LOCANDA CASA MARTINI, Venice

The property sits on a quiet alley off a main street in Cannaregio, an area with many restaurants, cafés and shops that is less crowded than San Marco. The train station is about 7-8 minutes on foot, and the Guglie vaporetto stop gives direct access to the airport, Murano and Burano. St Mark's Square is a pleasant 25-minute walk along the Grand Canal, and the Venice Casino and Ca' d'Oro are within 5-10 minutes. For those arriving by car, parking is at Piazzale Roma, then take the vaporetto to Guglie. A water taxi from the airport drops you 50 metres from the hotel, avoiding all bridges with luggage. The neighbourhood has numerous restaurants within a two-minute walk, offering a range of cuisines at reasonable prices.

Rooms offer traditional Venetian decor with modern amenities: air conditioning, heating, safety deposit box, wardrobe and free toiletries. Some rooms boast 18th-century frescoes, original furnishings or a fireplace. All rooms have an ensuite bathroom with shower, bidet and hairdryer. Room sizes vary from compact to spacious; choose a de luxe or junior suite for more space and garden views. Upper-floor rooms require climbing stairs - no lift is available. Road-facing rooms can pick up street noise, while courtyard-facing or terrace-facing rooms are quieter. A few rooms have soundproof walls; others have single-glazed windows that may rattle. Hairdryer is provided in the bathroom; there is no iron or kettle in the rooms. A shared fridge is available on each floor. No rooms have a balcony. Triple and quadruple rooms are available, making the property suitable for families or small groups.

Breakfast is a served continental buffet with bread, pastries, yoghurt, fresh fruit, hot drinks and juice. Upgrades include eggs and bacon (€5) and/or a platter of local cold cuts and cheese (€10). The meal is served on a charming veranda or in the courtyard, providing a pleasant start to the day. There is no restaurant or bar on the property, so lunch and dinner need to be sourced outside. The neighbourhood is rich with dining options - many restaurants, cicchetti bars and gelaterias are within a 2-minute walk, serving Venetian, Italian and international cuisine at reasonable prices. For guests who arrive late or leave early, the self check-in and luggage storage allow flexibility to explore local eateries without being tied to hotel meal times.

Wi-Fi is available in all areas free of charge. Daily housekeeping is included, but towel changes before day three incur a fee. Luggage storage is offered before check-in and after check-out, with a guest bathroom available for freshening up - a useful service for late flights or train departures. The front office provides a concierge service, tour desk, and private check-in/check-out. A minimarket is on site. Safety features include 24-hour security, CCTV, safety deposit box and smoke alarms. For families, board games and puzzles are available, and a baby cot can be provided on request. A shared fridge is available on each floor. There is no lift, no restaurant, no spa, no swimming pool, no airport shuttle and no on-site parking.