Welcome to the boutique hotels of Venice, Italy
Whether you want to stay in a boutique hotel that is like an old Venetian palace - or may have even been one a century or two ago - or would like a more modern room to stay in, Venice offers multiple accommodation types. In this city location, most Venetian hotels offer a fine view over the canal network or, if not, have views of some other historic structure, such as a nearby palazzo, bridge, or, in some cases, the remarkable Santa Maria Basilica. Of course, Venice is globally famous as a tourist location. Thanks to its great architectural style and lack of roads - the canal still reigns supreme in Venice - few people haven't heard of the charming capital of Venice, known as Venezia in Italian. Therefore, it is worth pointing out that wherever you will be located in Venice during your stay, you will find that you're never more than a few meters away from other tourists. For this reason, guests often find it advisable to book a luxury or boutique hotel. With suites and rooms to suit all parties, from couples to family groups, the ability to get away from the bustle of the city can make for a much more enjoyable vacation experience. With so much to see and do in Venice, having a boutique hotel to return to at the end of the day can be very appealing.
What makes Venetian luxury hotels so distinctive from others in Italy?
Wherever you are located in Venice, the rooms on offer tend to ooze luxury. Read some of the reviews left by other guests and check the star rating, but, in most cases, boutique hotels have been carefully developed from pre-existing structures. Old palace buildings have been converted into modern luxury hotels in many cases, so you get a historic place from which to make your mark on the city without having to compromise on comfort. For example, a typical luxury hotel offers guests an elevator to get up and down in, even though it might have been fitted into a stairwell that is well over a century old. The best boutique hotels feel old but will still have modern touches, such as air-con, Wi-Fi, or central heating. Furthermore, many of the best hotels in the wider region of Veneto, as well as in Venice itself, have a private garden you can make use of. Space is at a premium in Venice, so the chance to sit in a garden to drink coffee or read a book in a boutique hotel garden shouldn't be undervalued during your stay, regardless of your views concerning hotel garden layouts generally.
Is a boutique hotel with its own restaurant worth it?
Booking a Venetian boutique hotel with its own restaurant can definitely be a smart move when booking a city break. Being able to eat your breakfast in relative peace and quiet before a day's sightseeing often helps guests to find their feet. That said, a private boutique hotel restaurant isn't everyone's ideal way to enjoy breakfast, so take a view on whether this is important to you. What you may want to know, however, is whether you'll be able to enjoy fine dining in the restaurant in the evening after you return to your hotel. Check the restaurant rating before booking if this is something you have set your heart on. Bear in mind, however, that a good restaurant is not likely to be too many meters away from your chosen hotel. This is Venice, after all, with great restaurant opportunities in virtually every location around the city. Most standard hotels in Venice won't have a garden, but you're more likely to have one available to you if you choose to book rooms in a boutique hotel. Check whether your preferred luxury hotel offers al fresco dining, where you can eat in the restaurant while sitting outside in the garden. This is a great tip if your boutique stay will coincide with the warmest months of summer.
Where in Venice should you stay?
With boutique hotel rooms and suites located in every quarter of Venice, you are set to enjoy great style and a wonderful view from nearly all the luxury hotels in the city. When booking, consider how many meters you will be from a famous landmark, such as the Rialto Bridge, the Palazzo Ducale (the Doge's Palace), the Santa Maria della Salute Church, or the Grand Canal. Proximity to any of these famous sites in Italy - even if you're a few hundred meters away - won't come for free and will, therefore, affect the prices you can expect to pay when booking. The same goes for any hotel close to the Santa Lucia railway station, which connects Venezia to the rest of Northern Italy. Of course, you will also pay higher prices for rooms with views of the Venetian cityscape since such hotels tend to become full more often. That said, being able to take in views of San Marco Square, for example, during your stay from your own room or rooms, is often worth the extra. Read some reviews so you'll be informed as to how many meters you will expect to be away from your room's view and whether where the hotel is located is really best for the views you'd most like to take in.
In Venice, guests often find that a nearby palace or palazzo can only be partially seen due to the narrow walkways by each canal. If so, consider booking rooms on the upper floors of your chosen hotel. Remember, you'll only have to walk a few meters to see a great sight if you book a boutique hotel room in Central Venice, somewhere like Santa Croce, San Marco, or San Polo, for instance. In other words, guests in boutique hotel accommodations in Venice tend to enjoy great views and find they get to know the city well wherever they are located for the duration of their stay. For slightly lower average prices, it is best to find hotels in Giudecca or Dorsoduro, but it very much depends on the level of luxury on offer as well as how old or historic the boutique hotel happens to be. Nevertheless, being located even just a few more meters away from the Grand Canal than some of the luxury hotels in Venice may help you to bridge the gap between where your expectations are set and the prices you can afford.