Venice - B&B or Hotel

You are not being a silly tourist. Of course you have been planning and anticipating this trip and hope the experience will measure up to your dreams! If your budget can manage it, Locanda Orseolo is a lovely, romantic, very Venetian inn that serves a wonderful, cooked to order breakfast (included). Family owned and operated, it overlooks a canal with gondolas and singing gondoliers. The rooms are spacious with large, modern bathrooms and it is close to St. Marks without being overrun with tourists. We have stayed 2 different times. They often offer "stay 3 nights,4th night free". locandaorseolo.com if the internet booking shows they are full for your dates, try an email.

You check out this apartment. Read the reviews. You will see the goldola glide by.

Faye, When you say "view of the canal" do you mean the Grand Canal? Venice is a city of dozens of islands all surrounded by canals of various sizes. Most places in Venice will be near or have a view of "a" canal, but only the most expensive ones will be on the Grand Canal and of their rooms the ones which front onto the Grand Canal will be the most expensive. I can suggest several places, including one of my favourites, which would have a partial view of the Grand Canal or a side canal. What is your budget? What amenity level do you like to travel at?

This May, we'll be staying in Casa Rezzonico, in a room with a view of one of the smaller canals, the same canal that Katherine Hepburn falls into in "Summertime." :-)

Well then I am being a silly tourist too because I really want to look out my window and see a canal of some sort! :) I am thinking we are going to rent an apartment... I think we will need the space to spread out after the long flight from the West coast. I am debating between trying to find an apartment that is somehow connected to a B&B (saw a few in Rick's books). Or just getting one off vrbo. Someone on another thread recommended this place I think... they are all running together now! http://www.palazzettodaschio.it/ I can't seem to figure out if all rooms have air conditioning... Kim

if the canal suite is available this is a nice one. http://www.giogiovenice.com/

Thanks so much for all your input. I will check them all out. My daughter and I took an Italy tour a few years ago and I just remember Venice seeming very confusing. I'm sure it's all the bridges. This time it's my sister, niece, cousin and I and I'm planning the trip. I wanted to be close to sites but also have that view for all of us to remember. I don't want to disappoint them. Has anyone done the mask making in Venice? I thought it seemed different and fun.

I haven't seen your price point. When my wife and I celebrated a special anniversary we stayed at Ca'Angeli which has a suite looking out at the Grand Canal and so does the breakfast room, and the side rooms are above a side canal.

Locanda D'Orseolo. Sits at the junction of two small canals. (Not sure what you mean by "the" canal.) At Locanda, you sit in the breakfast area and watch the gondolas drift by, along with all sorts of watercraft. They are close enough to touch and it was fascinating. You can arrive by water taxi and hop from the canal right into the reception area. Wonderful breakfast. Sublime! It's number one on TripAdvisor: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g187870-d256241-Reviews-Locanda_Orseolo-Venice_Veneto.html

Thanks for all the suggestions. Since there are four of us, we are sharing the cost and I think paying more in Venice for the experience is worth it. I will check out all the suggestions.