ??? I have stayed in this hotel pre-rebranding and renovation (Westin), and I actually believe the hotel lost quite its charm with this rebranding. This is how you enjoy a country. If Id plan a wedding (or big party) and the Cipriani was too expensive, then Id pick the San Clemente Palace Kempinski. So, its possible to find a good bargain as well.
Well, there is no denying the hotel is beautiful, quiet, has a big garden, and a big pool. However, the gym was pretty well equipped, had the basics, and wasnt crowded when we used it. The St. Regis is also near Calle XXII Marzo, which is a street with some of the highest end shopping in the city. Stayed there in 2017 under the Westin brand, paid ~250EUR in June/July. This is such a stunning space. The Bathroom is cluttered for the space again cheap fit out by todays standard. So Im not sure if the gift was intended for us and the card was just wrong, or if the gift was intended for someone else but was just placed in the wrong room. Your feedback is important in helping us keep our community safe. It is also the only hotel in the inner city with a big garden terrace and has by far the biggest entry-level rooms. This looks like an airport hotel to me. Drinks were pricey 20-25 Euro, but youre ultimately paying for the view, and could order a drink and sit there for a couple of hours. We didnt get any treatments during our short stay. Yum. The bar has indoor seating, including plenty of couches, tables, and high-top seating. Given how space comes at a premium in Venice, youre typically not going to find very impressive gyms, and this was no exception. Food was superb but our final bill for 4 person was less than you paid for one person. Sure a refreshing change from properties in North America. In terms of pure luxury, it has to be noted that its not en par with the Aman the Belmond or the Danieli. The website states its a place of exceptional art and elegance with a homely feel and there is little else to add. The hotel has six floors in four different palace buildings, so really we were in room 102 in the second building (because usually youd think room 2102 would be on the second floor). My advice for you Ben is: When in Italy go and eat food in a restaurant which is not located in a hotel. Reception was right in the center area of the lobby, and consisted of two desks where guests could be seated while checking in. In a way, you could say that spending 500 USD or more a night in Venice is a waste of time. I'm wondering whether they have a private boat service between the hotel and at least Santa Lucia (the train station).
You can basically walk all over Venice from here, as there are plenty of bridges connecting most of the islands.
Talk about a good use of points sometimes Bonvoy is awesome! But that doesnt mean that there arent some nice 4 or 3 star hotels in the city. The bathroom was back near the entrance, and was a good size. You see, space is incredibly limited in the inner city and most of the exciting houses are centuries old making it hard to make adjustments according to the needs of modern luxury hotels. Book the St. Regis Venice directly on booking.com. If you love luxury hotels then you certainly heard of the Leading Hotel of the World.
More on that in the next installment. So I of course had to order the santa maria (the hotels take on the bloody mary), while Ford had the red negroni. The amazing ballroom on the first floor is nothing short of spectacular. Drinks at the Bauer rooftop bar first. Lucky, did you request a late check out, and if do did the hotel honor it? FYI we stayed in this Hotel in its previous life as the Europe and Regina and it was infinitely better. Contact Ford ([emailprotected]) for more details. the big park is just ideal and there is a chapel! The hotel only opened in 2019 and they basically took over the former Westing Europe & Regina hotel.
It tasted almost like any other bloody mary Ive had, but looked completely different, as you can tell. At the same time, there is no big ballroom or rooftop-terrace. Youll find it very close to the Rialto Bridge (5 minutes away), so its also perfect for exploring both parts of Venice. They said the usual "we'll do our best to upgrade you to the best room available" speech but the morning of, I noticed they had swapped my room for both nights which was a pleasent surprise considering how busy they were. I would say it honestly really comes down to what style you prefer. Now it is just plain dark wood. The St. Regis Bar is open almost the entire day, and is on the ground floor next to the lobby. I think its only natural that your first impressions help form your opinion of an experience, and sitting here while jetlagged in beautiful weather and soaking in the views was lovely. ", "This amalgamation of the former Hotel Britannia and Hotel Regina is easily one of Venice's still-undiscovered gems. LA or NYC sure but not Kansas City. Hotel rooms are considerably smaller here than in other places around the world, and perhaps also a bit more expensive. I expected something a little more old-school Venetian or Belle Epoque-era.
