When it comes to organizing a weekend, you have to plan your budget. Venice is a city where all these codes explode, at least for me. I knew the city and I wanted to try one of the best, if not the best hotel in the city, the Palazzo Gritti. My only obstacle: the price. I have never paid so much for a hotel room in my life.

Will it be worth it? Answer below…

Booking

I hesitated for a long time before booking at the Gritti. The proposed rate, more than 700 € per night including corporate rate, dissuades even the most well-off. Initially, I had booked at the Danieli which I know well and which is slightly more affordable, then found an in-between by staying at the new Four Points in Mestre located outside the lagoon, and the second night at Gritti.

For practical reasons and because our time on site was ultimately short, I finally surrendered and booked two nights at the Gritti. You only live once! And I chose pre-payment to minimize the rate.

Arrival

A few weeks before my arrival, I was contacted by the concierge to see if I needed a transfer from the airport, which I did, so I provided all the information about our arrival in Venice.

At the exit of the jetway, our driver was waiting for us with a sign with my name. After collecting our luggage, we boarded a comfortable limousine bound for the lagoon, not really knowing how we were going to reach the hotel. Once we arrive at Piazzale Roma, we board a cab boat that will take us to the Gritti pier. The chief concierge welcomes us as we leave the boat and takes care of our luggage and directs us to the reception.

The receptionist takes care of us and we proceed with the classic arrival formalities. Of course, I choose the breakfast as a Platinum benefit, which, considering the price, has a value of 250 €!

He also confirmed our upgrade to a quietly located suite as I had requested. He then accompanies us to our room, located on the 4th floor of the property.

Room

The Sestiere Suite was therefore located on the 4th floor of the property, is quite spacious, while considering the little space available in the city.

The entrance has a storage area that is quite modest in size for a suite, but well equipped with a safe and a spacious closet.

This entrance leads to the very well decorated bathroom, mixing modernity and tradition, with both a spacious shower and bathtub. The bath products are of the Acqua di Parma brand as in most hotel suites in Italy. Two basins are available to allow simultaneous use of the bathroom. We love it!

From the entrance you go straight to the lounge, very nicely decorated, where a welcome service has been arranged for me in a very elegant way. Beautiful (and heavy…) books are available to travelers.

The room is also very sober, and the bed extremely comfortable.

If the view, at night, is quite limited or even null, it is not so during the day when it is a narrow but very pleasant canal, where many gondolas pass.

The renovation is really of excellent quality, combining modernity and preservation of the traditional style of the Doges’ time. The Bang & Olufsen sound system is of excellent quality.

To finish, a visit in video:

Restaurants

It goes without saying that the catering in such a property is of an exceptional standard.

On sunny days, the ” Doges’ Club ” restaurant serves exclusively outside, on the Grand Canal.

Bar

The bar, on the Grand Canal, is very pleasant. We enjoyed it when we arrived at the property.

Breakfast

The breakfast service lasts from 6:30 am to 11 am. The staff is obviously very attentive to the guests and this is normal: at 53 € for a full breakfast, we expect nothing less.

The buffet is small but very diversified,with pastries, cold cuts, smoked salmon and dairy products of all kinds.

For hot dishes, just order from the staff eggs, pancakes or waffles and their accompaniments all prepared at the minute.

Beware of the seagulls: if you have marinated salmon and you occupy one of the tables along the canal, they will happily come and peck at your table, ruining everything in their path…

Dinner

Dinner service is available from 6pm to 10pm. Beware, as in most Venetian restaurants, the kitchens of the gourmet restaurant actually close at 10 pm.

I had made a reservation in advance on the hotel’s website, specifying that my companion was eating gluten-free. And on the morning of the reservation, I made sure we had a great table after breakfast service, which I was happy to confirm, as well as the gluten-free request which the chef will gladly honor.

We arrived around 8pm and the welcome was perfect. The menu is absolutely fantastic, each dish is very elaborate.

We start with a Primo based on pasta and risotto, followed by a Secondo meat and fish, all accompanied by a Moscato d’Asti which my companion loves! And for our greatest joy…

We ended the meal on a sweet note, with an ice cream and an excellent chocolate soufflé for my part.

A flawless performance for the restaurant.

Hotel facilities

The hotel is equipped with a fitness room and a spa. Unfortunately, due to our short time on site, we were not able to take advantage of these facilities.

Departure

The departure formalities were very simple, but I had to correct a few errors on the invoice (breakfast deducted when I have my Platinum benefit for example). The concierge ordered us a cab to the station.

And in Venice, that means a boat… That’s the magic of this city.

Bottom line

A true Palace experience and the price that goes with it. But if you want to treat yourself, impress your wife and have a memorable weekend, then the Gritti is for you. Nothing to complain about.