Hotel Caprera

Inside, the hotel felt charming and well cared for, even though the little lane off the busy shopping street looked worn when we first arrived. It’s close to the railway station and the Grand Canal. Check-in was simple, and the polite front desk person spoke very good English and pointed out routes and nearby sights. There’s no lift. The rooms are compact but comfortable, with air conditioning, heating, and a bathtub. Everything was clean, the old building has updated interiors, and the restaurant serves breakfast.

We booked at the last minute after our original hotel was overbooked and the holiday company’s alternative didn’t suit us. This place was a great choice. Romando, Alberto, and their family dog Matis made us feel welcome. Matis is a quiet little sweetheart who loves belly rubs. Our room was comfortable and quiet, with lots of charging points. The shower was amazing, the towels smelled clean, and the spare pillows were very comfy. We skipped breakfast, though the fresh bread and toast smell in the morning was lovely. We could leave our bags after checkout and felt safe doing so. The location worked perfectly for our three days in Venice. The train station and bus, boat, and taxi options are just over a five-minute walk away. Turn left outside and it’s about a 30-minute walk to San Marco, with Rialto bridge, gondolas, shops, and other sights along the way. We’d recommend the hotel and found it very good value. Thank you so much to your family.

A few things affected my sleep. One night, a child was screaming well past midnight, and the hard surfaces in the lobby, stairwell, and corridors carried the sound around the hotel. The room was otherwise relatively quiet, set back from the main street. Housekeeping left the window open after cleaning to air it out, which is nice, but I forgot to close it before going out and had mosquitoes buzzing around all night. Earplugs might help if other guests are noisy. The location is great, the price was good, the room was clean, and the walk to the train station is very short. The furniture is basic. I also got a suspicious WhatsApp message the day before my stay, from someone appearing to be a hotel manager or booking agent. It had my name and stay dates, and claimed they couldn’t verify my card and needed me to enter the details again to keep the reservation. I contacted the hotel directly, and as I suspected, it wasn’t from them. Don’t reply unless you started the conversation using the number on the hotel website. They use WhatsApp, presumably because it translates messages easily. The targeted message makes me wonder if there’s an IT security issue in their system or if someone working there is involved in the scam.

The host gave us maps and helpful restaurant and sightseeing suggestions, and we had a wonderful time. The location was easy to find and central for the train station, water taxis, and other transport, with good restaurants and shops nearby. Breakfast on site was great for just 10 euros.