@Reyyan, I totally agree! The 169-room St. Regis Venice only opened in 2019. Venice has a lot of historical buildings, so as youd expect, this isnt a new build. Their signature butler service and their luxurious classic design sure make the choice hard. We have visited one of many Agroturismo. I never asked for a glass tour and would have been happy to get off where the water buses drop rather than be treated like a dimwitted tourist. Told them I was checking out and they moved me up a category to a larger room (not a suite) on a floor with taller ceilings. Ben really loves using the phrase "for context. Have to agree with BobbyJ. On another note @Lucky - why choose the Bonvoy properties in Venice versus some of the World of Hyatt On another note @Lucky - why choose the Bonvoy properties in Venice versus some of the World of Hyatt properties there? The drink selection was pretty imaginative, and Ford had the clear negroni, while I had the pink spritz.
There are stucco, gold, silk, and crystals everywhere you look and most rooms share this rather opulent design. The photos of the rooms were really disappointing to me.
I am a bit reluctant to mention the Hotel Metropole on this list. One thing I've noticed is they appeared to switch their bathroom amenities in their suites to Aqua di Parma rather than the regular St. Regis Laboratoire Remde - same thing they do at the St. Regis Rome. So, if you are wondering where to stay in Venice just pick what appeals the most to you! Inside the entrance was the bathroom to the right, and then the living room straight ahead. Compared to the room price the restaurant prices are a bargain.
Sorry, these types of reviews just don't speak to me. A few years ago we were in Puglia. For our starters, I ordered the red tuna carpaccio with marsala marinated raisins, fennel, and orange Sicilian salad. no pool (but there is a little spa & gym), Beautiful restaurant terrace on the Canal Grande, amazing signature suites with direct Canal grande view, amazing location; directly next to the Doges Palace, located on Guidecca & have to take a water taxi to see the city, a modern hotel without a historic context, house with lots of tradition in a good location, pure Venetian design (lots of gold, silk, crystal, etc), the new part of the hotel is quite ug..i mean interesting, Service not as over the top as in other luxury hotels in Venice, beautiful new property with a lovely pool, less over the top than the other hotels on this list, suites with amazing Grand Canal view terraces, beautiful location right across San Maria della Salute, no a historic property & standard contemporary design, beautiful pool and park on a private Island, Member of the Leading Hotels of the World, need to take the water taxi (15min) to get to the city, traditional Venetian design (but not too oppulent=, no garden terrace or lagoon view restaurant, good location (5 minutes to Doges Palace). Its located in an ancient 16th-century palazzo. While the meal wasnt cheap, the food quality, service, ambiance, and view, were simply unbeatable. As base rate at Aman Venice is 1150 euros. Please view our advertising policy page for additional details about our partners. I was truly prepared to leave and move to the JW as I don't like throwing a hissy fit to get a better room so I give them props for moving me. We payed around 220 euro's a night for the Westin in 2016. Food was superb but our final bill for 4 person Nice review. The St. Regis Venice has a gym, also located on the first floor. Then again, the bar area is so gorgeous as well, and has views. Both the suite and public space at this St Regis are nicely done sort of with exception of the wall in this particular suite feels a bit empty. If you are eating your breakfast in a ballroom that is almost as old and opulent as the Doges Palace you added so much more depth to your stay.
For the record, the water transport service between the airport and Venice is the ALILAGUNA.
Authentic pictures and insider information are its hallmark. The minibar didnt have any drinks, aside from four complimentary bottles of water. The Terrazzo floor, etc. Staying here really feels like you were part of the Venetian aristocracy for a day or two. But I digress. I hadnt been to Venice in over 20 years, so I figured it was time to check out this magical place again. One particular was shot at the bar at Hotel Regina. Yum Italian coffee. Rather this hotel was the former Westin Europa & Regina, but it underwent a significant renovation for two years, before being rebranded as a St. Regis. I also feel, you get a bit more value at the St. Regis or the Danieli for almost the same price. It does take 20 to 25 minutes to get to St. Marks Square by boat though.
