I am finally getting around to writing a trip report on our recent visit to Venice, and when I started to provide a link to my review of the hotel we had stayed in 2 years ago, I was stunned to discover I hadn’t posted one! I had, however, included information about the hotel in my trip report from that year, and that was what I was remembering.
Well, the problem with that is, the hotel in question wouldn’t have turned up in the search bar, so I figured it was time this great hostelry deserved its own review. If you’ve read my previous trip report, from 2022, some of this (well, most of it) will sound familiar. For good reason!
On our recent visit to Venice, we opted to stay in the hotel we had used a couple of years ago, Al Ponte Mocenigo, Santa Croce 1985. This hotel had been recommended to us on this Forum, and we enjoyed it so much there was no question of staying anywhere else.
This location is great: it’s in the Santa Croce sestiere, well away from the hubbub of Rialto and St Mark’s Square, but conveniently located very close to a vaporetto stop. Should you be arriving at the train station, three stops on the #1 vaporetto takes you to San Stae. From there, it’s a short walk, maybe half a block or less, to the hotel. Should you prefer to take a water taxi from the airport, the hotel has its own water door; your taxi can take you straight to the door of the hotel. The hotel will give you detailed instructions before you arrive.
We had asked for a double superior room; in fact, we asked if we could have the same room we had enjoyed in 2022, with its own balcony overlooking an enclosed garden. Hosts Walter and Sandro weren’t sure that room would be available for our dates, but promised a room with either a balcony or a canal view. The rate for superior doubles was higher than it had been 2 years ago, but we expected that. The rate we were quoted was €230 per night, with breakfast included, up from €185 in 2022. There are less expensive rooms available, on the ground floor, closer to the reception desk and breakfast room. They are somewhat smaller, and less ornate, but still with an en suite bath and all the facilities the superior rooms have: “Every room is no smoking and has private bathroom, air conditioning and heating, safe box, sat Tv, hairdryer, minibar, Free WI-FI, kettle.”
We had been told our preferred room, # 56, would not be available for our first night, but to our delight, it was. The room was on the first floor up, and there is no elevator. The room was big, nicely furnished, with a mini-fridge and a special air purifier “capable of eliminating 99.9% of viruses and bacteria from the air and surfaces…” Furnishings included a desk with chair, a small bench, 2 night tables, a mini fridge, and a very comfy bed. There was also a wardrobe, with no shelves but 2 drawers and plenty of hangers. The bathroom was big, with a shower, and plenty of towels and packets of toiletry products.
Our favorite thing, other than the comfy bed, was our private balcony – more like a small terrace, overlooking a small garden. There was a table with an umbrella, and 2 metals chairs. We were there for seven nights, and only once did I see anyone in the garden, a woman watering the plants.
The included breakfast buffet – an improvement over 2022 when they were still on Covid protocol - was served in a small courtyard as well as in an interior breakfast room. The offerings were typical: yogurt, cheese, salami, fruit, rolls or bread, cereals, and juice. Hot foods included sausages, eggs, and bacon, and other items that varied day to day. Coffee drinks, tea, and water were also available, served by the charming, friendly, and definitely hard-working staff. Much to our surprise, and our delight, one of the servers remembered us from 2 years ago, greeting us with a cheery “Welcome back!”