Review: Gritti Palace Venice, Marriott Luxury Collection

A few thoughts:

I don't agree with you that the property looks tired. This is the decor you expect at an old-school grand hotel, unlike the St. Regis Venice that could be the St. Regis [insert generic city here]. It reminds me of a stately home in England. One of the problems is clutter. I think they could remove a few things and the various spaces would look a lot more appealing.

I did think it was interesting the bathroom and Bar Longhi were clearly refreshed compared to all of the other spaces.

I also agree with you about the furniture in the hallways. It's Italy so who knows if there are even fire codes, but in the US there is no way the local fire marshal/inspector would allow small hallways to be obstructed with furniture. That's a major hazard in the event of a fire.

It's also great to see another Marriott property not screwing guests on the breakfast benefit.

I understand what you mean by shabby chic, but I honestly am really into it!

Drats, now I have to plan a trip to Venice and stay at the St. Regis! I wonder how the St. Regis Florence compares to Venice?

Thank you very much for both reviews. They're both good and informative as always.
Question - did you consider the Aman, which in general, I know you've been a fan of? I hear they have a property there and it's pretty well regarded.

"I might not have felt this way if I hadn’t stayed at the St. Regis"

After you had looked at both hotels, I would say it was pretty obvious which one was the nicer one.

Perhaps in the future, you adjust your order of stay?. The lesser property first, followed by the nicer one. Will give you and your readers a better perspective. Plus (shockingly) you can give the property a fairer review ;-).

You have an impact on businesses, and sometimes it feels like you do not care about this.

I stayed there prior to Covid for an event I attended and the best I could get last minute was the most basic room. It was the first room ever that I was able to lay on the bed and actually access every area in the room. I could even open the door without sitting up. No thanks, Venice is lovely at times, but the hotels are dismal and damp and insanely over priced. If I have work there I stay off the island and commute in, like most Italians, lol.

Thank you for the review. Went to Venice few years ago for the first time, stayed at the JW Marriott, it was amazing! The small island is only accessible by boat, it's an unique experience just getting to the hotel. The room is modern as well. Can't wait to go back again soon

It truly look dated. Highly recommond the JW marriott venice. its modern and on an island of its own. just getting to the hotel is an uique experience

The bar and restaurant look wonderful! I’m also curious whether you considered the Aman.

In your reviews your state that both hotels are located on the Grand Canal. In reality the Grand Canal snakes its way over a long distance through Venice and there are definitely differences in location on the Grand Canal -- how close you are to San Marco or Santa Lucia, or the nearest vaporetto stop. So while being on the Grand Canal is certainly nice, there can be better or worse locations depending upon your travel plans.

@ GBOAC -- Totally fair point, since the Grand Canal is huge. In the case of these two hotels, they do share an almost identical location, near San Marco.

@ Jordan -- To be clear, going in (and after reviewing the hotel websites) I expected I'd prefer Gritti Palace to the St. Regis. That didn't end up being the case after experiencing both. The pictures on the Gritti Palace's website make the hotel look a bit fresher than it actually is.

Regarding this comment: "You have an impact on businesses, and sometimes it feels like you do not care about this."

Seriously? I wrote a mostly positive review of this property, and just stated that I preferred one hotel over the other. After all, if you stay at two hotels, you're usually going to prefer one. Me sharing my opinion suggests I don't care about businesses?

It's kind of frustrating to spend hours writing honest reviews that are intended to be helpful, and try to share actual pros and cons, and yet the above is the only thing you take away from my mostly positive review?

@ Jason -- Thanks! I've heard pretty good things about the Aman Venice too. In this case I'm doing what I can to review points hotels, especially in cities (like Venice) that have excellent and aspirational options. So that's why I chose these two hotels over the Aman.

I liked the Gritti Palace for the very reason you didn't; the slightly shabby elegance, which is what Venice is about, to my mind. Plus, I appreciated that the warm, friendly employees seemed to have been there forever. (Contrast that with the Aman, where all the young staff appear to be aspiring actors, who are just too fabulous to bother responding to tiresome hotel guests...)
Over the past few years I've also enjoyed wonderful stays at the Cipriani and San Clemente Palace; both great for escaping the crowds. And the venerable Ca' Sagredo, for its old-world opulence and superlative Grand Canal views.

