Hotel Buon Pesce

This was a good place to get away from Venice’s crowds and relax between sightseeing. We checked in late and were given rooms at the other end of the hall from the kids, but the very friendly manager soon sorted it out. Nikolai, hope I’ve spelled his name right, was there every day from 2pm serving food and drinks by the pool. He was a lovely guy.

The restaurant food was delicious, and the staff there were incredibly friendly. Venice and Lido are both stunning, but we left with mixed feelings. The hotel looked beautiful in the pictures, with a charming vintage style, and our first room had exactly the look I’d hoped for. But at check-in, bugs were coming from the ceiling and swarming near the bathroom door. I reported it, and someone sprayed the room while we went to dinner and walked around Lido Island. When we returned, there were even more on the ceiling and many in the bed. We didn’t feel comfortable sleeping there. Staff said they’d deal with it in the morning and that bugs were to be expected because the hotel is surrounded by a garden. I grew up in a house with a garden and had never seen bugs in a bed or swarming around a room like that. It was disgusting. At around midnight, the reception shift changed. I explained the problem again, and the next staff member took it seriously, took photos and videos, and found another room for us. We had also taken photos and videos when we first arrived. The new room was bug-free, which I appreciated, but it was plain and simple, without the lovely vintage Venice style of the first room. The first receptionist’s attitude was unacceptable. Maybe the bugs weren’t visible during morning cleaning, but he kept brushing us off and offered no real solution. I’m thankful the second receptionist handled it professionally, though I was disappointed that the replacement room didn’t match the style and atmosphere we had booked.

We had such a good stay that we’ve already booked another visit for later this year. The hotel is beautiful, and the staff are exceptionally friendly and helpful. Nicolo the chef deserves a special mention for cooking us a delicious meal and serving it in the garden on our last day. He also makes THE best Hugo cocktails! Thank you Victoria Palace!

The views from our room toward the Gardens or Venice were unforgettable. The rooms were lovely, with a large bathroom and bidet, and breakfast had a very complete selection. The staff were warm and kind, which deserves a mention. The location is fantastic, on beautiful Lido and about 20 minutes from the center of Venice. I’ll definitely return.