Hotel Royal San Marco

We booked this through a popular hotel booing website, three nights start of February 2020 in a world just about to learn about a pandemic. Others who have been were astonished that just under £60 a night got this hotel B&B for 2 about 45 seconds walk from Piazza San Marco, five or six suitcase laden minutes walk from San Marco stop on alilaguna . Great time to go as February is so out of season, just read up and go first or 3rd crescent moons to avoid tidal flooding! Small but luxurious room, nice shower room and WC, decent reception and adequate typically unspectacular Italian breakfast looking onto a canal. Be aware that you will have to step outdoors for a few strides to get into the breakfast room which has not got a link corridor. Tremendous location unbelievable value impatient to return !

After reading a few reviews I was a little nervous about my stay here. My fears were put to rest within 2 minutes. 1st the front desk people were very nice and helpful. Upgraded us to a suite and informed us that if we wanted we could have a tour to Murano the next day. She showed us the way to our suite in the next building (about 10 steps) and had our luggage delivered. The suite was huge. Large bathroom, living/dinning room, kitchen area and a large bedroom. The breakfast in the morning was fantastic, couldn’t ask for better. You are about a 1 minute walk to St Marks square with some nice restaurants just down the walkway the other way. Would I stay there again? Yes. One last thing, we were there just a the beginning of the big flooding in November. Rubber boots were a necessary inconvenience.

so close to San marco Plazza, crews kinds and very sympatics. Lovely place no luxury but confortable and all option open ! breakfast very complete, all possibility and taste. Juice,egg, fruits, pancake and coffee, tee .

This hotel might have been given a 5 star but when we arrived they allocated us such an awful room I couldn’t believe it. We had paid for a superior room for my daughter and I. Not only was room 601 on the sixth floor with no lift after the 4th floor and access only by metal fire-escape style stairs (with carpet tacked to them), but it was the pokiest smallest most awful hotel room I have seen in decades! It in no way matched the photos of superior rooms provided by the hotel obviously to make people book only to be given what looked more like servants quarters! When I tried to phone reception found the phone didn’t work so I had to descend back down to reception with ipad in hand to show what the room should have looked like. The staff were very calm, too calm as it was obvious they had thought we were an easy mark to put in such an awful room. After glancing at the key boars several times, they said we could have a suite instead. The suite in the next building was four times the size of room 601. Complete with balcony but nothing in the kitchenette area save for a sink and a two ring hob. No kettle, cutlery or crockery. I had taken our own travel kettle and teabags but we then had to go to the souvenir shop next door to buy two ‘I love Venezia’ mugs as I had forgotten to take our own. The breakfast was good with lots of choice ie hot mini omelettes and streaky bacon, cold meats and cheese, breads, pastries, yogurts and fresh fruits. Good choice of teas and coffees. All self serve but with friendly staff. I would have gladly given it 5 stars but reception spoiled that! Great location for a base. We came back to the room during the day easily and as it is next to San Marco it is very easy to find again.

So, where do I start. Was taken here as a surprise by my partner for my birthday and also it turned out to be an engagement ☺️. He had booked through travel agent, asked for central hotel and at least 4 star as it was a special occasion and to notify the hotel of this. He made the mistake of when we arrived at the airport and after telling me where we were going, showing me the hotel online. The pictures looked amazing but me being me, I had a bit more of a delve around and started to see the bad reviews coming in in droves. This wasn’t the best start to our holiday, but he said straight away if it was that bad we would go somewhere else. Arrived into Venice. Amazing, dreamy. Got to hotel, looked very Venetian and better than the horror that was going on in my head. Quickly checked in ( no mention of city tax, Which was charged on departure after they said they forgot to tell us) went to room with a million locks on the door. Imagine in your head the pictures on the website but downsize the room to a postage stamp size and add 20 years worth of wear and you will get the idea . Saving grace however was the view out of the window overlooking the canal which was beautiful ( very smelly though). Decided to stay, but here is my gripes. Can cope with a small room but heating was full blast. Air con is apparently switched off in winter. Got told we could turn heating off which was literally unplugging a radiator, and the room was still hotter than the sun. With the window open it cooled things down but the smell was hideous. The hairdryer was an old wall one. I could have blown my own hair dry faster so ended up spending 40 euro on a wash and blow dry. There was no kettle in the room but I could get over that one. However what I was astounded at, for a 4 star hotel was that in the whole building there wasn’t an iron and ironing board!! Another thing which really disappointed my partner was we arrived on my birthday and he and the travel agent expected maybe some form of acknowledgment from the hotel, even a little note, but nothing was done and after asking them discretely they said they did nothing either for any special occasion. The bed was like brick, with one pillow each. We asked for another two, got another one, and then had to ask again for another one. Two of the woman working their were also very condescending and patronising. Breakfast was ok, but would rather spend 4 euro on coffee and a croissant down the road . Towels were lovely and fluffy, shower was nice and hot aswell as the rest of the room 😂 location couldn’t be faulted. A long review but to sum it up, I can only say this hotel has 4 stars down to location and maybe a fluffy towel or two. Bring everything but the kitchen sink with you and you will be ok, as you basically get a bed and a wardrobe and not much else other than stifling heat.