San Clemente Palace Venice Hotel

The island grounds are beautifully kept, with sculptures all around, and the location itself is lovely. A shuttle boat runs every 30 minutes into town, which is convenient. We also really enjoyed the food at La specialità. The room was okay, but the bathroom wasn’t great, especially the very small shower. Getting a waiter’s attention took a long time. Breakfast was the low point: it was buffet only, with poor service and food that didn’t look very appealing.

The bar was a letdown if you’re hungry and short on patience. We tried ordering there three times, and even the fastest service took 45 minutes. One order took over an hour, all for a simple club sandwich. I also asked to have fresh milk kept in the minibar during our stay, but it appeared only on the first day and again after I reminded the staff. It was missing on the other days, a small oversight that felt out of place given the hotel’s otherwise high standards. There’s plenty to enjoy here, starting with the huge gardens, which give you a sense of wellbeing that’s hard to find elsewhere in Venice. We cycled around the island, read while watching the sunset, played tennis, and took quiet walks. The rooms were spacious and in perfect condition after the recent refurbishment. The main building feels like a palace, with broad corridors, grand staircases, and Murano chandeliers. Staff were genuinely warm, and breakfast was delicious and plentiful without feeling wasteful. The hotel opened only a few years ago, so some things still seem like they could be refined. But for a mix of luxury, relaxation, Venice, and very high hospitality standards, it’s a great place.

After two days, I can’t call this five-star service. The room still had food from our first evening when we checked out, and there was no water in the shower. They brought a bottle of wine without an opener, and after cleaning, the small towels were missing. The breakfast coffee was probably the worst I’ve had in Italy. The parking service was poor, with no valet parking, and a side mirror got broken. Our emails went unanswered despite several reminders and calls. They also failed to arrange a water taxi for our arrival and again for departure.

Getting to the island takes some planning. From the airport, a taxi costs 190+ Euro and takes about 30 minutes, or you can take the 16 Euro Alilaguna ticket to San Marco, which is an hour-long ride, then catch the next San Clemente shuttle. Either route is a bit of a haul. Once there, the shuttle to and from San Marco runs every 40 minutes, so there are plenty of chances to get into Venice, though an earlier service would help. The island is a pleasant place to get away from the crowds, with room to walk, rest, and relax in the gardens. The church is an interesting piece of history, though I wish it were better preserved. It’s basically a modern-art exhibit now, and some of the art felt a bit sacrilegious given the setting. Staff were thoughtful about making our stay good. The concierge, especially Marco, knew a lot, made helpful recommendations, and assisted whenever they could. Breakfast each day was wonderful. The restaurant was good, though a bit overpriced for the quality of the food.