Contributor/ Andrea Magrath
Best Known For
Hotel décor in Venice errs towards overly ostentatious with gilded gold and frills on every available surface. Not so at the understated Splendid Hotel Venice, which bills itself at the only contemporary hotel in the floating city. My main requirements for a long weekend’s accommodation in Venice were affordable luxury and an unbeatable location. The Splendid, a Preferred Hotel, has both in spades.
The Good Stuff
Located exactly halfway between Piazza San Marco and Rialto Bridge on a lovely little canal, the hotel feels quiet and neighborhood-y despite being in the thick of the tourist path, and just couldn’t be more convenient. My Deluxe room was spacious, airy and modern, with enough walk-in closet space to please this relentless over-packer. Early spring weather allowed me to sleep with the windows thrown open, and fall asleep to the sounds of the piano from the restaurant La Maschere floating upwards from the ground floor courtyard. I’d wake to a room bathed in golden light reflected from the building’s terracotta walls.
The Vibe
A generous treat from the concierge was a complimentary trip by private water taxi out to Murano when we enquired about travel to the nearby island. The included (and compulsory) glass-blowing factory tour is a quick and painless 15 minutes, and actually incredibly fascinating. We were going there anyway, so considering water taxis cost a staggering 120 euro per trip, this is a welcome bonus. The rooftop terrace overlooking a sea of chimneys and steeples is the perfect spot for a sundowner if you simply can’t bear the throngs of tourists any longer.
Inside the hotel – 7/10
Just enough luxe touches without breaking the bank. La Maschere restaurant is one of the better hotel restaurants, and the rooftop terrace is the perfect summer hideaway.
Outside the hotel – 8/10
Perfectly placed for wandering, stepping out the front door will find you in the heart of San Marco with all the main sites around you. Despite this, the small canal-side location keeps the hotel feeling homely and quiet.
Image courtesy of Splendid Hotel
