Bonvecchiati Venice

My husband and I stayed at the Hotel Bonvecchiati in May of 2004 and were given a fantastic room -- clean, classically appointed and boasting a splendid a view of the canal. The hotel is conveniently located near St. Marks Square and a live pianist plays on the terrace nightly.

We more than enjoyed our dinner on the terrace. The service was incredible. Our meals were prepared and plated tableside with a flurry of staff that tended to every last detail and catered to our every whim (including swishing our red wine in the glass after it was poured). I'm sure if they had fewer guests that night we would have been spoon-fed.

Our meal also started with a complimentary glass of sparkling wine and ended with a complimentary sweet wine that was paired with an assortment of delicious little cookies.

I'm really uncertain why there are less than glowing reviews of this hotel. It was one of my favorites during our two-week journey through Italy.

I booked this hotel as it had recently been upgraded following refurbishment. The public rooms were ok but our room was tiny with very basic furnishings and a small bathroom in deperate need of an update. When I questioned this with front desk they informed me this was a "standard room". It seems you only get 4* if you pay extra. Never again!

We just returned from five nights at the Bonvecchiati and, while the room was tiny but clean and the bathroom in good order, we encountered some serious problems when we arrived. We had telephoned ahead to request that our room would be on a higher floor with a view of the canal, and were promised that the designation of "superior double" already assured this was the case -- but when we arrived, we were shown to a tiny room on the first floor with a window on an air shaft which was full of construction debris. We refused the room, explained what we had been promised, and were told that "the hotel is very full." They made arrangements to move us to a second floor room in the front, so we did end up with something of a canal view -- but this was not what we had been promised in our communication with the hotel. The photographs of the rooms which are displayed in the hotel's brochures misrepresent most of the available rooms in this hotel. Central location, yes -- but you'll play catch-as-catch-can with your room assignment here, no matter what they tell you on the phone. I'd look elsewhere.

Lovely hotel, very pretty, very clean, friendly, comfortable and in a great location. We had a lovely view and enjoyed people watching from our room when the heat got a bit too strong. Space in Venice is limited so the room was small but had everything you needed, the bathroom was fantastic, and there aren't many hotels abroad that actually have double beds in double rooms anymore, its just something to be expected when travelling.

My parents also stayed here the previous year and loved it too. As a well experienced traveller, especially of Italy I would definitely recommend this hotel to others, nothing to complain about. We ate the breakfast and also had an evening meal in the restaurant, good food and good service. what more can I say?!

My girlfriend and I stayed here in early January for two nights while visiting Venice. We booked the hotel through an internet service and got a great price. We were very impressed with the buffet breakfast (included in the price). It's great to be able to get up and eat a nice breakfast before heading out into the chill of winter that was Venice at that time. The room was great, with wardrobe, television, heating and the bathroom was small but very good. Although at times there was no hot water at all. Otherwise, a very clean and well managed hotel.

Thumbs up!

The Bonvechiati is in a lovely postion in Venice, but it's very poor value.

I asked for a tray of tea at 2.30pm one day, only to be told that the kitchens were closed. I ate some of the worst Italian food of my life on the terrace, and I had to ask several times to have my sheets changed.

Terrible, I felt so ripped off.

7 December 2003. This hotel has a great location on a canal near St Marks Square. We had a spacious double room overlooking the canal - very comfortable with a sparklingly clean, modern bathroom. Breakfast good and plentiful. Friendly staff. Will definitely return here.

We stayed in an impeccably clean room, with nice decor (modern furnishings). Our room (458) had a nice view of the canal below and of the tower from San Marco Square. The bathroom is a treat, very large, and the shower is equipped with a very large shower head (about the size of a volleyball), so you get soaked in no time. I believe the room is located in a part of the hotel that has been recently refurbished, as all around the smell of new construction pervades and the decor looks much more modern than what is on the website.

Breakfast was pretty average, though, we are not known for waking up early and caught the end of it at about 9:55, so it is possible the early risers were treated with better fare.

One minor annoyance. We booked a deluxe double, so we were very surprised to see the bed set-up with two twin beds with separate sheets (albeit, pushed together). I spoke to the hotel front desk soon after arrival to see if we could be moved to a room that has a double bed that was not made up of two twins and we were told that they had nothing available that night but would offer us a different room for the next. The next day, the story had changed, as a different person on the front desk said that all of the double beds in the hotel were made up of two twins and that they would be happy to change the sheets in our room with one set of sheets. Now, if this is true, that all the double beds in the hotel and made up of two twins, I find this very strange. Or, the second person was lying...which reflects badly on the hotel if this was the case.

Overall my stay at the Hotel Bonvecchiati was a pleasant one, and I would recommend it to others. It is pricey, so I wouldn't consider it a great value (even for Venice), but if cleanliness and a good shower are important to you and it is in your price range, then you will most likely be happy here. (Particularly for the location!)

I had exactly the same experience with this hotel as your leicester reviewer and I was there over xmas !! the info on the back of the bedroom door said that the tourist board gave it 4 stars but I would only give it 2 - I am writing to the tourist board accordingly - I was so disappointed I left early

Fair enough only 3 star+ but this hotel was all show-minimal facilities. I dont like to be deceived and in the info I read in magazines and on the internet it stated that this hotel had a BAR and also 24 HOUR ROOM SERVICE. It had infact neither. When I asked at reception I was told that they start in 2003. I was deceived. I wouldnt have chosen a hotel without a bar for goodness sake. I wasnt even able to get a cup of tea because there was no facilities even to be brought up to my room. It was quite a dry time at the Bonvecchiati.

I dont want much, the decor doesnt have to be anything special just a clean, friendly hotel with obliging staff. I didnt get any!!!