Welcome to Slow Travel, Dolce. If you haven't already discovered it, our main Slow Travel pages are a treasure trove of information. You can find hotel reviews and restaurant reviews, as well as general travel planning tips. (and to make it easy to navigate to these pages, just look down the left hand column for "Italy - Shortcuts", under Slow Travel by country).
Happy planning.
Judy
Posts: 3899 | Location: Berkeley, CA | Registered: 22 March 2005
Venice: AL CAMPANIEL S.Polo n.2889 in Calle del Campaniel (Campo San Toma') 30125 Venezia, Italy Tel: (+39) 041 2750 749 Fax: (+39) 027 0053 9748 E-mail: info@campaniel.com Simple clean, 3 min walk from San Polo Vap stop breakfast and wonderful chocolate shop just across from door.
Try Domus Orsoni. It's a mosaic factory whit a b&b. Nice area near the Ghetto, easy to reach with luggage and a fantastic place with garden. Only drawback is that they would start in the morning to chop mosaic. But that is part of being in an authentic place.
Thank you for hotels suggestions. We are flying into Venice but taking a train out to Lake Como it looks like this hotel is convenient for both transfers. We are leaning towards the Hilton Mulino Stucky. it includes breakfast like most do, and also can include the gondola ride which is going to be a must on this trip. Did not do it last trip. Now for some good restaurant suggestions. I also heard to the right of the Rialto bridge behind the marketplaces there are good places for cichetti but have names for these bars.
The hotel I am going to suggest totally is not what I typically would have chosen for myself (I like the comfy, homey types of B and B) but I started staying here when I had to travel solo with my then 5 year old with 3 months worth of luggage. I have stayed at this hotel now several times a year, and love the convenience and prices, which are much lower than staying IN Venice itself.
The first time I stayed at this place, my son and I were flying out of Venice and I needed an easy access place where I didn't have to juggle a million things - kids and luggage across piazzas and canals. The hotel gave me the most amazing customer service I have ever experienced - I got there late, hot and frazzled after a different connection left me stranded in Mestre. It was after the stores had closed and I need to add more money to my Italian phone. I had no way of telling my family that I had arrived. When I mentioned this at check-in (it was already almost 10pm), I thought nothing more of it. About 15 minutes later, they called me up in my room and said they had located a store owner that would open up for me, that the hotel shuttle van was waiting downstairs to take me there, and to take my time freshening up. They had a car seat and a snack waiting for my son, and drove me across town to get things done. All this no charge, simply outstanding initiative on their part. The desk clerk who did this is named Asis, and he is still there. The courtesy shown to me was outstanding.
The name of the hotel is the Crown Plaza in Quarto D'Altino. I like this hotel because it is 15 min to the airport by taxi, and 20 min by train to Piazza San Lucia in Venice. The train station is in their parking lot! You buy your 8 Euro ticket at the front desk and walk out the door. Sometimes in Venice, when it is really hot and full of people, it is nice to get out of Dodge at the end of the day, and this train makes it very convenient to connect to your next destination. In Venice, you still need to get you and your luggage across town to get to the train station.
Meals at the hotel are surprisingly good, and they have a very nice, very extensive buffet dinner available for 20 Euros. Growing up in an Italian family, I am very picky about food, and was very pleasantly surprised at everything on the buffet.
If you are traveling lightly and without younger kids and a ton of luggage, staying IN Venice is an absolutely wonderful and magical experience. If you have other considerations (like catching a train when you are leaving Venice), you might want to check out this alternative. Marzia is the name of the person who handles my reservation usually.
In regard to the Gondola ride - if you want a traditional Gondola ride, then the hotel you are considering sounds great. If the main thing is to just get into a Gondola in general, you can cross the Grand Canal in several places with a "gondola ferry" for less than a Euro, and you get to experience what the locals do to get across! It always makes me chuckle to see the older Venetian ladies standing up holding their groceries as they cross - reminds me of George Washington crossing the Potomac - Grin! You can see where these "ferrys" are located along the canal on just about any map of Venice. They really are fun and you feel like a born and bred Venetian!
reminds me of George Washington crossing the Potomac
It was the Delaware. (Off-topic, I realize, but as someone who grew up in the next town downriver, I feel honor-bound to speak up!)
Oh WOW! Major oops! Guess you can tell I wasn't a history major....cringing in embarrassment, but ok with it if it gave you all a good chuckle! Thanks for pointing it out! hahahah
I second la Pergola, in Pescallo (Bellagio), Great little hotel, away from the crowds, right on the lake (Lecco side).
Also love the Hotel Villa Cipressi, in Varenna. Historic building, fabulous gardens leading down to the lake, should cost a lot more, but don't tell them.
Posts: 125 | Location: Berkshires, MA | Registered: 14 August 2007
I Agree with HarvyK about Varenna. But If you want something stylish, a private rental AND with views to die for over Bellagio, there is a post Here about one. And this should cost more than it does.
(Off-topic, I realize, but as someone who grew up in the next town downriver, I feel honor-bound to speak up!)
