La Locandiera - Venice, Italy     

Great location, great room, great hotel. Would definitely return. Stayed three nights with my husband and college age daughter (May 2008). Chose this hotel after a close friend recommended it and then checked reviews on TripAdvisor. The location can’t be beat, just minutes by foot to St. Mark’s Square, but very, very quiet. Our room was a very large triple facing the front of the hotel and the small quiet square. Both room and bathroom were very well appointed and immaculate. Again no face cloth so bring your own if you use one. The staff were pleasant and welcoming. We did not have the opportunity to ask for assistance, so I cannot speak to that. Breakfast was served on the second floor two mornings and on the ground floor the final morning. The other three hotels we stayed in Italy served a buffet breakfast; however, here each guest was served only one croissant. Other breakfast fare was served as well, which, although modest, was satisfying. They have wireless internet available which was broken when we were there. They made a computer available to guests for free, which was nice. If you follow the directions on the hotel website you shouldn’t have a problem. When you exit the San Zaccaria stop and face away from the water, calle delle Rasse will be one of the narrow openings between the buildings. You’ll have to go to the opening and look up on the wall to see the name of the street. Once identified, just follow the directions. Also, on arrival at the Santa Lucia train station you can buy your vaporetto (water bus) ticket inside at the newsstand to avoid the long lines outside at the vaporetto stop. Once in the city get your tickets at a tabacchi. The ticket lines at the stops, especially near St. Mark’s Square, can be long. See my other reviews of Hotel Apollo, Rome and Hotel Caravaggio, Florence.

This a quiet and immaculate little hotel on a small square only a few minutes away from St. Mark's, good restaurants, and shops. My wife, daughter and I recently stayed in a triple room facing the square. The room was very nicely decorated and comfortable. Marina, and all employees with whom we spoke, were remarkably helpful and delightful. A relaxing refuge, priced well, less than two minutes from a water taxi drop, and a very easy walk from the Vaporetta stop at San Zaccaria. We recommend La Locandiera as a very good small hotel in beautiful Venice.