Hotel Falier

The room was just what we needed for a weekend away, and both check-in and getting into the hotel outside normal hours were easy. Every part of the stay was great. I'd definitely recommend it.

This renovated hotel has air conditioning, and the room was cleaned every day. The bathroom was a bit small, especially the shower cabin, and ventilation wasn't strong enough to dry the towels or even clear the air. It's close to the bus terminal and train station, with several boat piers nearby. Breakfast is available for 12 euro per person, if you'd like it. There's also a nice bar nearby.

The rooftop dining area was my favorite part of Hotel Falier. It had panoramic views over Venice, and we spent a lot of our time there, eating meals we'd brought back from the city. The hotel allowed guests to bring in food and drink. Breakfast was included in the room price, always very good, and there was often enough left for a snack later or part of lunch. I'd love to return and highly recommend it, as long as you know you'll have to climb stairs. My then-boyfriend, now-husband and I stayed for just under a week in July 2006, before taking the long but stunning train journey across the Italian border and into Slovenia. The hotel's decor was already a little dated then, but I thought that was part of its charm. Everything was clean and tidy, so the older decor didn't bother me. My husband's uncle recommended Hotel Falier. He was working as an international tour guide at the time and had stayed there many times. He also advised us which room to book, which proved really useful during the unusually high July temperatures in Venice, over 40°C. Our room was at the very top, up several flights of stairs. The last flight was narrow and always hot and muggy, so the climb was a struggle in the heat. But the room had air conditioning, a small bathroom with a wet-room-style shower area, and that lovely rooftop space.

The staff were mostly very good, and breakfast was simple but enough to get the day started. We chose this place because it cost less than many other hotels for our first visit to Venice. The rooms felt dated, though the basics were what you'd expect from a 2-star hotel. Now that we know the area, we'd probably pay a bit more next time to stay closer to the action, since this one is a little farther out.