| From: Michael Mansfield, United Kingdom |
| Date of Stay: September, 2008 |
| Very welocming and helpfull and the room was very spacious - really a suite (144) could be hot in summer as in the roof part of building. As we were going on a cruise the position was perfect and they were happy to take care of the luggage until we sailed. |
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| From: Reviewer has requested to be kept anonymous. |
| Date of Stay: October, 2007 |
| We loved this hotel. Great location, far away from the crowds and noise but convenient to transportation to the airport and St. Marks. Room was large, charming and exceptionally clean, as was the bathroom. Staff was extremely pleasant and made us feel very welcome. There are several restaurants that are located around the corner from the hotel. Would stay here again in a heartbeat. |
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| From: AW, USA |
| Date of Stay: August, 2008 |
| The front desk staff spoke great English and were very helpful. The location was extremely convenient although lugging suitcases up and down those two canal bridges was not fun. The front desk told us about the very cheap airport shuttle, which saved us lots of euros. My only observations are: shower stalls in both bathrooms was small (probably 20x20) and the air conditioner never seemed to really cool the room down. We didn't have a chance to sample any of the food (very early flight) and the room did seem expensive for what we got, but THATS VENICE. |
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| From: Reviewer has requested to be kept anonymous. |
| Date of Stay: September, 2007 |
| We stayed at this hotel for two days during our honeymoon. This hotel is located right on a quiet canal and is next to the Piazzale Roma, which is the arrival point for buses and trains into Venice. We had a huge room with a very spacious bathroom. It was clean and very quiet and our windows overlooked a charming courtyard. Breakfast was free and included yogurt, eggs, a variety of meats, cheeses, and breads, pastries, and several juices, as well as coffee and hot chocolate. We were catching a cruise ship and the hotel is located within a 2 minute walk of the location where the cruise ship shuttle buses pick up passengers, so we didn't have to haul our luggage very far at all. The bed was a little hard but that was our only complaint. The location is great if you are catching a cruise or arriving by bus or train. We were very happy with the hotel. |
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| From: FT, USA |
| Date of Stay: July, 2008 |
| Truly enjoyed our stay at the Hotel Olympia. The staff were professional and very agreeable to helping us with our questions - and we had a bunch. Would definitely stay at this hotel again!!! |
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| From: Erika Pilon, Canada |
| Date of Stay: May, 2008 |
| The hotel was not easily found as it is located down a small dark canal and the sign is small which is placed flat against the wall so you can not see it from the angle of the street. We walked around for sometime (as everyone we asked, in other hotels/restaurants did not want to help and claimed the didn't know the place!!). The hotel reception was not overly friendly, specially considering that the first thing they did was change us to another hotel which did not have the facilities the orginal hotel I booked had. This was done with no appologise!! just "that's the way it is attitude". The reception at the other hotel had the same attitude as the first. During our stay, whenever we asked for assistance they reluctantly would, only because the had no choice, it is their job but they certainly didn't like it! And they would try to sell me a tour that they would provide (at a charge) after their hotel shift was over. The room was spacious and clean, had a cool view of the canal but that's about it! Breakfast was not too bad, we have had a lot better but it did the job. As for the rest of Venice...it is very unique...everyone should see it once - but only once and for one day. They money gouge you for everything. Extortion is more like it. The people are not at all friendly, as I would have expected from Italians. All they want is your money and nothing else and they don't care how they treat you because they know the tourists will keep coming because it's Venice. Venice was suppose to be the highlite of our European vacation. The food was lousy and small, small portions for outrageous prices. What a disappointment. All the other places we visited in Austria and Hungary put Venice and Italians to shame. I'm looking forward to going back to Europe but I WILL NOT be going back to Italy in any hurry. |
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| From: SK, Norway |
| Date of Stay: March, 2008 |
| Olimpia is a nice hotel. The staff is friendly, the garden is nice and there's a decent complimentary breakfast. Our room was on the 3rd floor without an elevator but we didn't mind. It was a charming room in the typical loud colors -- gaudy yet charming. Olimpia is located close to the bus station, the railway station and the main Vaporetto (water bus) station, yet it is quiet. It is within 5 minutes walk from a lot of nice cafes and restaurants. The main tourist attractions are 20-40 minutes away on foot, but it's a charming walk. Remember: You'll need a map! |
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| From: SM, USA |
| Date of Stay: November, 2007 |
| While this hotel is ideally located, it is old and tired. The bathroom was clean, but the room was cramped with bad beds, pillows as hard as rocks, grimy carpet, and less than stellar bed clothes. They have a very small elevator, which wasn't working, so don't carry a lot of heavy luggage. I would not stay here again. Best Western needs to get its act together regarding beds. They need to take pointers from Marriott and Westin regarding their sheets, pillows and blankets. Good breakfasts, pleasant and helpful staff and the fact that we didn't spend much time in the room helped make us less cranky about the state of the room. |
