Hotel Noemi

Looking for Venetian pizzazz near the Piazza San Marco? Brother team Michele and Alviso turn up the glitz just behind the square at the Hotel Noemi. It’s a designer gem, and, depending on the rates, can be quite a good deal.

The three-star Hotel Noemi provides 16 smallish rooms with full-blown Venetian style. We’re talking about marble and parquet floors, colorful damask walls, gold bedspreads and other “gilt-y” pleasures. All rooms are equipped with air conditioning, a flat-screen TV (in a gold frame, no less), and telephone.

Snazzy “deluxe” rooms sport extras like canopy beds, street views and precious artwork and tapestries from Venetian masters. They sometimes run for only a bit more than the standard rooms and can be worth the extra money for the experience, plus a bit more space.

The private bathrooms are compact but fine, with a shower and a hair dryer. Deluxe rooms feature larger, marbled bathrooms.

But again, aside from the glitzy rooms, the chief selling point here is the location. The hotel is situated on one of the main streets linking the Rialto Bridge and Piazza San Marco. When you step out the door, you can just jump into the stream of people and be carried to either destination.

A continental breakfast buffet is included in the room rate. Wi-Fi is free throughout. Note that the hotel does not have an elevator.

The Hotel Noemi is a pleasant place, but its rates are only sometimes Cheapo-friendly. Even during low season, rates can sometimes skyrocket, but if you catch a low rate (around €160 for a double), you’ve definitely got a value on your hands.