Hotel Metropole - Venice, Italy 

Our almost 3-week trip to Italy began in Venice and we couldn't have asked for a better introduction. Our family of five plus our friends who are our children's god-parents stayed for 3 nights in June. As we were traveling with 3 children ages 7, 9 and almost 13, our room was quite large. It consisted of two king beds (Twins pulled together as one unit, just stay on your side and it was just fine) plus an additional twin that looked like a princesses bed (our daughter loved it!) As a plane delay and then connection loss caused our arrival to be extremely late,we simply text messaged the hotel to inform them then took a private water taxi to the hotel from the airport ($95 euros). It was worth every penny as it taxi'd us to the side water entrance of the hotel and the ride from the airport was just beautiful at night! Although the beds were very firm, we found out that it appears to be a preference in Italy no matter where you stayed to have very firm mattresses. The fact that the hotel is so old and at one point was an orphange where Vivaldi would give lessons to the girls, just added to its mystique and charm. The rooms were very clean and out friend's was just lovely as well and just what you would expect in an old, historical hotel. Our only complaint which we were forwarned in other posting was that the trip to Murano which taxis for free from the hotel to a factory is pretty high pressure and was told that the return ride was complimentary only with a purchase, and incidentally, the prices are fantastically high (it is not the only one on the island by the way and you have to exit it and ask how to leave it otherwise they will just put you back on the water taxi as if nothing else but that one factory exists) so I would just take a general public transport to Murano and save the hassle. Murano is worth seeing and the little shops and food bistros are quite good. That would be my only complaint...the fact that the consierge which advises you to go by their own private boat but does not tell you about the high pressure sales and cost of return, plus the fact that you have to personally ask how to get out of the factory so that you can explore Murano. I will say that after seeing all of the other hotels in Venice and on the Grand Canal etc., there isn't one that I thought "wish we stayed there". In fact, I would absolutely stay at the Hotel Metropole again as the location is perfect, scenic, incredibly easy to dind you way home and a delight.

great location. very convenient. great room with two beds since we were travelling with a college age child. clean and comfortable. freindly. not too far from an internet cafe. breakfast was fine. wouldn't go to venice in the summer again, but would think about staying here again.