Russo Palace Hotel

My wife and I stayed at the Russo Palace for 2 nights in April. The hotel was nice, bright, clean, and friendly. It looks like they have done some recent updating. The walls, floors, and furniture all looked like they were newly done. The staff was friendly and helpful with the exception* I've noted below. The hotel is located on the Lido which many hotels will claim is "10 minutes from St. Mark's," but it is not. To get to Venice you need to walk about 5-7 minutes to the Vaporetto station. It is a lovely walk on a great walkway along the lagoon with beautiful views, but you tend to tire of it all the same. You can take the bus, but it is even more boring waiting for it to show up. Then, you wait at the Vaporetto station for the water taxi and crowd on with everyone else. Then, it is 10 minutes to St. Mark's. Overall, it took us an average of 30 minutes to reach where we wanted to be in Venice. This has some advantages. It was quite on the Lido and very lovely. There was no noise that kept you from sleeping and it felt very safe. But, you do not feel like you are "in Venice." We wished we had spent more and stayed at a hotel in Venice facing the lagoon. *Our one problem was that we booked a lagoon view room with a balcony. When we arrived, they put us in a very nice room without a view or balcony. When I talked to the hotel staff, they offered to move us to another room, but not the one we contracted for. Why move if we couldn't get the room we wanted? The second day of our stay, they offered to move us to the contracted room, but, by that point we were already settled in to our original room and didn't find it worthwhile to move for 1 night. Upon check-out, they charged us the room rate for the original room we booked but never stayed in. This may have been a miscommunication with the new morning desk operator and we are still trying to work the bill out. It wasn't very well handled all the way around.

I had an xmas/ new year break at the Russo Palace Hotel and I really enjoyed it it was good value for money the rooms were newly decorated and the breakfasts were good. Only a short stroll to the Vaporetti stop and the Lido is on all the major water bus routes also only 45 mins from the Airport definately get the water bus to the Lido. Lido also good for visiting Murano and Burano islands, and does not get flooded like the main areas. Hotel was clean efficient cheap and when you are in Venice there is so much to see and do that the hotel isnt that important. Also after sightseeing you are too knackered to worry about the hotel. I would definitely stay there again if I return to Venice.

Breakfast room views stunning, quiet location, staff helpful, good breakfast, rooms in local style nice but were rather drab. Good Value for money

We had an enjoyable ten days at the Russo Palace Hotel in September 2004. The location is excellent, on the Lido, which is 10 minutes by waterbus from Venice city centre and has a more relaxed "resort" feeling about it. The hotel is quietly located, an easy walk along the waterside from the boat stop and with wonderful views over the lagoon. We had a balcony, which was even better for watching the lovely sunsets. Our room was smaller than some others and a little short on drawer space for two people staying more than a few days, but most guests seemed to be on shorter trips than us, and the balcony and view more than compensated! The bed was very comfortable and we slept well. We found the staff pleasant and helpful. The hotel is fairly small and does not do food apart from the cold buffet breakfast, but there are plenty of places to eat around the Gran Via, about a ten-minute walk away. I would certainly stay at the Russo Palace again.

Before arrival agreed to pay 15 euros for upgrade to room with Balcony when we arrived we were allocated a lagoon view but no balcony. No Balcony rooms available until following night, we were charged 10 euros for lagoon view for first night. Not what I would expect from 4*. One receptionist very friendly another offhand almost rude especially when we requested a drink about 2200hrs.

Excellent choice for those who are looking for a romantic stay in Lido island.Kind stuff,rich breakfast buffet,cool place for unforgatable holidays in Venice.I booked via --------------------- and it was ok ,I got a special price!!!

I had two rooms booked at Russo Palace but was told they had overbooked on the day of arrival and only had 1 room available. They did pay for a cab ride and booked another hotel for us. We were dissapointed because it was not on the water like Russo Palace. Don't have anything bad to say about their staff or hotel but we were incovenienced.

Read the earlier reviews and was expecting a charming little boutique hotel. What I got was a decent, functional if uninspiring number, good if you're looking for value, as other hotels in Venice at this price are risky, but if you're looking for charm and romance, I'd recommending spending a little more and staying somewhere else.

Wonderful service, breathtaking view, real Italian cappuccino! Don't miss this hotel on the Lido if you want to relax for at least a few hours of your stay in Venice.

This hotel has a great position with a wonderful view of the lagoon. We paid an extra 10 euros a night for a lagoon view and small balcony; even so it only cost 80 euros a night in March - a great bargain. It has been beautifully restored, rooms are a good size, nicely furnished and bathroom was excellent. Breakfast was very good, all cold but lots of choice. 5 minutes walk to the vaporetti and 15 minutes to San Marco. The Lido is a lovely place, nice restaurants and shops and a nice quiet change from the crowds in Venice. Would definitely stay there again.