JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa

Would you spend extra for this? After 35 countries, more than 200 restaurants reviewed, and 250k friends following along, we’re Vibrant Wanderers, and glad you’re here. Dinner at the JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa on its private island felt like Venice at its best. With ingredients grown right there on the island, the food was fresh and thoughtfully prepared, a real farm-to-table experience. This is fine dining that turns a meal into art, with flavors that were impeccable and an almost surreal atmosphere. It felt like a moment I’ll remember long after leaving Venice. Expect to pay around €180-€250 per person. I think it’s worth it if you’re coming all the way to Venice and want to make the trip memorable. #venicemustdo #VeniceFoodie #FineDiningLovers #Farmtotabledining #Veniceitaly Find hidden gems and places off the beaten path on Instagram: @Vibrant_wanderers

The only real bright spot was the Junior Suite upgrade. It was spacious and comfortable, but couldn’t make up for the bad coordination and frustrating logistics. We arrived around 3 PM, within normal check-in hours, but the hotel shuttle only came once an hour. The pickup point in Venice had no clear signs or staff, and finding it was stressful. After waiting, taking the shuttle, and checking in, it took nearly three hours to reach the hotel. A private water taxi was the only other option if we missed the shuttle, at about €100 one way. Staying on a separate island sounds exclusive, but it made getting to and from the main city difficult, especially in the evening, and left us feeling isolated. We lost a big part of our short two-day visit and couldn’t enjoy Venice properly. The breakfast was very basic with limited choices, below what I’d expect from JW Marriott. The pool wasn’t heated, and the jacuzzi was cold, so relaxing there wasn’t possible even though the setting was nice. The hotel looks beautiful in photos, but the arrival and overall experience were a major letdown, especially for a JW Marriott. Even if I were offered a free stay, I wouldn’t come back. Venice has plenty of beautiful, more convenient hotels, and this one wasn’t worth the hassle.

Dear Marriott Management, I’m writing about my conversation tonight with Walter, a member of your team. It upset us so much that my wife ended up in tears, and it seriously affected our stay. My wife and I are staying in the Rose Villa with our two babies and our nanny. We were in town earlier this evening and couldn’t find transportation back, so we contacted the property for help. We weren’t asking for special treatment or making an unreasonable demand. We just wanted to get back to our babies. The problem wasn’t that a taxi couldn’t be arranged. It was the way Walter handled the conversation. Instead of help, empathy, or professional communication, the exchange became upsetting and unnecessarily confrontational. My wife was already worried about the babies, and what Walter said made her more stressed until she started crying and couldn’t continue. I had to take the phone from her. Watching that happen over what should have been a simple request for help was unacceptable. When I told Walter I was frustrated with how we were being spoken to, he ended the call. We chose Marriott expecting hospitality at the highest level, but this conversation became the defining memory of our evening. I want management to understand that the complaint is about Walter's treatment of us and the emotional effect on my wife and our trip, not about transportation. There was also a separate privacy concern at the villa, with people using our private outdoor area without authorization. The main reason I’m writing, though, is Walter’s conduct. Please review the call recordings and formally investigate how this was handled. I can share pictures of multiple people on my property at different times if needed. No guest, especially a family with young children staying in one of your highest-category accommodations at 7.000 + euro nightly, should end an interaction with staff in tears. If this isn’t taken seriously, I reserve the right to escalate it further with my legal team. Onur Kumova

The surprise charge at checkout put a real strain on what had been a lovely honeymoon stay. We hadn't been told about it clearly beforehand, and finding out at the end was upsetting given how special the trip was meant to be. The room itself was comfortable and well kept, and the staff were attentive and friendly. We also enjoyed the thoughtful touches and the atmosphere. I hope the hotel makes extra costs clearer so future guests can enjoy their stay without this kind of disappointment.