Where to stay when you leave.
Cubicle Dreamin': Visiting Venice, La Dolce Vita Style
4/30/2008 at 4:30 PM
Tags: Cubicle Dreamin', Venice Hotels, Luxury Hotels
Cubicle Dreamin' is a feature in which we ask the hotel mavens to take some time out of their busy work day, surf the Internet, and tell us what hotel they wish they could beam themselves to right that very second--all on the slave driving companies dime, of course. Oh, like these people aren't surfing aimlessly anyway--at least now their purposeless clicking will be cobbled together into useful hotel stories--we hope. Have a destination hotel you are just dying to leave your cube for? Send the story our way.
In this episode, Hotel Maven MyTwoCents visits Venice...in her mind. Enjoy.
This morning we woke up feeling like a million dollars, even if we don't have it. In keeping with our morning fantasy, we continued to dream at our cubicle of the sweet life with a romantic getaway to Venice, no holds (or dollars) barred.
And in doing some rich and famous research, we found the perfect stay, the magnificently restored Hotel Danieli.
Lording over the San Marco Basin, this historic five-floor hotel is comprised of the 14th century gothic Dandolo Palace, the baroque 19th century Casa Nuova, and the modern Danielino building. Together the hotel offers 233 rooms with swank décor and modern amenities including satellite TV, minibars, mosaic-tiled baths and the ever-important A/C.
We fell in love with the former palace, of course, with it's abundance of pink marble, stained glass, gold leaf columns, Murano glass chandeliers and antiques. Like having your own museum where you can touch and feel everything without fear.
We could imagine ourselves sprawling out on the exquisite antique furniture in the morning, drinking espresso while we read the newspapers or used the Internet. Gothic arches and a huge marble staircase coax you up the atrium ceiling to the guest floors.
With all the warmth and rich cultural heritage of Venice, guests rooms here feature vaulted ceilings, frescoes and more rich antiques furnishings. Accommodations in the Casa Neuvo are a bit roomier, with pretty Venetian decor, and the newest building, the Danielino, offers 1930s style and objets d'art.
You can round off the day at the the Danielo bar with piano entertainment, high tea near the fireplace, or a cocktail on the rooftop. Later in the evening enjoy a late-night Mediterranean dinner at the famous Terrazza Danieli Restaurant, with traditional Venetian specialties and panoramic views of the Grand Canal and Adriatic Sea.
While the hotel is close to legendary sites as the Basilica, the Doge's Palace and the Bridge of Sighs, guests also enjoy the hotel's private boat to Lido for private beach facilities, swimming pool, tennis and golf at the two sister hotels The Westin Excelsior and Hotel Des Bains.
Alas, the splendor and romance of the Hotel Danieli is but a dream, at least for now. A deluxe twin in June goes for USD $1,142, while rate for the royal lagoon suite (our pick, of course) was USD $6,408.
[Photo: Robby92]
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