The Gritti Palace in Venice, Italy
The Gritti Palace, A Luxury Hotel in Venice
Ten years ago I first visited The Gritti Palace in Venice, Italy. It was a brief visit, to check out the design of a new cruise ship being built at the nearby Fincantieri Shipyard. While I didn’t have much time to enjoy the hotel, the memorable moments I encountered stayed with me through the years. When my husband and I began to plan our vacation in Italy, The Gritti Palace was at the top of our lodging wishlist. While this hotel is at the upper end for anyone’s budget, and definitely a splurge, a return visit to The Gritti Palace was even more magical than I remembered.
This 15th century palazzo was once a private residence for nobility. In 1895 it opened as a luxury hotel and has hosted numerous artists and celebrities over the years. It’s location on the Grand Canal makes it the perfect setting for an iconic Venetian experience, and the view of Santa Maria delle Salute Church just adds even more to the view!
Here are few things that stood out for me during this extravagant visit to one of the world’s most romantic cities.
01
The Arrival
Flying into Venice Marco Polo Airport is definitely the way to get there, however the train is also a comfortable option. Both introduce Venice’s canals from window views. Upon arrival to the airport, we hopped onto a private water taxi and arrived in style at The Gritti Palace. The hotel concierge was ready and waiting as we pulled up to the private dock.
02
Our Room
The Gritti Palace is part of the Marriott Luxury Hotel Collection. As Marriott Bonvoy members, we booked under our account and were surprised with a room upgrade upon check in. Our room, 215, was a Canal View room with a standing balcony. Each room is decorated in priceless antiques and every amenity imaginable. If they don’t have it, just ask!
03
The Pampering
The Concierge and Management team reached out to us before our arrival, offering to make any travel arrangements or activity bookings. When asked the purpose of our visit, I mentioned it was a romantic getaway and my husband’s birthday trip. We were delighted to check into our room and find a bottle of Prosecco on ice waiting for us. Of course, we had a toast on our balcony to start our week of exploring Italy.
04
The Food & Cocktails
Each morning we enjoyed the breakfast buffet with a view of the Grand Canal. It was stunning to begin the day watching the gondolas and water taxis pass by as we sipped Prosecco and enjoyed a variety of morning offerings, including Eggs Benedict.
Evenings were spent at Bar Longhi for a nightcap and the best cocktails imaginable. The wait staff was attentive, knew our names and preferences, and we were definitely spoiled.
05
The Concierge Service
Before exploring Venice, we stopped at the Concierge Desk to ask a few questions. Our plan was to visit the islands of Murano and Burano with lunch at Da Romano. The Concierge called for a complimentary water taxi to their partner Murano glass factory, Signoretti, and also to Burano where there is a lace shop right next door to our lunch spot. Reservations were made for lunch and the restaurant even waiting for us before closing for the afternoon.
While these are just a few highlights from our stay at The Gritti Palace in Venice, Italy, there were so many more memories made. The location was perfect for ease of getting around and experiencing the magic of Venice, the attention to detail from the staff, and the energy of walking through the halls of such an iconic hotel will stay in our hearts forever.
