On a sunny December day, we traveled by train from Florence, Italy to Venice to stay at The Gritti Palace. If you haven’t been before, it’s certainly worth a visit! Such luxury and beauty everywhere you look. We took a water taxi from outside the train station in Venice and arrived directly in front of the hotel. The cost was 60 euro and is certainly easier than lugging your bags throughout the city. When we arrived, the staff proceeded to help us with our overnight bag as we exited the boat. 

Check-in

Check-in staff were gracious – it was a challenging time for them as the flooding from the canals had only recently passed. Not only was there damage to the hotel (none visible that we could see, but the spa and gym were closed for renovations), but there were far fewer tourists.

The Gritti Palace Rooms

We learned they upgraded our room to a beautiful suite – the Patron 1 bedroom with 1.5 baths. 

The room was amazing. We arrived to a bottle of chilled prosecco and a delicious birthday cake. Everything was tastefully decorated, and we thoroughly enjoyed the main bathroom entirely covered in dark marble including the large soaking tub. With a very spacious living room and a full dining table, it felt like home. Plus, the small juliet balcony with a view right on the grand canal was breathtaking. Even with a little rain, it didn’t stop us from enjoying the sites.

Please keep in mind that hotel rooms in Italy often do not have irons due to Italian legal code for fire safety. We remembered this as we were getting ready for dinner. Luckily, as platinum guests, we were able to have 2 items pressed complimentary and the turn around was in less than an hour!

The Decorations

The hotel was beautifully decorated for Christmas with a towering tree in the main lobby. We were able to admire the festivity before we ate dinner at their Club del Doge restaurant inside the hotel. As we were celebrating a birthday, we splurged on the truffle menu – decadence doesn’t begin to define it. Imagine a white truffle shaved onto every dish…including the apple tart dessert. The restaurant really is superb.

The Gritti Breakfast

Perhaps our most favorite thing about The Gritti Palace is the breakfast. Why, you may ask, given there are outstanding breakfasts at many Marriott properties? It’s simple – as a platinum guest, this one can be delivered as room service at no additional cost. Plus, you can choose anything you want from the menu and the staff will bring it right to your dining room table. Orange juice, fresh coffee, pastries, plates of fruit, omelettes, yogurts. Really extraordinary and you can enjoy it in your plush white bathrobe.

The Weather in Venice

Given the rain outside, we spent the morning lounging in our robes picking at the delicious breakfast. Regardless of the weather, we were glad to spend the day inside enjoying the room’s amenities. Our train was a bit later that day and late checkout was no issue. We were there through early afternoon.

Venice is such a special place to visit, no matter the time of year. While there are several choices for Marriott properties to stay at, none can compete with The Gritti Palace. For an added bonus, highly recommend visiting during Carnevale in February!