Sonder Salute Palace

The location is fantastic. You’re away from the tourist crowds of San Marco, but still close to everything. On the day we left, there was a general strike and we couldn’t easily get off the island. The lovely staff managed to arrange a water taxi for us, which was no mean feat since everyone wanted one. They also gave me a heater when my room was cold and damp. We had booked two rooms. The one on the second floor was lovely, with good light and a nice view. The ground-floor room was dark, cold, damp, and had a brick flood wall blocking half the window. It felt like a dungeon. I can’t tell in advance whether a room will be pleasant or one of the poor ground-floor rooms. If I’d had the first room, I’d have given the hotel glowing reviews, but mine wasn’t great. The photo is of the room’s thermostat.

The staff were warm and helpful, and my room was refreshed and cleaned every day. It was spacious, bright, and modern, with a balcony. Everything was neat and tidy, and I had a really pleasant stay.

The location was great, and the rest of the hotel and our alternative room were really nice. But the Standard Double we booked looked nothing like its photos or description. It was small and dark, right beside reception, with bars on the windows and a view straight onto a brick wall. The front desk staff kept saying the hotel was full and didn’t seem interested in helping, even though alternative rooms were listed on the hotel’s website. They eventually showed us another room, despite saying they were fully booked, but we had to pay to upgrade. At that point, it felt like our only way out of the room we’d been given. Based on our experience and similar reviews, it seemed visitors might be put in these rooms in the hope they’ll pay to move to a more expensive one onsite. The hotel and third-party booking sites should review how they describe this room type.

The room was small, but that’s what I expected for the price. The cleaners kept it spotless, and the reception staff were welcoming and helpful. The corridor decor was superb, too. It had everything we could’ve wanted, and we’d definitely return.