@ BKAloha -- Don't have any firsthand experience with the property, but it's on my list!

I think I speak for many other readers when I say that honest, unbiased reviews of points hotels and flights are the primary thing that keeps me reading this blog.

If Ben were to couch his true feelings because it might offend the businesses not only would that be a disservice to readers, but it would also cheapen positive reviews of other properties.

Honest, unbiased reviews without financial conflicts of interest are an asset to this blog and the only thing separating OMAAT from TPG, Sam Chui, and other lower-quality sites.

Great review of a tired old dame. Your photos of it have a bit of a "smell-o-vision" quality: a whiff of damp and must comes off the screen. That said, the St. Regis looks BLAND.

It's a shame the Grand Hotel Dei Dogi is no longer an Autograph property. Being in the northern Cannaregio and away from the crush of cruise passengers and Instagrammers, it offered a different experience to the San Marco tourist experience.

At night, the main language you heard from passers-by and nearby restaurant patrons was almost always Italian. Also had a giant, lovely garden where you took breakfast.

Feels like comparing two luxe hotels in very different areas of Venice would have been an interesting comparison!

Exactly. Well said Kay. (and Ben!)

I agree with you Ben about the hotel needing a refresh. Seems just a bit run down and has lost its sheen. Can tell from other comments that some people kinda like that? Like everything else, it's all personal preference I guess. Will admit that balancing that classic design with modern feel is a tough needle to thread. I didn't have much money the only time I was in Venice, so stayed in a shared space AirBNB for ~$50. Walking around the city and getting "lost" was one of my best travel experiences.

I'm interested in your perceptions on pricing here. I am still reeling from the menu at the 4S Hualalai in your review which had a veal milanese for USD69 (+ tax + service +sides) in a perfectly ordinary looking restaurant. You didn't call that our as being pricey. I had a stay at that hotel cancelled due to COVID and your review made me a bit relieved that I wasn't paying for dinner for 5 for 1 week there. Yet here the milanese is cheaper. Interested why your perception that lower prices in Venice are too high vs Hawaii.

Ah yes!! That makes sense. I do recall you mentioning that you'd spend a bit more time on points versus non-points properties for some of your upcoming trips. Thank you and again, I enjoyed reading both reviews.

Based on the pictures alone, I would much prefer the Gritti Palace over the St Regis.

Not my taste, so dated. No coffee machine in the room is a dealbreaker for me.

Those soup prices!

Appreciate your experience, but I found the old school historic quality of the Gritti to be its greatest source of charm during my stay last summer.

I found the hotel to have every modern convenience one could ask for while still feeling true to its sense of place. Indeed, I think the hotel is fresh given its 500 years old. No musty smell. Spotlessly clean. That St Regis by comparison could have been in Dubai or Shenzhen and you’d never have known the difference. Why even go to Venice?

Your choice of month to visit also really was suboptimal. Watching Venice wake up early in the am from The Gritti terrace over breakfast and aperitivi at Riva lounge on a warm evening are pure magic.

BTW you can request coffee any time there. We often had it in our suite early in the am with the doors to the grand canal wide open to see the sunrise on the water.

The good news for me is your lukewarm review means reward availability won’t be even Harder to come by than it is already.

Except it's not shabby chic at all, which is a very different design element from the classical furnishings seen here. Shabby, perhaps, as in they need repair or replacement from overuse. Chic, perhaps, in that their high-end and fit with the overall feel of the building. But no, it's not shabby chic.

You can also tell how close the hotels are to each other based off the multi-colored construction drop on the building across the canal. It looks like the St Regis was right across from this building whereas Gritti Palace was a few buildings down (maybe 100 yards).

I see what you mean that it looks a little dated. Though I also see that as a "classic" or historical look. Of course, for $1,000 I am not sure what is what I would be going for. The seating in the room looks downright uncomfortable, though I don't suppose you go to Venice to sit in your room for long periods of time. And I guess it's the American tuning to larger meals, but where did you have dinner after that cute pre-dinner "snack" at the hotel? 🙂 Good though that you found quality. The one time I was in Venice, we wound up in "tourist trap" places for dinner and they were just average, though hardly inexpensive. Venice certainly has its charms, but there are far better Italian cities for a meal.

