Hotel Serenissima

For a solo traveler, this was well worth the price and felt much more personal and friendly than a chain hotel. I stayed three nights in March and had a great experience. The room was small but beautifully decorated, with a single bed, small desk and TV, clothes rack, and bench for a suitcase. I was on the first floor and had a private en suite. The bathroom seemed very new, with a rain style shower, bidet, soap, and 2 in 1 shower gel and shampoo. The bed was very comfortable with two large, firm pillows. Wi Fi worked reliably. There was just one free outlet in the room, so bring a power strip if you have several devices, or use the bathroom outlet. The sockets look a little different, with three holes, but standard EU/Schuko plugs fit. The street was quiet and sat between the Rialto Bridge and Piazza San Marco, each about a five minute walk away. I felt safe, with shops and restaurants nearby. From the airport I took the Alilaguna ferry and walked from Fondamente Nove, about 20 minutes. Walking from the Rialto Bridge is shorter, but the boat takes significantly longer because it goes around the city first. Reception is open 24/7, which helped when I arrived late at night. The staff were very friendly and helpful, and recommended a nearby restaurant when I felt overwhelmed by the choices. It's an older hotel with physical keys rather than key cards, so you leave your key when you go out and they remember you when you come back. A nice personal touch. I arrived late and left early, so I didn't need to store my luggage. Breakfast was included and served buffet style in two first floor dining rooms, each with about five tables. You might wait a few minutes for a table at busy times. There was bread, including gluten free, small sandwiches, pastries, cheese, cold cuts, and jam. You order coffee from the staff, and lactose free milk is available. A few things to know: the walls seemed thin, and I heard loud snoring from the next room all night. There's no air conditioning, so if you get too warm you'll need to open the window and watch for mosquitoes, though it wasn't an issue in March. There is no elevator, which may be difficult with heavy bags or mobility issues.

I booked through a reputable site and provided all the requested information, including my card details. Soon afterward, the hotel emailed me asking for my card information again, this time directly to them. That immediately seemed suspicious. They insisted I send the details again or they would cancel the reservation. In the end, they canceled it anyway without giving a clear or valid reason. The whole thing felt like a complete scam, and I urge anyone considering a booking to be careful. Why ask for card details again after they've already been supplied securely through the booking site? It felt unprofessional and potentially unsafe. You could lose your reservation or even your money, so I'd strongly advise staying away.

Lovely place, with a perfect location and very friendly staff. The room was clean, quiet, and small and basic, and the price was decent. Amazing breakfast buffet. One thing to know, I had to hand in the room key every time I came and went. Highly recommend.

It has a charming, very Venetian feel, but the rooms are small and pricey. There was no air, and with all the mosquitoes we had to keep the windows open. That brought in bugs and courtyard noise that continued well past midnight. At breakfast, you have to order coffee, and mine often didn't arrive until I had finished eating. They left one very tiny shampoo bottle for a four day stay. When I called for more, the girl said she was too busy, so I had to go get it myself. Then she told me to wait, and a man came down the stairs from the area I'd just been in to bring it. Very strange. It was okay overall.