We stayed November 18–20, 2025, in a Deluxe King guest room booked with Marriott Bonvoy points. This review reflects our own stay; room inclusions and transport arrangements may change.
Venice was one of the stops I was most excited about on our 2-week Italy road trip. I had also been saving Marriott Bonvoy points for a special hotel, so we used them to book two nights at The Gritti Palace.
This was our first luxury hotel stay, and I wondered whether it would feel meaningfully different once we were actually there. For us, it did. The location made it easy to explore Venice, but it was the smaller details, from our marble bathroom to the warm welcome, that made the stay memorable.
Here’s what our Deluxe King room was like and why the hotel worked so well as a base for exploring Venice.
A Little History of The Gritti Palace
The Gritti Palace occupies a historic building on Venice’s Grand Canal. The Pisani family gave it its present Gothic form in 1475, and in 1525 it became the private residence of Andrea Gritti, the Doge of Venice. The palace was converted into a hotel in 1895 and underwent a major restoration in 2013, preserving its Venetian character while updating the rooms for modern guests.
That history was part of the appeal for us. We weren’t staying in a modern hotel designed to look and feel Venetian. The building’s setting and interiors gave us a sense of being somewhere distinctive to the city.
Our Deluxe King Guest Room
We booked a Deluxe King guest room using Marriott Bonvoy points we had saved. Our room didn’t have much of a view, but that honestly didn’t bother us. We spent our days exploring Venice, and the room itself was what we enjoyed coming back to.
I loved the wallpaper and the traditional, elegant furniture.
The bathroom stood out immediately. It was finished in Venetian marble from floor to ceiling and felt especially luxurious after a full day of walking around the city. I also loved seeing the Murano glass chandeliers and the care put into the hotel’s decorative details. Those touches gave the space character without making it feel like a generic luxury room.
The Welcome and Service
We were greeted with a bottle of Prosecco, which was a thoughtful way to start our stay. More than any single amenity, though, I remember how welcoming the staff were.
They were helpful and genuinely informative when we asked what to do. Rather than offering only a list of famous sights, they gave us suggestions based on our interests and places we wanted to explore. As first-time luxury hotel guests, we appreciated that the service felt attentive without making us feel out of place.
We felt comfortable and secure throughout our two-night stay.
Breakfast at The Gritti Palace
Breakfast was included with our booking, (inclusions may differ) and it was one of the highlights of the stay.
The buffet had a generous selection of pastries, meats and cheeses. We could also order from the menu at no extra charge, which was a nice touch. I enjoyed eggs benedict and English Breakfast tea along with multiple complimentary mimosas. It made breakfast feel like an experience we could take our time over before heading out into Venice.
Not to mention the views from the dining room are incredible, overlooking the Grande Canal.
Location: A Great Base for a Short Venice Stay
The Gritti Palace is in the San Marco area on the Grand Canal, near La Fenice Theatre and Piazza San Marco. For our short stay, its location worked beautifully. We could head out to explore Venice’s museums, galleries, workshops and boutiques, then return without feeling that the hotel was far from everything we wanted to see.
One of my favourite things about Venice was wandering without a strict plan. We found so many interesting streets and shops simply by setting off from the hotel and seeing where we ended up.
For food, I would still make time to explore beyond the immediate area around the big sights. We did a food tour on our first night, and the tips we learned shaped the rest of our visit. I’ve shared them in my Venice Food Guide, including what to eat, how to find a good bà caro and what to look for when choosing a restaurant.
Getting to the Hotel
The hotel can arrange a paid assisted transfer if you’d like someone to meet you and help with the journey. Private water taxis can also reach its pier, while public transport is another option. Ask the concierge about the current choices and costs before you travel.
During our November 2025 stay, construction on the bridge beside the hotel made the area a little busier, and the closest vaporetto stop was closed. We had to walk a little farther, but it didn’t spoil our visit. This was work in the surrounding area during our dates, so check the current route rather than planning around our experience.
If you’re arriving in Venice by car as we did, you’ll need to leave it before heading into the historic centre. My guide to driving in Italy covers the parking and transport planning that helped us.
What We Loved and What We’d Consider Before Booking Again
What made The Gritti Palace special for us was the combination of its central location, historic character and thoughtful service. I loved our marble bathroom, the Murano glass details, the Prosecco welcome and the chance to linger over an excellent breakfast. It felt like a treat from the moment we arrived.
The nearby bridge construction and vaporetto closure affected our route during this stay, but they weren’t issues with the hotel. We booked with points and didn’t select a room with a Grand Canal view. That wasn’t a drawback for us, but if a particular view matters to you, check the description of the room you’re booking.
Is The Gritti Palace Worth It?
For our trip, absolutely. Using saved Marriott Bonvoy points gave us the chance to try a hotel we might not otherwise have booked. Staying here became one of the most memorable stays of our Italy road trip.
I’d recommend The Gritti Palace if you’re celebrating something or want the hotel itself to be part of your Venice experience. If you expect to be out from morning until late at night and mainly need a place to sleep, I’d put that money toward a longer stay in the city instead.
I can’t say whether it would be worth a particular cash rate for you, since rates change and we booked with points. If you’re deciding whether to spend more for a special Venice stay, think about what you’ll value most. If it’s attentive service, a historic setting and a convenient base for exploring, I think The Gritti Palace delivers.
We stayed only two nights, but we left feeling that we’d made the most of both the hotel and the city. For our first luxury hotel experience, it set a very high bar.
