Incredibly attentive staff, a decadent breakfast that includes prosecco (to mix with orange juice, ahem), and lavish 19th-century Venetian decor away from the tourist hubbub make this a justly popular choice. Rooms seamlessly blend Venetian style with modern design, oak parquet or Venetian terrazzo floors. Some rooms have a terrace (with views over the canal or garden), while others have a spa bathtub; all have flat-screen TVs with satellite channels. If the weather cooperates, take breakfast in the courtyard garden to really soak up the ambience. The hotel is just a 5 to 10 minute walk from Piazzale Roma and the train station, but note there are a number of bridges and stairs to negotiate along the way.