My wife and I are looking at staying at the Ca D'oro hotel in Venice in August which says it is in the old town center of Venice. Has anyone stayed here or at least in this old town center area and if so, any thoughts on how well you liked staying around there?
Thanks for any help!
The only important thing about the location of a hotel in Venice is whether it is actually on one of the Venice islands (good), or on the mainland (Mestre, bad).
Official hotel website here: http://www.venicehotelcadoro.com/
The website doesn’t give a map (what sort of stupid hotel website doesn't give a map?) and "old town center" is a meaningless phrase, but it does give an address (Corte Barbaro, Canareggio 4604, Venezia), which IS on the islands, half way between the station and St Mark's square.
So yes, it is in a good location.
Maybe this site can help: http://europeforvisitors.com/venice/directions/ca-d-oro.htm
Not to worry -- the hotel is in a very good central location. Their web site has detailed instructions about how to get there -- you just have to find it on the site. Personally we always opt for taking the bus to P. Roma and then the vap. to the stop nearest the hotel. Very easy to do. Let us know if you need further specific info. about getting to the hotel.
There is a map for the hotel on its Location page
http://www.venicehotelcadoro.com/location/
it is just that it doesn't provide step by step and turn by turn directions.
Based on my knowledge of the city and with help from the map they provide I would do the following.
Either:
From Ferrovia (the train station) either walk or take a quite short vaporetto ride.
If walking, follow the herd towards Rialto on the Strada Nova, a quite wide through route with few bridges. Following the crowd, after the fifth bridge you will see little yellow signs for the Ca D'Oro vaporetto stop on the right side (just past the McDonalds and Grom Gelato if my memory serves) start to watch carefully after the little calle that the vaporetto stop because you are nearing your destination. You will pass the Church of Santa Sophia on the left and then enter Campo S S Apostoli. At the entrance to the Campo the Strada Nova bears gently left (it has been going straight) and just as it turns you want a perpendicular left into Salizada del Pistor. If you go down there you basically run into your hotel, at the second left turning possibility, Rio Terà dei Franceschi.
If taking the vaporetto (from Piazzale Rome or the Station (Ferrovia) take a number 1 vaporetto in the direction of Rialto or S Marco and get off at about the 4th stop, Ca D'oro, walk up the alley to the main Strada Nova turn right and follow my directions above. By vaporetto you will have no bridges.
Staying in Mestre is false economy. It is nothing at like staying on the islands on Venice---there is no charm or ambiance. You have to go back and forth across the long causeway---several times a day if you want to return to your hotel for something. That costs money and wastes precious time.
Also,the locals on the Venice Tripadvisor forum say Mestre is not safe like Venice is.
I have stayed several nights in Venice and thoroughly enjoyed every minute. The atmosphere totally changes as nightfall arrives and all the day-trippers (those staying on the mainland, cruise ship passengers and coach tour visitors) all depart. Wonderful.
August wouldn't be my first choice for visiting Venice but I understand if there are time constraints. Just make sure the hotel you choose has A/C. Although, it will probably be configured to automatically turn off when you are not in the room...
If you are planning several nights in Venice, you might consider an apartment over a hotel room. Many times, the price is comparable yet an apartment can be much more comfortable and convenient. I think Venice is delightful for a week or more as once settled in, it can be fairly economical and there are so many sights to see in a short commuting distance when you feel the need to escape the crowds in the lagoon. Vicenza, Padua and Verona are all a short train ride away and there are plenty of escorted day trips into the countryside and mountains to choose from.
The key to Venice is to sleep and eat as far away from the tourist centers as possible. The further away from Piazza San Marco, Rio Terà Lista di Spagna, the Grand Canal, etc. you get, the higher the quality and the better the price. The rule of thumb, if you see throngs of tourists streaming past, it's probably a tourist trap.
I looked at the Ca' d'Oro hotel website and was quite impressed---it looks very nice, especially the rooftop terrace which we always enjoy. It is a great location---not on the Grand Canal but on a small side canal, which is much quieter. Website says it is a 3- minute walk from the Ca' d'Oro vaporetto stop, and 5 minutes from the Fondamente Nuova stop, so you have good options there. And I believe there is still a traghetto operating to cross the Grand Canal by the Ca' d'Oro vaporetto dock, to take you across to the Rialto Market--much shorter and less crowded than walking around to the Rialto Bridge.
I agree with other posters here. Mainland is awful, stay on the island(s) proper. This location looks great! Enjoy, everything is walkable. Have fun getting lost, it's one of the best parts of this place!
We will be in Venice for two nights. October 12 and 13th. Ca D' Oro looks lovely but pricey. Does Rick have any suggestions for a more moderately priced hotel in a similar location?
I don't have specific experience with that particular hotel but I 110% agree with everyone who says, stay on the island and not on the mainline. Having Venice to yourself in the evening after all the day-trippers leave is amazing. That is by far the most amazing time of day there. Enjoy!
