For a couple that have had a whirlwind start to their romance, and having met the parents, it was time for me to meet the sister! As a dancer on a cruise ship docking on the Monday afternoon in Venice, we thought that we should take full advantage of the weekend before to fall even more in love. (WARNING: It only gets soppier from here on). As a young couple, on a budget, we set about finding a happy medium between price and glamour in Venice, and boy did the Russo Palace deliver!

The staff were endlessly helpful, even sending the chambermaid up to iron our clothes for us when we were in a rush! The view across the lagoon is incredible, with San Marco clearly visible from the front door! Also:

* Breakfast was plentiful and delicious.
* Room was immaculate.
* Transport to San Marco took 10 minutes by boat...and wow...what a view on the way in!

We did fall even more in love. Thank you Russo Palace, thank you!

I booked about a week ehead of time and was given "the last room", namely one under the roof with no view and walls so slanted that it was not possible to stand up for a shower. The next day I asked if another room was free and the lady at the reception said: o, yes, we have plenty of rooms, I don't understand why my colleague did not give you another one. So I changed rooms, but when I checked out, they still charged the same amount for the inferior room as for the better one,

First fo all, the hotel breakfast was lovely and the hotel staff were also very helpful. The problem was we booked last minute, whilst we think that the hotel is in a lovely quiet area of Lido, the hotel is very small and very busy. They first gave us a room on the top floor, without a view, as only had small windows on the ceiling. The bathroom had no shower, because you couldnt stand up in the room and the bath you would have had to roll in and out off. So we asked for a room change. The only room they had that didnt give us clautrophobia, was a room that was clearly old, had mould on the sheets, an infestation of mosquitoes, without working air con-definitely NOT 4 star!! This was the worst night sleep we have ever had abroad! The hotel staff were very apologetic, but we checked out the next day and moved on.

Though on Lido Island very easy access from/to Venice airport by Alilaguna boats which takes about one hour plus some 10 mins to walk. Easy access to/from downtown Venice by public boats within 5, alternatively some10 mins walking distance, thus more convenient and quiet than any downtown accomodation. Extremely helpful staff.
And on top: a super panorama across the lagoon.