First Class Hotel - if a little stuffy!

We spent 2 nights at the Cip in Sept. Room was very comfortable and large and we had a massive bathroom with a jacuzzi in the bath. I agree with some previous comments, the rooms do look dated - some of the fixtures and fittings look like they have come from the 1970's. Breakfast on the terrace is the best that I have ever had in a hotel and we enjoyed room service breakfast the next morning. The hotel restaurant is very expensive, so we ate out. Regretfully, most restaurants are expensive in Venice and the quality is poor, and service charge is high. Everything closes early in Venice, so we had some cocktails in the bar when we returnted to the hotel on our last night. Bar was closing after midnight, so we took our drinks outside. Later we asked the front desk for drinks, but they said no, hassled them for a while and they agreed to a few beers. For the price you pay at this place you should be able to get drinks/food around the clock. We are in our early thirties and the felt the hotel was a bit stuffy - many of the guets appear to be wealthy retired americans/europeans - some of them full of their own importance! All of Venice seems to be expensive - we spoke to people staying in 2 star hotels and paying nearly 200 euro per night - prices in Venice are a joke. The swimming pool is fab.

Brilliant experience

We stayed here for 3days/2 nights and I can honestly say the experience was awesome. We have stayed at many top hotels in Europe and this one, for location, presence and service was great.

Whilst price is clearly 5* too, you can shop around for deals and special offers direct from the hotel.

We had a suite which had all the features you would expect, and the views across the lagoon were brilliant.

Whilst the meals are expensive the food is exquisite and the surroundings cannot be faulted. Service was good and the location on the island, the trip across the lagoon to Venice in the private launch, and the approach exceeded my expectations.

No trip is complete to Venice without a romantic trip on the gondola, and while expensive to take a gondola for just the 2 of you, it tops off any visit. Would we go back to Cipriani? You bet.

Just loved it.

We have just returned from our honeymoon in Italy and the Cipriani was amazing. We had their private transfer which was superb and recieved the warmest welcome from Roberto at the hotel jetty. We were upgraded to a junior suite overlooking the garden however we were a little disappointed in the room, no cd player, a little small and in need of updating but this I suppose is part of the Cipriani's charm.We soon realised the service was incredible and the pool the best we have ever seen. This was the best food we have ever been served especially the Cips Club, a beautiful evening to treasure, we also had breakfast here...Superb. We can't wait to return however this time only if we could stay in Palazzo V. So perhaps our 5 year anniversary.

Worth the try for the experience... but thumbs down for price performance!!

Hotel Cipriani... there was no way we were going to miss the experience of staying at this venerable hotel during our first trip to Venice. They had always been on my "must-do" lists. However, they simply did not meet my expectations. It may be a matter of taste, but the place is too old. Unless you are staying in one of their upscale suites, the regular rooms, which cost PLENTY HIGH mind you, are nothing better than your 3 star hotels. The closet door was so old, it jammed every time we wanted to open/close them. The bed was uncomfortable. The window faced the private launch, so we heard the motorboat engine all night, all morning. The carpet was quite old, too. If you want to do the Cipriani right, then you may have to do it full on... like the guy we saw at the front desk, paying for his hotel bill by pulling out a wad of cash... EUR 15,000... yes, that's right.... not EUR 1,500... EUR 15,000. Yes, the view was spelndid. The private boats are nice. The breakfasts were great (you sure are paying for the thing!). Similar to our dining experience at Harry's Bar (another thing on my life's "must-do" lists), it's SOOOOO NOT worth the price. I'm glad I tried it and seen it. No more Cipriani please. Would much rather try out some of the newcomers. Having history is nice... but sqeaky closet doors aren't worth paying over EUR 600 per night!

I want to live there

Stayed there with my husband and child in April. This is the best hotel I have stayed in with regard to views, service and breakfast. The outdoor swimming pool is a little corner of Paradise.

Cip's club restaurant has a fantastic view of St Marks Square and as the sun goes down and the lights come on across the lagoon, is magical. Loved the boat ride to Venice every morning and we also arranged to be met by the hotel staff at Marco Polo airport with a private shuttle and water taxi transfer (half an hour boat ride to the hotel) and we departed in the same way.

Top class - but expensive

A very classy hotel which obviously has some very aristocartic type clients. It is a very expensive hotel which will cost you especially with the EURO being so strong right now. the rooms are not overly spacious but the facilities are stupendous with a huge pool, spa and top class restaurants. The bar is rather stuffy and you feel that you would have to be retired and a fan of sherry and single malt whiskies in order to fit in. Take advantage - but be aware - of the free boat tour to Murano island that the hotel provides but has obviously arranged with one of the premier (and most expensive) venitian glass makers. They will send you there on a private boat limo (15 mins through venice which is quite nice) and once there you are taken on a tour with a "used car salesman" type fellow who will try to get you to buy 2000 euro vases or 150 euro wine glasses. They will quite seriously look at you and ask if you would like 4 wine glasses for 1000 euro or 8 wine glasses for 1900 euro without even a mild stutter! of course you aren't "forced" to buy anything but theywill lean fairly hard on you to buy something.

Perfect Honeymoon hotel

We stayed here in April 2003 for our Honeymoon. We were paying the much cheaper winter rate (although the weather was fantastic and definitely warm enough to swim in the huge pool), which had dinners included.

Because it was our honeymoon they gave us one of the best suites in the hotel and there was a bottle of champagne waiting for us on arrival.

The room was amazing, I have never seen anything else as good: beautiful marble bathroom, large walk-in wardrobe, televisions that rise up out of tables at the touch of a button, a small kitchen and even a butler! From our bed we had an amazing view of Venice (our window was the one which was on the front of the brochure at the time).

The food was fantastic, we had one meal in the main restaurant, one in the Cip's club and lunch by the pool, all included in our room price, which going by the prices on the menu was a deal almost too good to believe. The only potential fault I can see is that the main hotel looked like it might not be as nice as the Palazzo, where we stayed. We will definitely go back as soon as we can afford it.

Heaven

this place is just heaven. Order Bellinis and sit in the terrace garden as the sun sets and the pianist starts to play - its just magical.

We stayed in a junior suite in the Palazzo which is just a short walk from reception but its worth it as you get unbelieveable views across the lagoon to St Marks square.

The swimming pool is slightly salty so swim with your mouth closed.

We had our first dinner at the Cips club restaurant at a table on the pontoon - it was so romantic and the food was wonderful.

The boat ride across to St Marks is probably my favourite part of our stay as its just incredible.

Excellent, but tthe price, no more than you'd expect

We stayed at the Cipriani in late Sept 2003. The hotel generally lives up to expectations - secluded position on Guidecca, private launch to Venice part of its charm, and the rooms and service all you'd expect from a 5 Star establishment. However, room rates are very high in the main season, and costs for simple extras such as shirt ironing are excessive. Staff are efficient in the main, without being over-friendly. Overall it has to be highly recommended for the setting alone, but not quite the full 5 star rating.

Love this Place

For those looking for luxury, this is the only place to stay in Venice.

The lightly salted olympic size swimming pool is amazing. The breakfast is out of this world and the service doesn't get any better than this.

The bar can by kind of stuffy but if you get in with the bartenders they are so cool.