Venice - Italy - page 284

(SS. Apostoli, Cannaregio 4587; % 041-5225810; www.hotelgiorgione.com). I call
it interesting because the shape and size of every room is unique; there's simply no
way to be certain of what to expect. Giorgione may look small, but there are 76
rooms, including some rather small standard rooms, and wonderful units with
private terraces (my favorite is room 308), from which the rooftop views are mag-
ical. Whichever room you end up with, you'll enjoy the service here; its staff
maintains a sharp sense of what four-star service is all about, and there are plenty
of welcome touches and facilities like all-day tea-and-coffee service, a billiards
room, and an enclosed fountain courtyard. Expect to pay between 150 and

€ 265, but off-season Internet specials can often drop the price even lower (always
check the website before booking). During slower periods, lunch may be included
in the competitive room rate. Just like the more affordable Hotel Bernardi
Semenzato nearby, Giorgione is a short walk from the Rialto, and just 10 minutes
from St. Mark's Square.
Hostels in Cannaregio
€ - €€

€

If you book well enough in advance (I suggest 2 weeks) you can get a
bed in a dorm at Alloggi Gerotto Calderan ( % 041-715562; no credit cards) for
€

62 per night. Guest rooms (singles,
doubles, and triples) are toothpaste-white and spartan, with faux-antique head-
boards and eclectically dressed beds (some have floral linen, others feature shock-
ing pink covers). Ask for a room overlooking the square, as these have views of the
Palazzo Labia.
€ Ostella Santa Fosca (Fondamenta Canale, Cannaregio 2372; % 041-715733;
www.santafosca.it) occupies a former nunnery, and is now run by students. Dorm
beds start at € 19, and there's a small discount for holders of various youth conces-
sion cards, including the ISIC and Rolling Venice. A bed in a double room is only
marginally more expensive. The old convent includes a garden, which is a great
spot to stroll. In summer you have access to a self-catering kitchen. Reservations
are accepted only a week in advance.
ACCOMMODATIONS IN DORSODURO
Dorsoduro is a vibrant neighborhood with a number of lively student hangouts
and affordable restaurants. In the early evening, residents come to Dorsoduro's
long south-facing Zattere promenade to relax, jog, or walk their dogs. Many of its
lodgings are discreetly disguised as private residences, as though they'd rather not
cause offense, but inside, there's nearly always a warm welcome and a degree of
hospitality not always matched by more expensive options in San Marco.

21. En suite rooms range from

€

46 to

€

€€ - €€€

Dorsoduro's last word in standard budget hotels has got to be
Locanda Ca' Foscari (Calle della Frescada, Dorsoduro 3887/B; % 041-710401;
www.locandacafoscari.com), where a double with private bathroom costs just
€ 93. A word of warning, however: The rooms are exceptionally plain, with bland
floral bedspreads, and a genuine lack of space. Sure, this is a viable option when
other plans fall apart, but I for one would rather fork out a tiny bit extra for a