Note: I earn a small commissionfor purchases made through links in this article. Mandatory 24h empty period between stays is jacking up rates for sure. The lobby of the historic hotel has been featured so often it could be considered a landmark in itself. The restaurant serves Italian cuisine, and you can find the Gios dinner menu here. I stayed here September 2021 and had the most amazing time. Theres an ever so slight modern twist on classic Venetian design and the location right behind the Royal Gardens is just fantastic for exploring the inner city. If I remember correctly there are at least 3? It had double sinks, a soaking tub, a huge walk-in shower, a toilet, and a bidet. I decided to apply a Marriott suite night award to our reservation, and was pleased that this was confirmed a couple of days in advance. The Gritti Palace, A Luxury Collection Hotel has a TripExpert Score of 92 with recommendations from 15 sources like Lonely Planet, Cond Nast Traveler and Frommer's. Why? Well, in the end I absolutely loved the St. Regis, and wish we had spent more than one night here. What an unbelievable room, especially given what we were paying! The best things to do in Madeira, Portugal, Spotless service and very refined modern luxury. To kick off our trip to Italy & France, we spent a total of four nights in Venice. "If you're going for luxury status and the classiest hotel on the Grand Canal, the Gritti has been it for decades. look here.Ben is a snob..sorry. Review: Air Serbia Premium Lounge Belgrade (BEG), My Frustrating Air Serbia Transfer Desk Experience. Just imagine pallet of culinary offer you have in Venice. I was also excited to be able to review two points hotels that been on my radar the St. Regis Venice, where we stayed for one night, and The Gritti Palace Venice, a Marriott Luxury Collect property, where we stayed for three nights. That's interetsing, I'm booked there on Friday evening. Going back even further than that, this hotel initially opened in 1895, as the Grand Hotel Britannia. Direct link to booking.com for the Gritti Palace. Also in the lobby is a library area given at what a premium space comes in Venice, its incredible how much space is dedicated to public areas for guests that arent really monetized. It currently ranks as my all time favourite Bonvoy hotel (although I will be at the Bodrum EDITION this summer so we'll have to see how that ranks). Wi-Fi in the room was fast and free, and there was also turndown service in the evening. From the menu I decided to order the eggs royale with smoked salmon, while Ford had the avocado toast with a poached egg. Its the perfect place to propose or have a very romantic holiday. Usually 2 a year, almost never about a hotel.
This hotel looks fine. And secondly: Venice is a very densely populated city. I wanted to make a comment about the "only way" to reach the St Regis.
I redeemed Marriott Bonvoy points for our one night stay at the St. Regis.
Prices are quite fair and there is a huge park around the hotel.
Spend 1/3 the price at a middling local hotel and blow the difference at the St Regis bar. ), My Experience Learning To Ski In Courchevel, Review: SWISS Senator Lounge Geneva Airport (GVA), Review: SWISS A220 Business Class (GVA-FRA), Review: Luxx Lounge Frankfurt Airport (FRA), Review: Singapore Airlines A380 Suites (FRA-JFK), The Gritti Palace Venice, a Marriott Luxury Collect property, St. Regis & EDITION Coming To Red Sea, Saudi Arabia (With Overwater Bungalows), Review: St. Regis Deer Valley (Park City, Utah), Please view our advertising policy page for additional details about our partners. Apart from the ranking, I also provided a direct link to booking.com for each hotel. Book the Baglioni Hotel Luna on booking.com.
Whether you like two swim in a pool after a long day exploring Venice or want to sleep in an authentic palazzo, Im sure you will find some good inspiration here. I personally prefer the more modern look and feel of the St. Regis as someone who's also young, although some people really enjoy the Venetian style of Gritti more. Book the Bauer Palazzo directly on booking.com. Mind you, its all very plush and golden, but I didnt feel the interiors of the 15th-century palazzo were dusty. If you want to live like royalty and be treated like it, then this is your place. Generic upscale/contemporary chic decor. The buffet was inside the restaurant, and was fairly small but high quality. Also, the lobby looks like it could be in Kansas City. Personally I prefer to eat where locals do. It is now run by Mariott. As far as luxury hotels go, this is only a charming small hotel with a good standard and a good location. Its possible to dine at most of the hotels I listed below. I gave it 11 out of 10 possible points because it truly exceeds your expectations. Im happy we arrived early (not just because of my slight obsession with photographing empty hotel spaces), but mainly because we were treated to a magical sunrise. Going in, my expectation was that Id prefer Gritti Palace by far, given that its historic, has such a sense of place, and is regarded as one of the citys best hotels. The bedroom was small and cozy, which I personally quite like.
