Casa Peron

Don't cry for me Argentina! (Or at least don't cry unless Casa Peron is booked solid!) We can't stop singing the praises of this budget find, an eclectic and artsy one-star hotel situated right on the border of Santa Croce and San Polo.

Gianrico Scarpa’s family has been running the Peron for the last 90 years, and the clan has packed it full of art. There are pieces hanging everywhere, all produced by Signor Scarpa, his friends and visiting guests (art students seem to be, er, drawn to the Casa Peron).

Quick read

Pros: Great, unique vibe. Homey feel. Excellent value. Fabulous location. Hotel “mascot” (Pierino the parrot).

Cons: Lots of stairs (no elevator). Some street noise. Some rooms are not air conditioned.

Rooms

Each of the Casa Peron’s 11 mid-sized guest rooms sports an original piece of artwork, but is otherwise quite simple. Expect white walls, plain wooden furnishings and bright orange-and-red bedding. All but three of the rooms are air conditioned, and none of them have a TV or telephone.

Three rooms, however, offer a small private balcony overlooking the back garden. (Rooms facing the garden are also, notably, quieter options.)

Bathrooms

Bathrooms come in shades of pink and gray, with rounded corner showers for extra space (a real find in Venetian hotels). All rooms have a private shower, but only seven have a private toilet (the rest share a toilet in the hall).

Hotel

The Casa Peron is a simple affair, but it’s simple with style. The unique artwork is one thing, and then there is the friendly family who runs the place, complete with Pierino, the pet parrot who will greet you in the reception (and may squawk from his curtain-rod perch as you climb the stairs to your room).

A continental breakfast is included in the room rate, and Wi-Fi is free throughout. Note that the Casa Peron has steep, narrow stairs and no elevator.