My opinion is that most Marriott associated properties rooms look alike. They're White, sterile, and characterless. Anything different is refreshing.

I don’t know why anyone would stay at the JW Marriott over this hotel or the St Regis. The JW Marriott is a relatively modern-built hotel located away from what most people want to do and see, and most of the guests are Americans. I doubt you hear any Italian at the JW or even encounter a Venetian. All reports also seem to indicate that the JW is skimpy on breakfast benefits.

@Ben

Thank you for your fantastic reviews; I thoroughly enjoy them.

I have two questions as I'm planning a trip to Venice later this year with my hubby (we have the same age as you guys) and consider staying at one of these properties:

- was there a difference in friendliness of staff? From my experience that can make all the difference in the world and having the same employees for 20 years around can be a (very) good or bad thing.. Ultimately I don't mind a bit of shabby chic if a hotel has a soul and good vibes (for example I enjoyed my stay at Chateau Marmont some years ago), but I'm not sure if Gritti Palace falls into that category. Does Ford also prefer the St. Regis?

- how much of a pain is it to access Longhi Bar as a non-hotel guest? Again, I'm worried about too much snobbery.

Thanks in advance & next time please come to Switzerland for skiing 😉

Seems fitting to be described as "shabby chic" since it's literally in their name, "Gritty Palace".....

"The lesser property first, followed by the nicer one"

How is he supposed to know this in advance?

I think the staff at the Gritti are exceptional. Friendly, proactive, attentive but not overbearing. Everyone will know your name. The concierge team in particular know the city better than just about anyone.

Case in point: I proposed whole staying at the Gritti and we needed to get my fiancée’s ring re-sized immediately before continuing our trip to Tuscany. They were instrumental in finding a jeweler who could accommodate on short notice and for totally reasonable cost. The concierge team also worked tirelessly with me for months to set up a very specific proposal vision. They’re simply world class here.

Thanks for the great reviews! I appreciate your honest observations.
This one popped up today and because of the comparison, I immediately read the St. Regis review too. I’d say that if I had never read the reviews, but were shown the pictures I would probably have come to the same conclusions.
Thanks again for all the work you put into your reviews.

Why is it that hotels often only provide a single bathrobe in a room for two? In this case, we have two people in a suite that markets for over $2k and yet only one bathrobe is in the closet. Really? At least there were two pairs of slippers.

Asshole

Refreshed in 2013, absolutely zero shabbiness when I was there in Sept 2019. Maybe the floods in 2019 (or 2020 )(which came into the Lobby by about 3 feet).caused mustiness? . Was there any mustiness when you where there Ben?

What exactly was shabby (other than the idiosyncratic halls and stairs, which they can only go do much to). Or was it just old school decor ?

Taste is one thing, but labeling something shabby is another.

I will be going back for a week in June, and will see if it has changed dincd 2029

I have been staying at the Gritti for probably 40 years. Normally I prefer a modern hotel, but in Venice, you should go with the flo. They remodeled the bathrooms years ago as they were once pretty lousy. The service is excellent, and the concierges are second to none. Many have been there so long, we’ve all grown old together. I’ve never eaten in the restaurant as the concierges know the best places in town based on what you like to eat, and can get you in any of them if you plan in advance, which I do. They also can advise on anything else you want to see and do while there. None of this unfortunately comes without a price, and though I normally stay at 5 star hotels, the prices in Europe still make me wince. I have not tried the Aman though I’ve stayed at many, but I like the Gritti location better. Venice is a great walking city if the weather cooperates. I’ll be back in September.

Will you review the St Regis?

While I’ve never stayed at the St. Regis or Danieli I’ve dined and drank at both. I like Gritti better, you feel so much closer to the water and it’s a more interesting view. And love the old world charm.
Venice doesn’t allow coffee makers in rooms, fire hazard and given access for fires to be put out, seems to be a city ordinance. Another city, I think Florence, had similar rules

It’s pretty clear to me that both Ford and Ben would prefer Aman Venice which has the old world charm of Gritti Palace and modern B&B italia furniture. While old Venetian style and clean line modern furniture seem completely opposite, somehow Aman Venice was able to combine them seamlessly. Food at Aman Venice was also very good, for me, only Oro restaurant topped it for my stay in Venice.