You don't visit Venice to pay that kind of money for a courtyard view. Book the San Clemente Palace Kempinski on booking.com. Since the hotel underwent a renovation just a couple of years ago, it feels luxurious and fresh, while many other hotels in Venice feel a bit past their prime. Thank you for your very informative review. http://www.osterialletestiere.it/. As Ben said in his article, the welcome card had another guest's name on it, so I presume out of courtesy and privacy, he purposely blocked it out. No, the hotel doesnt have the sense of place that Gritti Palace does, but there are still so many beautiful aspects to the design, from the artwork, to the lighting fixtures, to the details on the ceilings, to the flooring. This isnt some impressive spa with whirlpools and a sauna, but rather consists of some treatment rooms, and thats about it. If you are looking for a hotel that offers pure and classic Venetian design, then the Bauer Palazzo is a good choice. I completely agree with everything in your review.
He may even be able to help if you already have a stay booked. The St. Regis Venice serves breakfast daily from 7AM until 10:30AM, also in Gios Restaurant. I was truly prepared to leave and move to We had the opposite experience. I feel like I could easily be in HK or Bangkok. This is the perfect hotel if you want to immerse yourself in the history of the city.
But which one is the best? Both dishes were good but small, though of course thats fine when complemented by the buffet. You'll make more friends and better stories. Great post.
You can read my detailed review of Aman Venice here, The Gritti Palace hotel opened in 1895 and has been a Venetian landmark ever since. If youve stayed at the St. Regis Venice, what was your experience like? A lot of the big suites have a direct view of the Grand Canal and they are quite spectacular. Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Lol look at the quality of the build out. Introduction: A Spring Trip To Italy & France, My Eurowings Discover Flight Was Canceled, And I Messed Up (Kind Of), Review: Eurowings Discover Business Class A330 (TPA-FRA), Review: Lufthansa Senator Lounge Frankfurt Airport (FRA), Review: Lufthansa A321 Business Class (FRA-VCE), Review: Gritti Palace Venice, Marriott Luxury Collection, Impressions From Our Trip To Venice, Italy, Review: Trenitalia Business Class (Venice To Milan), Review: Trenitalia Executive Class (Milan To Chambery), Review: Les Airelles Hotel Courchevel, France (WOW! I loved the mix between contemporary design and original frescos by Tiepolo and other famous artists. Thats where I always book my short stays and over the years I just found them to be the cheapest overall (besides theyd match any cheaper price). The staff and level of service were just as amazing as well and were incredibly helpful with everything throughout the stay including the Butler service. I preferred this hotel's warmer-feeling interior when it was the Europa & Regina.
Luxury hotel pricing as global travel starts to recover is just other-worldly, and I dont try to make sense of pricing anymore. Insert city of hotel here. Just imagine pallet of culinary offer you have in Venice. no issue with it--but yeah. My father raves about it constantly and cannot understand why I absolutely want to stay in the city. Most of this looks beautiful, but the suite itself feels very blah.. See more about our ethics policies here. Starting from the 1970ies, the biggest movie stars and celebrities all stayed here. I didn't mind switching rooms mid-stay so I was fine with just one night clearing, however on the night before, I noticed a Grand Canal View Terrace Suite was showing as bookable for the 2 night duration so I tried my luck and asked them if they would be able to uppgrade me there instead so I wouldn't have to swap rooms mid-stay. Its very classic, to be sure, but beautiful nonetheless. Annes de Plerinage is a travel blog that focuses on luxury hotels and unforgettable cultural experiences. So the hotel has a lot of history, and some of that is preserved. Theres a huge lobby seating area it almost seems like a waste that this isnt used a bar or a place for afternoon tea. Just masking/vaxxing/immigration stories to wind up the white nationalists and anti-vaxxing misinformation spreaders that "flourish" in the comments there. After a day exploring the city, could you think of something better than relaxing an hour or two at the pool? Our check-in experience was great the associate checking us in was friendly and efficient.
I split my 2 night stay as 2 individual reward bookings so I could play my chances with Suite Night Awards as I had noticed more rooms available on 1 night compared to the other. But I digress. This was served with some olives, crackers, and chips. We had the opposite experience. As youd expect given the complexity of combining buildings in this way, the hallways had lots of turns, as well as stairs. Are you serious? OTOH looking at a map of Venice, the St Regis is at the distant opposite end of the Grand Canal. Meanwhile the water taxi from the train station takes around 15 minutes, and a private water taxi costs around 60 Euro. I was probably one of those people who wouldn't think of going back to Venice more than once (or maybe once every while like what you did) but I would also come back here in a heartbeat with the impression it left on me. Factoid: One of the scenes in The Talented Mr Ripley was shot in Venice. Both the living room and bedroom faced the quiet courtyard, so there were no canal views.
