Be careful when you book this place via the internet. I booked the hotel via the an internet booking site and received the confirmation and voucher. But the next day I got a phone call to tell me that the hotel was already fully booked. I had to go through lots of trouble to cancel and book a different hotel. The hotel had given away the rooms that had already been purchased by the internet travel agent. There was nothing the hotel offered me in terms of compensation for the trouble, telephone costs etc. and the phone conversation from them was not very friendly. What a terrible start to a romantic trip to Venice.

We couldn't believe the size of our room at Al Doge Beato - absolutely massive by European standards. The furnishings were plush, the breakfast was delicious, and the view of the canal outside our window was charming. The location is also excellent - an easy walk from the train station and to the major sights, but in an area with a more local, less touristy feel than the rest of the city. Our only complaint is the reception hours - the B&B is quite small and the reception desk isn't staffed 24 hours a day, so we were told that we had to check in by 4:00pm at the latest or no one would be there to give us the key - pretty inconvenient.

First of all, we had a delayed flight to Venice. And at the time we said we'll arrive at the Residenza, I received a phone call from Nicola ( manager who was waiting for us ). He want to know about us, if we are ok or we're lost in Venice. It was very nice and polite and he wanted to do everything is possible to help us to get there. Yes, it's a little harder to find them, but not impossible and the entrance is not so spectacular. But after all, once you get at the first floor, where actually is located the Residenza, you'll forget about all sorrows. We stayed with two friends, so we booked 2 double rooms and we got them side by side and connected by a little balcony - it was very kind. The breakfast is in Italian style: croissant , marmalade, coffee and juice, but we we're expected at this, so no surprise. Taking all in all, we we're very satisfied of the location ( very central in Venice ), of the personnel (the housekeeper lady very friendly ), of the spacious room ( high windows, but very well soundproof - we didn't heard any noise from neighborhood inside or outside).

It really is a quite a challenge to get value for money when booking accommodation in Venice but the Residenza Al Doge Beato delivers and was less that half what I payed for a hotel of inferior quality last year.

The hotel really is in the most picturesque locale of Venice you can imagine, nestled in between a bridge, canal and bustling restaurants and adjacent to a square popular with locals - which is a change from all the tourists!

The rooms have immense character, but not at the expense of practicality and the bathrooms are right up to date. Our group took up 2 of the rooms and I would highly recommend endeavoring to get the room overlooking the bridge as the view is picture-postcard. Indeed it's the view that appears in a number of John Lewis' pictures at the moment!

The location is pretty good and it will take you about 10 mins from Piazza Roma and about 15 mins from the Rialto Bridge. Just simply keep an eye out for the gold signs in either direction i.e. if you are coming from Piazza Roma look out for the Rialto signs and if you are coming from the Rialto look out for the P. Roma signs - as the hotel appears to be on the main signposted route between these 2 landmarks.

As others have said, the hotel signage is not great but just keep a note of the building number & street and you should have no problem identifying it as the buildings are all numbered.

The staff are all really helpful and friendly and are very keen to assist in any way they can. The reception is not 24hr manned and there is no dining area - but they get around this by taking your breakfast order and delivering to your room - which worked for me!