Venetian Luxury

With approximately 20 million tourists visiting Venice each year, it’s easy to start feeling over crowded in the city of canals. But with a stay at the Hotel Cipriani, travelers can take in all the charm of Venice and then escape to an oasis away from the masses.

Just seven minutes from St. Mark’s Square by motorboat, the Cipriani dates back to the 1950s, when Giuseppe Cipriani – whose claims to fame include being the founder of Harry’s Bar and the inventor of the Bellini cocktail – and some friends bought land on the semiprivate island of Giudecca to create a respite for Venice visitors. The island was known as the “garden of delights” in the 18th century and, with the acquisition of new gardens and hideaway corners since then, the name rings true even today.

Today, the hotel is part of the elegant Orient-Express chain, and also includes the Palazzo Vendramin, a small 15th century palace to the south of the main property that has been incorporated into the hotel. Rooms here come complete with butler service and fantastic views of St. Mark’s Square.

If suites are the height of luxury, regular rooms aren’t exactly what you’d call “typical” either. Bathrooms are enormous and have amenities from Bulgari, while garden patios have private gates that open up to the pool. Rooms are decorated in impeccable Venetian style and feature generously sized king or twin beds. And no matter how stifling the weather in Venice is, there are cool lagoon breezes weaving around the Cipriani’s gardens and grounds, sure to refresh even the most tired of guests.

A favorite among celebrities such from Frank Sinatra to George Clooney, the hotel is probably not your everyday getaway. But if you’re ever up for a splurge, this is the place to do it.