Hotel Danieli
See more Hotels. See best of Venice in Italy.
|
More holidays »
Featured Holiday
‘Hotel Danieli’With the Gritti and Danieli the Starwood Group have two of the three finest properties in Venice. All they need is the Cipriani and the town would be sewn up. The Danieli has always been a fine haven from the crowds of tourists on the Riva - it has a cool and undisturbed reading room just inside to the right where you can read free newspapers in many languages; it has a delightful bar at the back on the left off its really magnificent two storied Venetian reception hall, with its coffered ceiling and series of large Venetian glass chandeliers; and it has clean and luxurious toilets at the back to the right down a short corridor which, if you're not wielding a camera, you can generally reach without molestation. It also has a magnificent roof bar with fabulous views over the lagoon. For all that we are extremely grateful.
It's therefore always got something of a bustling air in the reception area. As for the guest areas, it is really three buildings - two done up in the Venetian style (the original 14thC building, and the 18thC building behind it), and the third, more modern block to the left. The decor of the modern block is rather forgettable - it's in the ubiquitous French Empire style, a little out of place in Venice given the treasures this city can provide you with, but then many visitors probably wouldn't know the difference. However, if you are after size, these rooms are the biggest and most luxurious, if you discount the suites, though for the biggest you'll have to pay for a lagoon view - however, to our mind this view is far more beautiful than the more expensive Grand Canal views of other hotels. For a start you have the benefit of truly romantic sunsets. Their bathrooms, however, are simple and small, done up in green marble with single sinks and no separate showers. The rooms in the older buildings are much more atmospheric but, for the unitiated, you might wonder what you are paying for, because the rooms are smallish with heavy, plain furnishings, old painted antiques, Venetian fabric curtains and velveteen easy chairs. Bathrooms are done up in flowery tiles, pensione style.
Elizabeth Taylor is said to have spent at least two of her honeymoons in this hotel. Presumably she had the Doge's Suite, which is in another league altogether. When we come to write the book of suites and magnificent rooms, this one will be near the top of the list. At just four times the price of a regular lagoon view room, it's a bargain. Check rates at Travel Intelligence
3 / 5
Review by editor Have you been here? Why not add your own review. |
More great holidays » Selected holidays and vacations
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
