Sleep (almost) in Venice, without spending a madness: review Garden Inn Venezia Mestre
Passing through Venice for a night and not wanting to bleed myself dry to sleep in the lagoon, partly because I literally don't [...]
VCE
Passing through Venice for a night and not wanting to bleed myself dry to sleep in the lagoon, partly because I literally would not enjoy the city, I decided to stay in Mestre, accumulating points by getting the most for the least investment.
In this article:
The best bonuses
Note that with SLH's entry into the Hilton family, available hotels in Laguna have more than doubled in size as there are as many as 5 properties participating in Small Luxury Hotels of the World
Reservation
As always, reservations are made via app. The cost for one night was 180€, alternatively 40k Hilton points were required, so using Hilton Honors points was not very advantageous. This reservation, between bonuses and active promotions eventually generated just under 7500 points.
Location
We are halfway between Mestre Station and Venice Airport. I honestly have no idea how convenient it is to reach the lagoon city from this hotel, but it is certainly not inconvenient. Certainly, however, it falls into the category of hotels near the airport.
I arrived at the station and took the hotel shuttle (20€) which costs about the same as a cab, but that finishing spending on the room account turns into points.
And again by hotel service I reached the airport. From here by boat I arrived in the lagoon for an event on the occasion of Qatar's return to Venice.
Check-in
I had been to this hotel before, a guest at a Costa Cruises event for a visit to the nearby shipyard where there was a ship under construction. I remembered this as I entered the lobby.
Check-in operations that, unfortunately, in Italy still have to be done in person and not as now in many other parts of the world via app. In any case everything was quite fast, even though there was only one attendant present, and in less than 10 minutes I was in my room.
The room
Being a top tier in Italy, but in Europe in general, is still a value. In the U.S., the Diamond card is found (almost) in the Dixan drum; this translates into difficulty in getting upgrades and generally better service. Venice, however, is overrun with Americans, so I did not expect a better room than the one I had booked.
And instead I have received an upgrade to King Corner Suite, the best room in the hotel and costing roughly twice as much as the basic room I had booked.
The room has two separate rooms. A small hall with a bathroom and closet, a small living room with a sofa, bar area and a TV, and the bedroom with a king bed and a second screen.
The room faces the quiet side of the hotel, the pool and spa side, and not the freeway that runs in front of the hotel.
Bathroom and room equipment are as per Garden Inn standard, there is nothing more than what should be there.
I relaxed for half an hour before getting ready to go out. Too bad about the weather, otherwise I would have gladly taken a dip in the pool.
SPA and Pool
Unfortunately, the weather was not the best in Italy in June, so I did not take advantage of the hotel's beautiful pool.
Having little time, I didn't even have a chance to browse the hotel's large SPA center.
There is also a small fitness area in the main body of the hotel and accessible h24
The hotel
Although close to the freeway, the hotel is surrounded by lots of greenery and the common areas are very bright.
There is a bar right at the entrance to the facility.
And a pleasant seating area on the opposite side.
And then there is the facility's restaurant, which is where breakfast is served.
Guests have access to a coin-operated laundry room, which is uncommon in Italy, but available in a great many American hotels and which with Marika we often use for our travels, especially to return home with little "dirt" and ease the sadness of the return.
As per Garden Inn's standard, there is also a small shop where you can buy snacks, drinks and basic necessities.
The bar operates until late in the evening, again the "American" influence in this hotel is noticeable.
Breakfast
In these chains everything is codified, that is, there is a real set of specifications to which each hotel, which I remind you does not belong to Hilton, must adhere.
This means that what is found in the breakfast buffet, Which is free for all Gold members or higher, is always the same, although then the hotel has the discretion to add any products, but not to offer less than what needs to be there.
Here I would have liked a real cappuccino and not from an espresso machine. Even worse, the machine was of the old generation, meaning powdered milk and not fresh milk.
In conclusion
Invaded hotel, as Venice despite the entrance fee, by American tourists and others. Of course sleeping in the lagoon has its charm, but the cost is as steep as the view is beautiful and you certainly don't have the quiet of this Garden Inn. I think for us "average" Italians it is perfect for being a tourist in the city but without bleeding ourselves dry.
Pro
- The Suite
- The swimming pool
Against
- Understaffed at the front desk
- No "real" cappuccino for breakfast
- Hot drink machine with powdered and not fresh milk