HOTEL CIPRIANI
The most celebrated hotel in Venice is the Hotel Cipriani. Guests can enjoy the best views of Venice from a magical hideaway: as one travel writer recently wrote: 'The Cipriani is irresistibly there, like Everest.' Of course, this kind of litism and luxury doesn't come cheap and, as they say, if you need to be looking at the bill you shouldn't be staying there. It's not just expensive, it's exorbitant, but if you have got the money and enjoy rubbing shoulders with the world's ιlite, this is the place to stay in Venice.
In Venice yet not in Venice because the hotel was built on its own island, Giudecca, you can see the Campanile of San Giorgio Maggiore, the rooftops of Dorsoduro and the Zattere, the floating pink square of the Doge's Palace, and the domes of the Basilica of St Mark's from the hotel.
Dining outside on the terrace among fragrant flowers and looking out over this view is one of the most truly romantic experiences imaginable. Now an Orient-Express hotel the Cipriani really does incorporate the very best in luxurious accommodation, attentive service and fine cuisine, in an all-pervading atmosphere of tranquillity and seclusion.
Completed in 1958 by restaurateur extraordinaire, Guiseppe Cipriani, the hotel is set around its own formal gardens and Olympic-sized swimming pool. Each room is different and elegant in its simplicity: the rooms to the south look onto the lagoon; to the east and north, the San Giorgio Maggiore Church.
It is partly the fabulous pool which accounts for the cost of staying at the Cipriani as it's the only hotel in Venice to have a swimming pool (and is for residents only), so insist on at least having a poolside room if you're going to splurge out all that money - and get it in writing so that they can't shove you in a back room at the last minute when some celebrity turns up.
Alternatively, you can stay in the Palazzo Vendramin, adjacent to and part of the Cipriani. Regulars in Venice argue it has better views and more elegant accommodation than the main body of the Cipriani, although it is even more expensive. Linked to the Hotel Cipriani by an ancient courtyard and flowered loggia, only part of this 15th century Palazzo is open to guests. Seven de luxe apartments with full butler service and easy access to all the adjacent hotel's facilities make the Palazzo one of the city's most exclusive destinations. Both hotels are incredibly expensive, but you are paying for the very best and the most prestigious Venice has to offer.
Contact (tel 041-520 7744, fax 041-520 7745), Giudecca, 10, 30133 Venice, Italy
Closed November to March
Reservations Orient-Express Hotels, or The Leading Hotels of the World toll free reservations numbers worldwide (see p12)
Getting there The hotel's private launch crosses the lagoon from Piazza San Marco in just four minutes; 30 minutes from Marco Polo Airport, 15 minutes from the station
Accommodation 66 rooms and 28 suites
Amenities 24-hour room service, hairdresser, boutique, swimming pool, sauna, massage, hydro-system, tennis court, private yachting marina, 24-hour motorboat service to St Mark's Square, de luxe motorboat available for outings in the lagoon; golf can be arranged at the Lido, 40 minutes away by boat
Dress code Elegant casual
Weddings Weddings and receptions can be arranged, prices on request
Minimum stay None
Rates Doubles from US$428/L654,000; suites from US$610/L932,000; ask about honeymoon, spring and autumn packages which give a much better deal
Credit cards Most major
Taxes and service charge Included
HOTEL DANIELI
Hotel Danieli is a great alternative to the Cipriani if you haven't got a small fortune to fritter away and don't want to sacrifice the sense of history. Besides, the only real difference between the Danieli and the Cipriani is the latter's swimming pool: so if you can suffer without a pool for a few days and if you book through one of the UK tour operators shown below you can stay for half the price in equally elegant surroundings - in fact some would argue that the Danieli has a greater feeling of history than its rival.
Set in a 15th century Doge's palace, the Danieli was first converted into a hotel in the early part of the 19th century and, although the atmosphere is still very much part of a bygone era, it has all the modern amenities that you'd expect from a hotel that is one of ITT Sheraton's chain of luxury hotels.
Inside there are many grand and elegant rooms including the most impressive galleried entrance hall with its glass chandelier and marble arches. All the guest rooms have been recently refurbished and although they vary a great deal in style and character they are all very luxurious featuring air-conditioning, hair-dryers, bathrobes, toiletries, slippers, minibar, TV and phone.
The Danieli enjoys one of the most superb positions in Venice, situated on the edge of the lagoon only a few steps away from St Mark's and the entrance to the Grand Canal. The views from the rooftop restaurant are quite magical, especially in the early morning light.
Contact (tel 041-522 6480, fax 041-520 0208), Riva degli Schiavoni, 4196 - 30122 Venice, Italy
Reservations Either direct or through UK tour operators Italian Escapades, Abercrombie & Kent and Elegant Resorts (see p11)
Getting there Transfers from the airport vary from L80,000 to L130,000, depending on the number of pieces of luggage
Accommodation 231 rooms, 178 are doubles, 44 single, three junior suites, and six suites
Amenities Piano bar and in the summer a terrace bar
Dress code Generally casual, but the hotel does prefer jackets for dinner
Weddings Are available and costs vary depending on what is requested
Minimum stay None
Rates Double room with lagoon view US$454/L690,000, junior suite US$691 L1,050,000 and suites US$1381 L2,100,000
Credit cards Most major
Taxes and service charge 10% tax added to all above rates
OTHER RECOMMENDED HOTELS
At around half the price of the Cipriani, the Hotel Flora (tel 041-520 5844, fax 041-522 8217), Calle larga 22 Marzo, 2283/a, 30124, Venice, is a charming small hotel situated down a little alley-way, just off St Mark's Square. There are no canal views, but three sides of the hotel frame a pretty walled garden with wrought-iron furniture, rampant greenery and the soothing sound of a fountain, making it the ideal place to escape the city heat. The 44 rooms vary considerably but all have traditional antique furnishings: it's very popular so book early. Doubles from US$184/L280,000.
Pensione Accademia Hotel (tel 041-521 0188), Dorsoduro 1058, 3123 Venice, is just off the Canal. This wonderul rambling 17th century villa also has the advantage of being in one of the prettiest and least touristy parts of Venice, on a small piece of land almost completely surrounded by canals. Unusually for Venice it has two gardens, one of which overlooks the San Trovaso canal: some of the rooms have views over the garden and canal. There are all sorts of styles and sizes of rooms: some are in the wisteria-covered palazzo and others in a neighbouring building; some are in a better state of repair than others as the owners are gradually restoring the hotel. With doubles at around a very reasonable US$75/L114,500 you need to book as early as possible.
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