Great views across the Lagoon
We chose the Russo Palace because we wanted to be able to sit on our balcony and admire Venice from afar. We made a wise choice! The hotel looked as though it had been recently renovated - it was immaculately furnished, and was very clean and comfortable. The breakfast is buffet style, which is a great plus point as it means that you can fill up in the morning and just have a snack for lunch (Venice ain't cheap!) Food isn't served in the evenings, but there are plenty of restaurants a short walk away.
Although we booked a balcony in advance (and paid extra), we were initally given a room without one, but the friendly staff soon sorted this out for us.
We had been concerned that we would be missing out by staying on the Lido rather than in Venice, but as we were only a 15 minute boat ride from Venice itself, it was never a problem. In fact, it was nice to get away from the bustle of the city and relax on the balcony with a bottle of prosecco in the evenings.
Having looked at a number of other hotels, we don't believe we could have found a hotel of this standard in the centre of Venice for the price we paid. And we doubt we would have had as stunning a view.
Unique Quality: Great views, friendly staff and a peaceful location. Perfect!