Venice: Pensione Guerrato or LaConde la Corte?

FWIW, It's "Locanda La Corte" aka "Casa La Corte".

Hi Stephen, I do not know about the other hotel, only Pensione Guerrato. On our RS tour, Pensione Guerrato was definitely our favorite hotel! If possible, I recommend the room on the second floor (up the stairs to the left from the main desk). It is a large room with two chandeliers and twin beds. Maybe there is something comparable with a single bed. The hotel is about 800 years old. It may smell a little musty when everything is closed up in the room (don't let that discourage you!) just open the shuttered windows and all will be aired out right away for freshness. The building is is so old and on the water, so that is to be expected. We could hear the bells of the Campanille di Sans Marco. It is quaint and picturesque. The owners, Pietro and Alberto, are wonderful! Ask them for a recommendation for a chicati bar (where they serve many different toppings on French bread with wine). They go there (it's close by on a side street) and it is a locals' hangout. We loved it! The chicati bar is small and has lots of charm. The owners are very friendly. I cannot say enough good things about Pensione Guerrato. If we go back to Venice, that is where we want to stay! Our tour group stayed there for 3 nights, but we arrived early and got to spend 4 nights. We were sad to leave. I just love that place! It is close to the Grand Canal, the Ca D'Or Palace, the fresh fruit and vegetable and seafood markets, and the Rialto bridge, not to mention gelato and exquisite pasty shops. Happy honeymoon and happy travels! Ruth

I agree with Ruth about Pensione Guerrato. I have not stayed in the other place you mentioned. My husband and I were at Pensione Guerrato on our anniversary 2 years ago. We had a corner room overlooking the market and we could even see the Grand Canal between the buildings.

What I remember most about Pensione Guerrato is my long trek with luggage up 5 flights of stairs. I had been forewarned there was no elevator. When we finally arrived all sweaty at the top on that hot humid day in Venice I discovered that even though our room had AC the front desk clerk kept the remote controls with them. So BACK down I went to reception to get them and BACK up again to the room. Don't you think it would have been common sense just to hand these over at checkin??? We met 3 or 4 different front desk workers and all were friendly except 1 who was watching a soccer match on the tv and was hateful hateful hateful to customers...my wife being one of them. We were standing in the lobby/checkin area talking and hateful guy with the tv actually turned around and shushed us. What an A**HOLE. Free wifi was only in the lobby (with no air conditioning). Pensione Guerrato is an OK place and definitely a good price, but just be prepared and know that you get what you pay for.

Its not often I disagree with Tim but today is one of those. We stayed in Pensione Guerrato this April and now of all the places we have stayed over the years in Venice (there have been a few) it is our absolute favourite. We were in two different rooms on the second floor (European counting) and loved them both. We had no problems at all with WiFi. In fact I managed to drop my netbook on the hard floor in the bathroom as I was watching a clip while washing my teeth (it survived - I'm writing this on it). (Yes, I know - one thing at a time - but it is a good example that we had a good wifi signal even in the bathroom) Great people, including the two ladies serving at breakfast, all 3 people who worked on the desk during our week there, and I learned so much talking to Pietro and Alberto (including a hideaway gelateria to try (and we enjoyed) in Cannaregio. Great price, lovely place, lovely location. That's where we will return on our next trip to our favourite city of Venezia. Interestingly, several years ago, we eliminated Pensione Guerrato from consideration when we read what the RS guide said about the stairs. When we went this year it was directly as a result of a suggestion here on this very Helpline (thanks again). We forgot that it was a suggested property in the Blue and Yellow books. We found no problem with the stairs. Granted we were second floor not fifth. We used to always stay in Dorsoduro, wanting to be in a quiet area. Now we have been near the Rialto markets we will return there. We loved it. It is SO convenient. The brekkie, while not the Ritz, was more than enough - filling and tasty, and plenty enough complete. Did I say we loved the place? I haven't ever heard of the other place.

I don't doubt that Tim had a bad experience that day at Pensione Guerrato (despite the "free wife" in the lobby). :-) I suppose it goes to show how seriously Italians take their soccer. I have to say that we've stayed at PG twice and we absolutely loved it. I highly recommend them to everyone, with the only caveat being that some of the rooms look out over a popular evening hang out spot and that if you open your windows it can be loud. That said, the windows are soundproofed so you're fine if they're closed. And I don't remember the activities going to late into the night. Here's one of the reasons I love that place: One of the owners (Roberto) was so nice on our first visit, that when we asked him if there was a good place where we could grab lunch, he took us with him to his favorite panini bar and then he ordered for us, and ate lunch with us. When we offered to pay for his lunch, he refused and actually paid for ours!

I also love Pensione Guerrato. My daughter and I stayed here in 2010. Our room was at the top of the stairs from reception and was a triple so we had plenty of room. The chandelier was Murano glass, the terrazo floor was lovely and there was a piece of fresco showing on one of the walls. One of the windows opened over the Rialto fruit and veg market with a view of the Grand Canal. I loved lying in bed early in the morning with the window open listening to the vendors prepare for the market. Location is great, staff was friendly. I will definitely return. I have also stayed at Al Ponte Mocenigo. It is a little more expensive and a little further from San Marco, but seemed more romantic, had better breakfasts and fewer stairs. I have not heard of your other suggestion.