It's official! My favorite city so far in Italy was Venice! Despite all the horror stories about…read morethe flooding, I was happy to still have the chance to visit this city while I was in Italy.
During my recent stay in Venice, I reserved the Hotel Abbazia as it was one of the best locations near the Santa Lucia Railway Station. Literally, the hotel was 700 ft from the station, down an alleyway as I passed several restaurants; you can't beat the convenience and the price! For a budget hotel, this was a simple and decent stay--the room offers a small flat-screen TV, iron board and hairdryer, mini-refrigerator and air conditioner, and a hard ol' mattress queen bed, not the most comfortable bed but it was doable for the time that I spent there. The only thing it didn't offer was a damn elevator; BOO! Good thing for friends because my homegirl and her boyfriend were able to take my heavy ass suitcase up to the second floor or else a sista' would have been struggling! The hallways to the bedrooms were this sexy red lighting that automatically came on when it sensed any movement. I liked it but I sensed that my friends thought it was pretty creepy.
The hotel offers a beautiful elegant dining/bar area with a gorgeous chandelier. This is also where free breakfast is served in the morning. I hear breakfast offered an array of different pastries and fruit. If you have time to eat breakfast, I would give it a shot. Make sure you also check out the back-garden seating area. It's perfect for enjoying your breakfast in the morning or coming out to get some fresh air.
The staff during the evening was nice, however, I felt that the gentleman became irritated with me as the bedroom door had slammed shut on me as I was walking my friends out of my bedroom, and it just so happened that I had left my keys in the room. Also, just like similar hotels in Italy, the air conditioners turn off after a certain time, making these rooms stuffy. The only option I had was to open the window; UGH. The rooms are quiet, I couldn't hear my neighbors at all. The bathroom was super small, and the showers were not the best. The water temperature only provided cold water; BOO! You can tell the facility is a little outdated and needs some TLC.
Within the area alone, there are varies different restaurants. Once you walk out of the hotel, you are right in front of all the activities. You can take a Water Boat to any side of Venice, or you can do what I did and just walk the whole City as its pretty doable to do in 8 hours. There are also bars all throughout the area, making for a great night.
If you are looking for more of a convenient hotel near the station and close to many of the landmarks in Venice, I would definitely recommend this hotel if you are staying for less than 2 nights.
P.S-If you are planning to leave your luggage at this hotel as you roam the Venice area, please note that this hotel doesn't lock the door to the luggage room. Make sure you take your valuables with you.