The Danieli, and Venice, a great match !!
Written: Sep 11 '02 (Updated Aug 26 '09)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: It is a palace, Location, Location, Location
Cons: the room and the bed
The Bottom Line: The Danieli was a perfect place to walk out the door and be in the middle of Venice
|
|
|
| popsrocks's Full Review: LC Hotel Danieli |
Update August 2009
I read that this hotel was recently refurbished including many of their rooms.
Their site notes
"The Hotel Danieli is a masterfully restored palace synonymous with the splendor and romance of Venice, just steps away from Piazza San Marco, its Basilica, as well as legendary sites such as the Doge's Palace and the Bridge of Sighs. The main building is the original 14th century palace of Doge Dandolo's family, a Venetian gothic landmark lavishly appointed with pink marble, stained glass, ceilings decorated with gold leaf, Murano glass chandeliers, and antiques. These glorious interiors are rivaled only by the captivating panoramic views from our rooftop restaurant, Restaurant Terrazza Danieli. Named to Condé Nast Traveler's 2005 Gold List Reserve and 2001 Readers' Choice Awards List, the Hotel Danieli has been the luxury hotel preferred by discerning visitors to Venice for generations."
End Update
Last July my wife and I spent four days, the last of our Italy vacation, in the Danieli. I am not a guy who is particularly impressed with pomp but I was impressed with the lobby of the Danieli Hotel.
The hotel is done in Venetian Gothic style. The outside is unmistakeable when you pull up in a Vaporetto as we did. We came in at the Santa Lucia train station. Having done research I knew to get onto the #82 vaporetto. This is basically a bus that floats. It is the inexpensive and perhaps most interesting way to see Venice from the Grand Canal. There is also the #1 but it makes every stop.
As we off loaded our luggage I went to the doorman who quickly had a bellman get our bags. As we entered the lobby my jaw dropped. The pink marble ,stain glass, Murano glass chandeliers and all were beautifully set to make the most glorious entrance I have ever seen. Your eye is drawn to the ornate staircase that is directly from a Disney set of a palace. The whole lobby was something to behold. We sat in it with drinks more than once. There is a bar in the lobby. Drinks were reasonably priced.
The help was very courteous. There was a man at the door just to keep sightseers out. The hotel was once the real palace and home of a Doge. People have this place on their must see list. After seeing it myself I would agree. It received a face lift earlier this century. Also added was another building.
As you look to the left from outside you will see a white building with absolutely no character at all. It is the Danieli's annex. More than likely you will be asked to use one of the rooms there. Be sure to express your wishes for the original hotel.
I must say though that the rooms in the new area are better, larger and more modern. I though, just loved going into the palace. The annex has it's own entrance. Of course you can as a guest of the hotel go into the original part at any time. In fact that is where the restaurant is.
We never did go to the rooftop restaurant, the La Terrazzo Danieli. It is noted to be a very fine eatery with very high prices. I suppose that goes with the lofty view, that is unmatched, from the rooftop.
One of the reasons we chose was the location. It could not be better!!
Less than a hundred yards away is St Marks square and Bacilica. You are a stones throw from the Doges palace. I'm sure you have seen it in Monet's paintings done from the canal. Just around the corner is the famous "Bridge of sighs". It is the bridge all those sentenced to death had to walk over from the prison to meet there fate. It was their last look at the outside world and the view forced a sigh as they moved on to their final moments of life.
The vaporetto stop, water taxis, and gondolas are all lined up just across the main walk in front of the hotel. Many shops are just outside the doors. The location was fantastic!
We spent many days and nights walking the alleys and bridges of Venice. It was always great to be greeted by a very friendly doorman and those at the desk everytime we entered and exited. They got to know us by name. It seemed they catered to those who frequented there properties. Except for the room they gave us. More later.
Another wonderful surprise that we didn't know of and just found out by chance is that the Danieli has a sister property, the Lido Hotel on the island of Lido just a twenty minute watertaxi ride away.
It seems they do not advertise this, I don't know why, but it's a great deal. You see the Lido has a beautiful beach on the Adriatic Sea. It is a fine hotel and we did enjoy a wonderful lunch in their restaurant. The hotel had showers for our use to freshen up before going back to Venice proper. Another treat is that the transportation is free and you get to see the city from a different perspective.
The one downfall of the hotel was our room. It looks like it was built as an afterthought and perhaps it was. It was right next to a noisy and hot boilerroom. I suppose this was for the hotels hot water and laundryroom.
The room itself was filled was small and odd shaped. It was furnished with antiques. The bed was extremely soft. It bothered both of us. Very uncomfortable.
In the room was a tv with cable and pay tv. They had bathrobes and slippers. A safe was in the room along with a minibar. We did not have much of a view, the wall of the neighboring building. The hotel does sit right on the end of the Grand canal with glorious views. Do better than we did! I am sure we could have and in hindsight should have. The fact is, we enjoyed the rest of Venice so much, we didn't dwell on the problems.
One afternoon we were returning to our room and there was a huge pile of bedding from the surrounding rooms. We could not get to our room!!
Upon departing we had to go to the airport. The hotels concierge ,who we really only used once, but was always giving a hello, set up our transportation.
They had a boat shuttle us and others from their hotels to the airport. I loved when we were walked to a side door of the hotel. It opened and right there was our launch.
All in all I recommend the Danieli .
Other Italy reviews by Popsrocks
Danieli Hotel
Five star Hotel we stayed at when in Venice.
http://www.epinions.com/content_75531980420
Rome
http://www.epinions.com/content_85570719364
Colosseum
http://www.epinions.com/content_82927390340
Spanish Steps
http://www.epinions.com/content_83140644489
The Pantheon
http://www.epinions.com/content_83714805380
Cavelleiri Hotel
a five star hotel in Rome
http://www.epinions.com/content_75315449476
Pisa
http://www.epinions.com/content_82621599364
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.