Palace Hotel is beautiful. The entire building has been meticulously restored to near original,…read moremid-forties decadence. The staff was patient with my butchering their language, and all spoke English in addition to Italian. The restaurant is exemplary, and had by far the best breakfast spread I've ever enjoyed. I had a single room, which was small but comfortable. I understand "cozy" is to be expected in the more densely populated areas of Italy. Highly recommended. Secure parking. Crisp linens. Laundry service. Complimentary breakfast (do not skip). Great espresso.

Truly a pig with lipstick!! Worst hotel I have stayed in in Europe in quite some time. NO AC, NO…read moreHEAT, NO FAN, NO IORN in the room, and simply NO CARE!! You actually have to get dressed to go and iron your clothes on another floor of the hotel because, I kid you not, "Irons are forbidden in the rooms". I can not make this up. The room I was forced to stay in was so hot Lucifer him self was waiting on me when I arrived. After I went down to voice my dissatisfaction with the room the young lad at the counter simply shrugged and said sorry. The work out facility was an absolute joke as it had one machine and a treadmill that needed serious adjustment due to belt slippage. It was truly a miserable experience and I hope to never be forced by my company to stay here again. There are much better hotels in the area. It just looks nice on the outsi

On our water bus on the way to Murano from Venice, I did some quick research on glass-blowing…read moredemonstrations. There is no shortage of options but you want to make sure you pick a good one. The Glass Cathedral Santa Chiara stood out to me because it's at the very top of TripAdvisor's list of the top attractions in Murano. I tried to make a reservation online but they don't allow day-of reservations so we tried our luck in person. Luckily, it worked out. It's a short walk from the water bus station. Though I will say it's a bit tough to find because the cathedral is a bit hidden. Once you walk in, you see how beautiful the cathedral is and you already feel like you're in the right place. We arrived at a good time and got tickets for the next show. You can just pay for the demonstration itself or add beverages as add-ons e.g. beer, wine, Aperol spritz, mixed drinks, etc. We added Aperol Spritz which is served in a nice glass (I would expect nothing less in Murano). From there, there is some bench seating and a few tables where you can view the demonstration. The artist performing his craft was an artist in the true sense of the word. He wasn't there to entertain the crowd. He didn't seem friendly. But he loves his craft. And I love that. It was super impressive to see him do his thing and create multiple works of art along the help with his assistant. Murano is known for having the best glass-blowing in the world so you'll see a lot of advanced techniques and you'll get a grasp of the skill needed to create what you can buy at stores or online. It makes you appreciate even more the value of handmade goods. Seeing a glass-blowing demonstration is a must when you're in Murano and this place may very well be the best!

We stopped in and enjoyed the glass blowing demonstration. Very affordable entry fee and our kids…read more(4 and 6 years old) entry was free. The staff were friendly and our kids enjoyed themselves!

Best place to stay if you're in Venice! We took a water taxi over and it was an easy 15 minute…read morewalk. Great safe location with a lot to see and do nearby. Rooms were very clean and beautifully decorated. One room was upgraded to a canal view. Free breakfast in the morning from 8-10 with tons of options. When we arrived we were offered fresh pastries and coffee! All the staff was extremely helpful and kind, and willing to help with directions and suggestions of locations to visit. I would highly recommend staying here!

Venice is open for business, people! Don't believe the doom and gloom news the media loves to put…read moreout! We just spent 4 glorious days in Venice on a family vacation. While we were hesitant to visit initially based on media reports of extensive flooding, repeated reassurances by the hotel staff persuaded us to go ahead with our visit. So glad we did!! The hotel's location is fantastic, as with almost all buildings in the city, the hotel is located alongside a busy canal in the Cannaregio district - very central to all points of interest and boat taxi stations. The hotel itself is clean and welcoming, although infrastructure struggles to keep up with demand at times. The highlight of our stay was the staff - Fabio, Diego, Sorina and others were simply fantastic!! Very friendly and solicitous/helpful...they made our stay all the more memorable!! Weather was superb, cold but clear and sunny, the city was very clean given the 30-million visitors it receives annually (54,000 Venetians constantly bombarded by hordes of tourists). December is a fantastic time to visit as crowds are thinner (heard that summers can be unbearable due to heat and overcrowding) and all sights are readily accessible. No sign of flooding anywhere!! The hotel rooms were comfortable and clean, complimentary bottled water was a huge bonus. Breakfast was adequate (Continental) but not overly impressive - coffees/hot chocolate/juices etc on demand were most welcome. All in all...had a superb time walking the miles of beautiful alleyways, visiting the islands of Murano and Burano (the latter a fantastically colorful fishermen's village) and ooh-ing and ahh-ing at the glorious sights the city and environs have to offer. So, ignore the news media...do visit and help the hotel staff earn a living (negative media coverage resulted in mass cancellations, jeopardizing local livelihoods) ...in turn, they will take excellent care of you! Thank you, lovely staff of Ca Gottardi!!

Stylish bar, good music, fabulous Pinot Grigio, distinguished selection of Gin and other drinks!read more