Inside the crème de la crème of Venetian digs: The hotel that has it all from a 360-degree lagoon view from the rooftop pool to fine waterside dining
- Venice’s largest hotel and a landmark in its own right, the Hilton Molino Stucky sits on the Giudecca Canal
- The building dates back to 1884 when it started out as a flourmill owned by entrepreneur Giovanni Stucky
- It struggled to compete and was abandoned in 1955 until 2007, when it re-opened as a 379-room hotel
I have grappled with the question many times when planning my next getaway – hotel or Airbnb rental?
Especially for the thrifty traveller, renting a room often at a fraction of the price can be a sensible option.
But nothing beats that hotel feeling: freshly laid white sheets, soft pillows, a stack of fluffy towels and a comfy pair of slippers waiting in your wardrobe.
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Watery vistas: Take a dip in the hotel's rooftop pool while lapping up 360 degree views of the vast lagoon
Hotel rooms are classically furnished with authentic Venetian touches including Murano glass chandeliers. Pictured is a king executive room
Historic: The striking building was a former flour mill dating back to 1884 and has become a landmark in its own right
So when it came to booking a minibreak to Venice, I decided I wasn’t prepared to sacrifice luxury and opted for the crème de la crème of Venetian digs, the Hilton Molino Stucky.
Venice’s largest hotel and a city landmark in its own right, the Molino Stucky sits on the Giudecca Canal, just a short boat ride away from the bustle of St Mark’s Square.
The building’s rich history dates back to 1884 when it started out as a flourmill owned by Italian entrepreneur Giovanni Stucky. At its peak, the mill employed 1,500 people and produced 50 tons of flour per day.
Competition from the mainland eventually saw the mill fall into decline and it was abandoned in 1955 until 2007, when it re-opened as a 379-room hotel.
Stretched across eight floors, bedrooms boast original wood beam ceilings, neo-Gothic windows, marble en-suite bathrooms and are elegantly furnished with fine fabrics and Murano glass chandeliers.
Relax and re-fuel: Enjoy a glass of wine and feast on bread and olive as aperitivo hour strikes
Bacaromi is one of two restaurants located on site and serves traditional Venetian cuisine
Romantic: Bacaromi has a cluster of tables set up in the hotel’s pretty courtyard for guests in search of the ultimate waterfront dining experience
Standard rooms enjoy views of the pretty courtyard area, while rooms on the ‘executive’ floor face out onto the canal and imposing city skyline.
To wake up to a water view is certainly worth the extra pennies, however, Venice looks equally mesmerising from the hotel’s rooftop pool, which provides 360 degree views of the entire lagoon.
I visited the city in August so this was the ideal place to lap up the hot weather and take a lazy afternoon siesta. It is also a much-lauded spot as aperitivo hour approaches, with the bar serving all the favourite Italian cocktails – an Aperol Spritz for me (a combination of prosecco, bitter liquor and soda water) and a Bellini for my travel companion.
When we weren’t admiring the views or drinking cocktails, we were eating. Breakfast at Molino Stucky is a feast of pastries, cereal, fresh fruit, eggs, meat, fish and salads.
The views from the The Hilton Molino Stucky's rooftop bar (Skyline) are some of the best in the city
Hold on to your hat: Samantha (left) enjoys a stroll along the Giudecca Canal and (right) sips traditional Italian cocktails with her travel companion
Dinner is a more refined affair, with two top-notch restaurants located on site. Restaurant Bacaromi offers traditional Venetian dishes including stewed lamb shank and risotto with clams and prosecco, in a bistro-style setting. Next door, Aromi opens seasonally and serves fine Mediterranean cuisine.
For a quiet evening away from the hotel, stroll down the canal path in the direction of the Palanca Vaporetto water bus stop where you’ll find a row of reasonably priced family-run restaurants. Alternatively hop on the hotel’s shuttle boat to Zattere, a quaint waterfront promenade with easy access to Accademia Bridge.
While you may not be able to stumble out of the Molino Stucky straight onto the banks of the Grand Canal, the hotel’s boat service fills this void. It runs regularly to Zattere and Piazzo San Marco throughout the day until around midnight, costing just 4.50 euros per person, per stay.
Piazzo San Marco is widely known as Venice’s tourist epicenter and if you own a selfie stick you will fit right in here. The piazza is home to the famous St Mark’s Church (San Marco Basilica), Bridge of Sighs and Doge’s Palace among other must-see sights.
Samantha explored Venice’s Grand Canal by water bus but tourists can also take a scenic cruise in a private water taxi or gondola
Tourist hotspot: Venice's famous Bridge of Sighs was designed in the 16th century to connect the interrogation rooms with a prison on the other side
It is also one of the main pick up points for gondola rides, which will set you back around 80 euros for a 40-minute tour.
We decided our money was better spent elsewhere, so instead headed to get lost in the city’s labyrinth of streets, which is as mandatory as riding a gondola when you visit Venice.
From the pastel-hued houses to the countless bridges that crisscross the narrow canals, there really is a picture opportunity around every corner.
I know that I left Venice with some very beautiful looking social media feeds and in fact, I’d be willing to take a punt and say it's the most Instagrammable city in the world.
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~~\ ~ what a beautiful hotel ~ /~~ ~ I love Ital...
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