Casa Pisani Canal, Venice

Advantages: Perfect location; looks very picturesque; resonable price
Disadvantages: Some rooms quite small

...After much searching around for a reasonably priced hotel in Venice, we stumbled upon this one, advertised as a 4-star hotel in a deal that was less than the price of most of the three star hotels. Arriving in venice via a train from Rome, there was a half hour waterbus journey down the Grand Canal (which afforded for some spectacualr views and is the perfect way for first time visitors to experience the magic of this whimsical city) until we reached the stop for St. Mark's Square. Navigating in Venice does prove a little tricky at first even with a map, due to the very small and very many streets, but the Caveletto could not have a better location. It is quite literally a stone's throw from St. Mark's Square (the centre of all things Venetian) and it is a very hard to miss. The hotel itself looks just as though it is from... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: close to bus station
Disadvantages: deceptive hotel website pictures create a disappointment when visiting this small hotel

...Firstly the photos of the hotel and room are quite deceptive; the Carlton Grand Canal Hotel is a crummy looking hotel with tiny rooms but apparently this is to be expected in Venice- it is also useful to note that there are many dilapidated looking buildings facing the canals and this is becuase the owners are reluctant to spend vast amounts of money on restoration as the canal facade detriorates rapidly from the harsh elements (salt water etc). However this shouldn't deter people from visiting this beautiful city. The ensuite washrooms were not impressive with black mould round the bath. Staff can be unhelpful. On a positive note the breakfast was good. It would have been useful to have board games or pool table in the hotel as some afternoons can be very very hot and it is common for shops to close for the siesta- when travelling... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Beautiful, unique, hasn't disappeared yet
Disadvantages: Daily budget - ouch

...disobedience by failing to get out of the way at the narrowest point on the Grand Canal, at the Rialto Bridge. The police boats just sat back and made sure there were no accidents. The vaporetti just turned round and went the other way, with the same shrug and lack of information you get from London Buses when they get ‘turned’. GETTING AROUND Unlike the two American ladies I was next to, just off a cruise liner, one of whom turned to the other and said ‘have you seen any cars yet?’, I WAS excepting a life-aquatic. To be honest, the vaporetti are a bit of a let down. Sure, it’s fun to use boats instead of buses, but they are limited by an obvious point. The city of Venice is an island split by the meandering Grand Canal. Therefore, all routes are limited to circumnavigations of the entire island or semi-circumnavigations via the Canal. Sure... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful