Hotel Excelsior Venice Lido Resort

Luxury and tranquility are the cornerstones of the beautiful Hotel Excelsior, which looks suitably grand both inside and out. Built in 1908 in typical Belle Epoque style, the hotel has had many famous guests over the years, including the Duke of Windsor and Winston Churchill. These days, guests are mostly tourists looking to experience Venice in retro style. And, once a year, the hotel plays host to the stars of the nearby Venice Film Festival. The enormous lobby is characterized by its polished wood floor and majestic white columns, and is representative of the Moorish-style decor throughout. The public areas are understated and classic, with plenty of open spaces, white-painted walls, and exposed brick. All the common areas are immaculate and stylish, from the restaurants to the lobby to the private beach, with a 1960s Mod style in some and a 1930s Art Deco feel in others; the rooms, with their more dated look, are a bit of a let-down in comparison.

The Hotel Excelsior is set right on the world-famous Lido beach on the Venice Lido island, and looks out onto its private beach and the Adriatic. It's just a few steps from the Palazzo del Cinema, where the Venice Film Festival is held each year in the late summer. St Mark's Square and the city's other main tourist attractions are about a 20-minute boat ride away, and the hotel runs a regular free shuttle service for guests to and from St Mark's Square approximately every hour throughout the day. The hotel's immediate surrounding area is quiet and residential, with lots of luxury homes, tree-lined avenues, and wide boulevards. 

The Hotel Excelsior's 197 rooms and suites are decorated in the hotel's signature Moorish style, with brightly colored, patterned wallpaper with matching painted wicker accents, and neutral carpets. Rooms have different color schemes, but all are pastels and jewel-tones, lending a beachy, 1960s feel. All are large, clean, and comfortable, many with separate sitting areas and vanities, but don't really feel quite as luxurious as the rest of the hotel; the retro style feels more in need of renovation than intentional. Some rooms face the ocean, while others have courtyard or city views; many have private balconies, some large enough for sitting areas. There's free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and fully stocked minibars in all rooms. The large, tiled bathrooms have Ferragamo toiletries, bathrobes, slippers, and rainfall showers, some of which are walk-in, while others are combined with the bathtub.

The Hotel Excelsior excels when it comes to features, especially during the warmer months. It has a private beach with cabanas and a beach bar, and a heated outdoor pool with a poolside bar. The Ristorante Tropicana has beautiful sea views and live music on the terrace in the summer, while La Taverna is a less formal dining option that also overlooks the beach. Blue Bar serves cocktails on the oceanfront terrace. There's also a large, state-of-the-art fitness center, as well as six tennis courts, a boutique, a hair salon, and a small spa. There's a kids' club that offers supervised, organized activities, so parents can get some time to themselves. There are a number of event spaces and meeting rooms, as well as a computer for guest use. The free ferry to and from St. Mark's Square is also a highlight.