Irene's Review of Italy Hotels

Here is a brief synopsis of hotels we stayed at in Italy in September 2008.  I have stayed in European hotels and know not to expect large room sizes and was surprised in both Pisa and Rome at the size of our rooms - they were 'normal size' whereas with Venice with 2 large suitcases, space was a problem. But, oh the food.....


ALBERGO ALL'ANGELO - Venice
Location wise this hotel is brilliant. I read somewhere that the rooms are spacious, but this is definitely not the case. A lovely hotel with atmosphere, but the rooms are typical 'European hotel' rooms, and with 2 of us and 2 suitcases we were really falling over each other. There is a small entrance way which the ensuite is off (as usual) with a shower, but the bed and wardrobe occupies the entire space, with just walking room possible around the bed - ie no kicking your heels up. But our room had 2 windows with lovely views over Venice rooftops, and as I said location wise it is fantastic. Rooms are clean and I would stay in this hotel again.

ALL GIUSTIZIA - Mestre Railway Station
Well the hotel and rooms are lovely - but it is NOT walking distance from the Railway Station - and requires a taxi. (1.2km from the station). If guests are staying here, a taxi is a must. Room is spacious, with window shutters to close out street lights and noise etc. I would not advise this hotel for people visiting Venice and wanting to stay in Mestre - it is too far from the station and there are other options a lot closer to Mestre Station itself. It's a shame as rooms are great - but location is not.

DUOMO HOTEL - Pisa
This hotel is wow, wow and wow!! Location wise a very short walk to the Tower ie maximum 5 minutes down the road, and at the most 10 to 15mins to Pisa Railway Station. A taxi is definitely required on arrival if you have suitcases etc, but for a day in Florence - the railway station is easily accessible by foot. The hotel has a lovely rooftop 'garden' - I use the word garden loosely, but for views of the tower and mountains, it is wonderful. The hotel rooms are lovely, and once again very spacious - with a spa bath and shower with a massage unit in the wall thingee, that has jets to massage your body when showering.  (Continental breakfast included). This one is definitely worth recommending for both room size and location.

ARTEMIDE - Rome
Once again fantastic location. Room was a wee bit smaller then what we experienced in Pisa, but definitely bigger then Venice. Rooms front on to the street, Via Nazionale, so it is not a quiet location, with ambulances and police sirens during the day - but during the night, things seemed to quieten down alot and no noise was noticeable. Very close to the Metro, to the start of the Ciao Hop On / Hop Off Bus first stop - everything was easy to walk to and with the added bonus of being on one of the main streets, with a small supermarket 5 mins up the road (with a damn good selection of Chianti's and Lambrusco's to choose from I must add), and ATMS and shopping all around the hotel. Definitely not a hotel for the budget conscious, but for where it is, it cannot be faulted. I think on their own website it might state it is 5 star - definitely not, more 4 star. Breakfast was an American breakfast. Great hotel for both room type and location.