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| From: Bert Feldstein, USA |
| Date of Stay: October, 2007 |
| excellent location, attentive staff,clean rooms,well lit entrance,perfect for those arriving be cruise liner because you can walk from the shuttle bus stop, directly across the street from the transportation hub (bus,rail,boat, car) |
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| From: Barry Moore, United Kingdom |
| Date of Stay: September, 2007 |
| We were put in the sister hotel next door, the Arlecchino. However, we were given a wonderful room overlooking the canals. (The change of hotel is a common practice, according to reports on the internet) We personally have no complaint on this. What we wanted more than anything, being English guests in a foreign country, was tea making facilities in the room. We thought this was automatic with Best Western. (Room service cannot replace this) The views from the room were wonderful and the hotels couldn't be in a better position. Next door to the bus station, where buses arrive from the airports, and also the the car park for those arriving that way. The train station is only a few hundred yards away. It is only a short walk to the vaporetto stop and the No.1 goes all the way to St. Marks Square, and then on to the Lido. Transport in Venice is superb. |
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| From: George Koos, USA |
| Date of Stay: September, 2007 |
| Very nice location, and friendly staff. |
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| From: AM, New Zealand |
| Date of Stay: August, 2007 |
| First time stay. fourth floor room. Excellent service from reception staff |
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| From: Mitchell Thomas, USA |
| Date of Stay: July, 2007 |
| We were especially appreciative of some extra assistance provided us by the hotel staff. We mailed two parcels of travel items from Venice. One arrived on time and was delayed for almost 3 weeks. We called the hotel and asked me to fax them all the information. They actually went to the post office and inquired on our behalf and then e-mailed us the information. We were quite appreciative of this assistance. The hotel property is ideal for departures. It is close to the Piazzale di Roma and to the Vaporetto station. |
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| From: Andrew House, Canada |
| Date of Stay: June, 2007 |
| My only complaint is the price, but this is not the fault of the hotel, as they are simply keeping pace with the market in VEnezia. The rooms are small, but for two of us we had ample closet space. The location is very convenient for rental cars, trains, buses, taxis, etc. The staff were very polite, multilingual and efficient. |
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| From: JT, United Kingdom |
| Date of Stay: June, 2007 |
| This was a good, clean hotel, ideally placed for arriving, and exploring Venice. A bit expensive but no more than most of the others. The room was average size, the only complaint was the tacky plastic chandelier, a bit out of keeping with the general ambience. |
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| From: Scott Corley, USA |
| Date of Stay: June, 2007 |
| Paid a pretty penny for this hotel and room that was a "deluxe". The room was not very large, although it was nicely appointed. Air conditioning worked well and did not need an activation card for the power. We were abutting the courtyard which wasn't as nice a view as the canal, but very pleasant. Close to the Piazzale Roma and train station which makes catching a bus, train or vaporetto quite easy. There was also a grocery store nearby so that we could spend less than $6 on a bottle of water. I would exercise some cheaper options next time, but would have no problem staying here again. |
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| From: MM, United Kingdom |
| Date of Stay: June, 2007 |
| Very friendly helpful staff, particularly Roberto at reception who was excellent. |
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| From: RP, USA |
| Date of Stay: May, 2007 |
| Olimpia was a good choice for a one-night pre-cruise stay. Convenient to P. le Roma for transport to/from airport and for getting on the water bus for travel anywhere in Venice. Had seen a review somewhere suggesting walking to the cruise terminal, but we don't advise it. Staff was helpful and spoke English fairly well. Let us drop off luggage when arrival was a few hours before check-in. A/C didn't work, but the room had 2 windows so a cross-breeze made it comfortable. Later in the season, this wouldn't be a good solution (mosquitoes weren't really out yet at end of May). Lift/elevator is tiny, mostly used for moving luggage. Overall, a great value. |
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| From: Mark Fiddler, USA |
| Date of Stay: May, 2007 |
| My wife and I liked the Hotel Olimpia. You will pay high room rates, but that is Venice. It is quiet, and has a lovely courtyard garden to escape to if you want to get away from the hordes of tourists in Venice. Very helpful, fluent English speaking staff. The location is right off the Grand Canale by a vaporetto line so it easy to get "up town" to the Accademia, San Marco Square, etc. The hotel is one block from the train station and rental car drop off site (but still quiet on a small canal), so getting into Venice and your hotel is easy when you stay here. If you stay in the center of town, you have to pay hefty water taxi fares or lug your bags on crowded vaporettos to get to your hotel. |
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| From: Dennis Bellamy, USA |
| Date of Stay: May, 2007 |
| Great location if coming from the cruise port or bus station. The staff was very helpful and the room was clean but small (as usual in Europe). A bit pricey but in the correct range for a three-star. Can walk or water taxi to all the sights in Venice. Easy trip to the airport with the bus station right adjacent to the hotel. |
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