Top floor means low ceilings, tiny windows, and tiny room. Venice or Rome? I wouldve only had one drink, but then I remembered that each St. Regis has a signature bloody mary, and Ive made habit of trying them at each property. Then Ford had the beef tartare with capers, dijon mustard, shallots, quail egg, and bread chips.
The public spaces at Aman Venice is spectacular to say the least not to mention service level.
Shame on St Regis. Because unlike all the other hotels on this list there is nothing truly unique about it. Not cool. This is valid for paid stays at BVLGARI, EDITION, Ritz-Carlton, Ritz-Carlton Reserve, and St. Regis. That terrace however, is marvelous. Book the JW Marriott Venice directly on booking.com. So, with all that experience, I compiled this list of my favorite luxury hotels in Venice for you. cringe comment. It's just not where I want to be. I went during La Biennale (The Venice Film Festival) so occupancies around all the luxury hotels in the city were very high if not full at that time. I don't know, maybe I'm weird, but I don't find the idea of having to take a water taxi as a lot of fun after a redeye from the US. What were they thinking? While that may (or may not) be true, I also feel a hotel can be so much more than just a bed.
Advertiser Disclosure: Some links to credit cards and other products on this website will earn an affiliate commission. It had a very comfortable bed, as I consistently find to be the case at St. Regis properties. "we were treated to a magical sunset. For 1/3 the nightly price you can rent a palatial multibedroom house with views of San Marco, to say nothing of other hotels in the city. I particularly loved the variety of fresh fruit (including several types of berries), but beyond that there was yogurt, cereal, bread, pastries, croissants, cold cuts, scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, fresh juices, and prosecco.
While the St. Regis looks nice, the lobby is just so bland and generic. Terrace was a highlight for us as well. The comments on this page have not been provided, reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any advertiser, and it is not an advertiser's responsibility to ensure posts and/or questions are answered. You wont even find the smallest bit of Venetian kitsch, which can be a bit overwhelming. So even though the temperatures dipped in the evening, it was comfortable to dine in this area. I really hope Bonvoy doesn't go full Hilton and stays at places like this won't be higher than sky high using points. In the morning we had breakfast there at exactly the same table where we ate at the night before. You were in Italy and you ate food in a hotel? So, if you just want to see the lobby or enjoy the view from the rooftop, it can be a viable alternative to staying there. In Venice do go to local restaurants off the main thoroughfares. The public areas of the hotel seemed so much more thought out. I'll be skipping it especially at that price! I hope no one stays here using cash. Its called culture. ", "Five connected historic palaces situated along the Grand Canal, with unsurpassed views of Santa Maria della Salute, the city's iconic 17th-century church. I feel if you are looking for a luxury hotel in Venice with a very contemporary design and first-class service, then this would be your hotel. Marriott Bonvoy Platinum members and above receive the full Exquisite Breakfast here, which ordinarily retails for 49 Euro per person. There was a lovely welcome amenity waiting on the table, consisting of a St. Regis branded bellini drink, plus pan dei dogi, which is an almond-based sweet bread thats common in Venice. The point of being in Venice is the city and not the room. I am intrigued by the obsession to avocado as a health food given that its the fruit with the highest calorie count. Good review as always (the best in the biz) but just not my type of city or hotel. It could be the lobby of a St. Regis in Hong Kong, Singapore, New York -- wherever. A lot of luxury hotels are close to St. Marks Square, but as you are probably planning to explore the whole city, it doesnt matter all much where you start. Unfortunately there is no sense of place. In my opinion quite a downgrade.
I have also been visiting the top luxury resorts in the world for more than 30 years. Norman is the face behind the blog and prides himself of having traveled for more than 30 years without stop or fail. You were in Italy and you ate food in a hotel? The current moderne furnishings don't appeal to me. It seemed so non-descript and sterile, with lots of empty space. But if you plan to stay a couple of more days in summer, Im sure this is a lovely alternative. From memory, you never edit the name on those pictures. On account of my Bonvoy Titanium status, she gave us the choice of 1,000 bonus points or complimentary breakfast, and of course we chose the latter. The St. Regis Venice is located right on the Grand Canal.
You are weird. Then again, in Venice youre typically going to pay a lot more to be looking at a canal.