Hotel Indigo Venice - Sant'Elena by IHG

The staff were friendly, and we liked the lobby and restaurant-bar decor. There’s complimentary water by the bar. We tried dinner on our first night: tasty, though nothing special. We didn’t have breakfast. Our King suite was well equipped, with robes, slippers, a hair dryer, shampoo and conditioner, a mini fridge, coffee maker, kettle, and two TVs, one in each room. The bathroom had a bidet as usual in Italy, but felt cramped and didn’t have enough towel hooks. The mattress was unfortunately too firm. We didn’t unfold the sofa bed to check it. The overall stay was nice. If you don’t know Venice, keep in mind that the main attractions are a bit far. You can take public water transport or walk 15 minutes or more to the popular places. A multi-day transit pass may be useful if you plan to use the boats.

When we returned and contacted IHG, it took several requests before someone in management got involved. They eventually offered IHG points, but that didn’t come close to covering what we went through or what we lost. The hotel itself offered no help while we were still there. We tried to make the best of the rest of our Italy trip, but this was an awful, unsettling experience. I would not trust this place. My husband and I stayed in September 2024 in the top-floor suite, which had two levels and a private patio. We usually kept the “do not disturb” sign up because there wasn’t much to clean. On the one day we took it down, his iPad was stolen from the room. He needed it for work. The events that day felt shady. There were no security cameras in that secluded part of the hotel, and staff had often asked when and where we’d be going. At the time, we thought those were ordinary questions. Looking back, we felt the people we spoke with were questionable and seemed close to one another. On the day of the theft, as we headed out, we noticed an Italian man following behind us. We suspected someone at the hotel might have watched our movements and alerted thieves, but we can’t prove that. The hotel’s out-of-the-way location means you may be away from your room for much of the day, after walking through a secluded park and on into Venice. When we reported the theft, staff responded with contempt and made it sound as if we were at fault. They asked whether we’d used the safe, even though the iPad wouldn’t fit in the tiny one, and whether we’d left the “do not disturb” sign up, which we didn’t see as relevant. We asked to know who had cleaned the room, but were told that discussing the cleaners’ work was against policy and not their responsibility. They told us to report it to the police and be more careful with our things. At that moment we saw a cleaner listening to the conversation and then acting as if they hadn’t when we looked over. It left us feeling creeped out, degraded, and shocked at a place we’d assumed was posh. I’d written a review around September 2024 but couldn’t find it later, so I’m posting again to warn others.

The quieter setting turned out to be a real plus after busy days seeing the sights. It’s a little away from the main attractions, but there’s a lovely walk into town, or the water bus is about two minutes away. We also arranged a private water taxi from the hotel, which picked us up on a side canal just a few steps from the lobby. I’d recommend it, especially for trips to or from the airport. I’ve stayed at many IHG properties as a platinum member, and this has become one of my favorites. The rooms and bar-restaurant have a lovely modern design, with a beautiful courtyard too. Everyone was welcoming at check-in, and the bar and restaurant staff were incredibly friendly.

We spent four nights here and loved this beautiful boutique hotel. The rooms were nicely decorated, and the bar and restaurant looked beautiful too. The cocktail bar made great drinks. The neighborhood is peaceful, quiet, and full of actual Venetians, far enough from the tourist crowds to feel calm.