At first glance the Domina Home Ca' Zusto -- housed in a 14th-century palazzo once owned by Venetian aristocracy -- doesn't look much different from many hotels the in area. If anything its facade appears somewhat more dilapidated than most. Inside, however, guests are immediately met with the contrast of super-colorful and contemporary interiors where mirrored panels reflect the tiny and almost shockingly pink reception area. The vibrant, modern color scheme continues throughout the rest of the hotel, where multi-colored beams match equally bold furnishings, save a quaint, medieval rear courtyard with ancient flagstones and ornate arches. The vibe is peaceful and, unlike many Venice hotels, unstuffy and playful with a real personal touch.

The hotel is located in the relatively quiet area of Santa Croce Venice within a five minutes' walk of water taxis and less than 10 minutes' walk from the main train station, Stazione di Venezia Santa Lucia. It's also about a 10-minute walk to Piazzale Roma and the main bus terminal at the end of the road into Venice -- the Via Liberta.  Although very convenient for those arriving with heavy luggage or kids, the immediate area isn't particularly interesting. However, a seven minutes' walk to the Riva di Biasio water taxi stop connects to the rest of the island. For those wanting to explore Venice on foot, St. Mark's Square and central Venice are a scenic 25-minute stroll away.

The 22 rooms are individually styled, each following a distinct color and named after a Turkish princess who's rumored to have stayed there. All rooms do, however, blend bold, colorful, and contemporary tones with modern takes on traditional furnishings, tied together with Byzantine flashes of gold and floral print. Compared with the bedrooms, bathrooms look a little lackluster with mostly beige and forest green tile, though some do include jetted tubs for two. Amenities standard to all rooms include wired Internet (no Wi-Fi in most), minibars, and flat-screen TVs with satellite channels. Although rooms are air-conditioned, lack of netting on windows means mosquitos can enter open windows, which can be an issue in Venice.

A free buffet breakfast is served each morning in the long, typically brightly-colored breakfast room, while cooked-to-order breakfast is available for a fee. Take-away picnic bags can also be arranged for guests who are planning to stroll around Venice. Free Wi-Fi is only really available in the small lobby area, though nearby rooms can pick it up intermittently.