From the photos, it’s actually not that difficult to update Gritti Palace. I suspect they kept it circa 1980s style because that’s what people expect…. Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.

I found the two reviews of Venice hotels most interesting and informative. In my opinion I would prefer the St Regis. But others may like the Gritti. I did find the decor and clutter at the Gritti would take away from any stay I would make there.
The prices for the hotels and hotel food are eye popping! I imagine they don't include service and tips either.

@ Marc Oliver

You can enter the hotel as a non guest - the canal side deck is a great spot for a leisurely lunch on a sunny day...

@ Marc Oliver

You can enter the hotel as a non guest - the canal side deck is a great spot for a leisurely lunch on a sunny day...

@Ben, I highly appreciate your detailed and fair reviews in general and, if anything, I think you are nuanced and kind when pointing out shortcomings. Any review needs to be interpreted and cross-referenced by the reader. I personally prefer the old world style of the Gritti but others will prefer the St Regis. To reassure the concerned reader, the Gritti is not in danger of going out of business any time soon becuase of Ben's review.

All I see in the pictures is clutter. I'd be mad if I see something this dated after spending $1000+ per night. Thanks for the review, Ben.

You didn't order Aviation and you call yourself an AvGeek?

You should try the Hyatt Centric Murano sometime. I stayed when it was MGallery and it was really my favourite hotel for visits to Venice. First off, they have free water taxi to airport. Secondly, it is historic area, but the hotel has all the mod-cons. But thirdly, it is much more affordable than this Marriott.

I devour these hotel reviews, for the obvious travel related reasons, but I confess to viewing the conversation threads as commentary porn and I love learning about the good, the bad and the ugly from the varied community of OMAAT. Here I have learnt that there are those who love the Venetian charm and those who prefer something a little more familiar. I am in the Venetian charm club and cannot go past the Cipriani .... who does not love a pool, garden and extraordinary staff just a short shuttle from San Marco.

Not sure how anyone could find a courtyard view (St Regis) that could be anywhere in Italy over a canal view at this hotel. I actually really appreciated this review and would consider staying here. There aren't many options to use points and standard upgrade for a canal view in Venice. Venice is all about a sense of place and canal views are part of that. As for the in-room coffee, I think this is something worth discussing. Nearly all bloggers - and for that matter most people that write for a living - seem to be introverts and not always inclined to ask for what they want. Americans, even more so. Most people I know who can regularly pay for $2,000+ a night hotel room are not introverts or at least have no hesitation asking for exactly what they want even if there is no reason to assume it is on offer. The staff experiences this regularly. It is something to consider if you choose to book yourself in a hotel with expensive rooms. If you want the hotel to buy you a specific coffee machine for the three nights and put a charge on your bill, they may well do it (or not but appreciate having an interesting story). Ask for what you want. Everyone will be more comfortable if you do.

The Gritti Palace has been completely renovated just few years ago, same like the St Regis. The difference between these renovations was that at the Gritti they restored all the historic furnishing which is extremly time and cost intense. The St Regis lost all the charm from its original history and could be really anywhere in the world. It's fine if you prefer the style of the St regis but the comparison between these properties makes very little sense.

I stayed there one night a few years back. One of the best hotel stays ever. Used points, was treated like royalty. Given a choice of a suite on a side canal or a room directly on the Canal with a Juliette balcony. ( took the room on the Canal). Had a lovely brunch on the canal with way too much Prosecco. Service was impeccable.

I stayed at the Gritti for a week in late October and loved it. The patio is pure magic with a very interesting clientele. The Longhi Bar is an absolute jewel box with amazing art work. I also loved our bathroom. Totally redone and fresh and well thought out. I’ve stayed in some very nice hotels, and this was probably the nicest bathroom ever. I found the upkeep of the hotel to be excellent. It felt like Italy. So special.

