Hotels in Venice and bars in Covent Garden

We stayed at the best western in Venice- a stones throw from st marks. I find them to be the strangest chain- some of the hotels are really shabby some are wonderful. You'll be pleased to know the venice one was wonderful (5* if I recall correctly) has a lovely terrace for dinner, nice bar and courtyard, great restaurant and lots of original venitian character. lovely building.

I avoid CG were possible, but I quite like the punch and Judy if its quiet. MrH goes to a wine cellar there he loves, I can't recall the name but someone else might.

When are you goign to Venice, lucky?

San Clemente is 5 star and fabulous BUT it is on an island and you have to take a water taxi which docks at St Marks Square - takes about 10-15mins. They run every half hour there and back and are free. Totally fabulous hotel, LOADS of character and superb grounds. Stayed there last May and cant rate it highly enough. However, incredibly expensive (work paid for me).

Cant help with CG though.

Hotel Danieli is just astoundingly beautiful, but is incredibly expensive. It is in a fantastic location right on the Grand Canal and is not too far from St Mark's Square.

Obviously I don't know your budget, but something that may be a little cheaper (although not a lot!) is the Luna Baglioni, which is slightly more centrally located.

To be honest when I go to Venice I tend to stay in cheaper hotels as I only use them for sleeping. The Best Western Albergo San Marco is pretty basic but is cheap and is steps away from St Mark's. I stayed there in February and it was great.

It's called the Crusting Pipe, and is indeed a lovely place for a drink. It's right in the undercover part & you often have talented busckers there. You can sit inside or outside, although the outside is covered. Make sure your friends all know where it is though, as you can rarely get mobile phone coverage there.

Thanks everyone- shall check them out ?

Hyacinth, probably June-July. Have been making plans to go away for the weekend- our first trip without kids (apart from weddings and things). I am SO excited.

Thanks everyone- shall check them out ?

Hyacinth, probably June-July. Have been making plans to go away for the weekend- our first trip without kids (apart from weddings and things). I am SO excited.

Thanks everyone- shall check them out ?

Hyacinth, probably June-July. Have been making plans to go away for the weekend- our first trip without kids (apart from weddings and things). I am SO excited.

Cant help with cg bars, but in venice, the cipriani is excellent.

Ooo you are so lucky. we got engaged there (on my birthday, 15th July. That weekend they have a massive festival to celebrate the end of the plague, amazing fireworks, its wondeful. downside was we couldn't find flights for under £400 each, and that was 5 years ago)

I am now wondering if it wasn't the best western as it was massive? maybe it was near it. I'll check with MrH.

From memory, the Punch and Judy is a hideous tourist-trap hell-hole. Doesn't strike me as your sort of place knownowt.

Last time we were there Soapy took us to the bar at Number 1 Aldwych (5 mins south east of CG) - swish and very pleasant.

Agreed. The Punch and Judy is horrible. *shudder* What about Dirty Martinis?

Yes, the bar at 1 Aldwych is fabby. Hotel bars are the best places to go in central London in my experience, if pricy.

However, I did read recently about a new place that's opened in CG that does a really good range of wines by the glass and cheese platters and stuff. Hang on, will see if I can find it.

Aha - this is the place http://terroirswinebar.com/

Dirty Martini is great for cocktails - its right on the square, and it does get busy but not sardine-esque like the Punch and Judy. Love the platters too....!

xxx

We stayed here in Venice 2 years ago on our honeymoon - it's right on the Grand Canal opposite the station so very easy to get to. Lovely to sit outside in the evenings sipping Peach Bellinis and watching the world go by

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g187870-d289202-Reviews-Hotel_Antiche_Figure-Venice_Veneto.html

We stayed in the san clemente palace a few years ago, it is without a doubt the best hotel i've ever been to! Even the water taxi business which had the potential to be a total PITA was fabulous and I enjoyed every journey to and from the island. Breakfast was amazing. Just don't have drinks in the bar - set us back £40 for 2 bellinis (oops!)

Bunker Bar in Covent Garden has always done great cocktails when I've been there. Because it's not in the main touristy part it doesn't tend to be so much of a trap.....

Enjoy Venice, it sounds blissful!

Hotels in Venice: I have stayed at https://www.anticodoge.com/ twice now and really can rate it. Its a nice hotel and well placed for the Rialto etc.

A friend of mine regularly stays at https://www.liassidipalacehotel.com and says its amazing and a fantastic location near St Marco.

Thanks everyone.

A Q for anyone who has stayed at the San Clemente- does the boat across carry on at night? We'd want to eat in different places without having to be back by a certain time.

Thanks everyone.

A Q for anyone who has stayed at the San Clemente- does the boat across carry on at night? We'd want to eat in different places without having to be back by a certain time.

We stayed at the Foscari Palace in Venice on our honeymoon 3 years ago, and it was really nice.