$2100 for that suite??? Unbelievable rip-off. And those F&B charges are crazy. Anyone paying those prices has more money than sense.
Shabby chic? More like crappy shit.

wow that's exactly what I mean. things like this make all the difference in my book. thanks for letting me know. I'll seriously consider splurging on this hotel now.

btw I also think your assessment about the st regis Venice is spot on and made me laugh: it looks so bland and corporate it might as well be in Dubai or Shenzhen...

Wow. It's one thing to like or recommend a hotel, but returning to the same hotel for 40 years truly speaks for itself!! It must be very nice and comforting having found such a place. Really seems like a hotel with a soul.

Thanks for your advice about planning reservations in advance. Wishing you a many more memorable stays at your pied-à-terre 😉

thanks - I'll check the terrace out for sure 🙂

@ red_robbo

There is some truth in what you say - you can book a Grand Canal fronting suite at the Al Ponte Antico at Rialto for a fraction of the price and enjoy a family run hotel with only 9 rooms, if you prefer.

You can also go budget and stay at the highly regarded Generator Venice on Giudecca, away from the crowds, eat for a few Euros and have fun too.

But there's where our opinions diverge.

Indeed, it's unfortunate that The Gritti Palace is so "crappy shit" that clearly the 15-month and USD55 million renovation in 2013 was not sophisticated enough for somebody of your evident taste.

No doubt you'd have refused an invitation to one of the Cartier nightly parties during the 2021 film festival held on its rooftop terrace. Cartier clearly picked the wrong venue to wow its coterie.

And I'm sure that Tom Cruise was absolutely fuming when he had to "hole up" in such a dump during his COVID isolation a couple of years ago.

Didn't you get the memo? You can stay there on your Marriott Bonvoy points. If you don't want to experience having a drink or a meal on the deck watching the bustle of the Grand Canal across from the Salute, one of the best vantage points in the whole of Venice, you can walk up the street to snag a slice of pizza for 5 Euros instead.

@ Grey

Also stayed there during the MGallery days - I would readily recommend a couple of nights on Murano for a completely different angle on the Venice experience.

Enjoyed a canal view suite for a very reasonable price. The day trippers empty out late afternoon leaving you mostly with the locals to find a nice spot for a leisurely waterside meal.

@ Marc Oliver

It's also worth going over to the island of Giudecca. At one end you can eat at Harry's Dolci (near the Hilton) and the other the Cip Club(beside the Belmond Cipriani) with a number of more local wine bars and eateries in between.

Recently I stayed there for 3 nights as a Titanium elite. I used 3 SNAs and they got confirmed so quickly. Originally my room was upgraded to Serenissima Suite and 2 days before arrival it was upgraded to Heritage suite. I really enjoyed my stay and everything was so nice.

One thing I don't like is their breakfast. I just don't understand why their breakfast was so mediocre despite the expensive rates. There were literally no hot dishes in the buffet section, not even sausages. The only hot dish is the egg which can only be ordered from the menu.

Our group of 3 couples stayed at the Gritti Palace in October 2019 for 2 nights before starting a 9 night Rick Steves tour. If you know Rick Steves, the Gritti is NOT the type of hotel you get. We used points and stayed in a standard room. We came by vaperetto and disembarked at the landing. What a way to arrive in Venice. As stated, the staff was professional and very helpful. The rooms had an old world charm the we really liked. They were clean, comfortable and large enough for us. We didn't eat in the restaurant, but did go to the bar. In short, we liked everything about the Gritti Palace and plan to go back in a couple of years.

Ben, I’m almost positive that ma not an Aperol Spritz, too dark to be. Pretty much anywhere else in Italy I’d say Campari Spritz, but being Venice, I’d go with Select Spritz (Venice authentic), I must say though, the olive is missing.

I loved this review and the St. Regis Venice review, Ben! Great to hear your perspective on two of the leading points hotels in a frequently visited city.

I stayed at the St. Regis when it was the Westin Europa & Regina and thought it was one of the best Westins I have ever stayed in.

One note - you don't HAVE to take a private water taxi from the train station. It is possible to take a vaporetto and then walk a couple of blocks.

Otherwise, great reviews!