The Hotel Pausania is tucked away from the tourist-filled center of Venice and that quiet setting carries over to the hotel's atmosphere. This 14th-century building was once a family home before being converted into a hotel. The lobby is spacious, but cozy, with exposed beam ceilings, marble columns, and a bold color scheme of reds and golds. Like most hotels in this city, decor is decidedly old school. There's a casual lounge that doubles as a bar, plus a conservatory where breakfast is served. Even so, you won't find many guests hanging around the hotel, as it's mostly a home base for exploring the city. If classic style is your thing, there can be a bit of romance to the property, so it's no surprise that couples are the main visitors here.

This hotel is located in Dorsoduro, where some of the city's most famous museums and art galleries are situated. The renowned Peggy Guggenheim Collection and the Accademia Gallery are both within an 10-minute walk. The surrounding area is peaceful, as it's set away from the constant crowds of Piazza San Marco, but the downside of this is that it's also farther from most of the major attractions. It's a four-minute walk to the Ca' Rezzonico vaporetto station and, from there, you can catch a ride to the Rialto Bridge or Piazza San Marco in around 10 to 15 minutes. Other attractions in Dorsoduro include the stunning Santa Maria delle Salute Church, which is about 15 minutes away on foot. By a combination of walking and taxi, it's around a 30- to 45-minute trip to Marco Polo Airport.

Like the rest of the hotel, rooms have a traditional look that includes wainscoted walls and -- in some units -- wonderful frescoes on ceilings. Bedspreads, padded headboards, curtains, and fabric on chairs are the definition of matchy-matchy, while the furniture has antique silhouettes. Some rooms are lit by elegant chandeliers, while others have modern spotlights. Overall, it all looks a bit dated. Each room features free Wi-Fi, a flat-screen TV with cable channels, a minibar, tea- and coffee-making facilities, air-conditioning, and a desk. Tiled bathrooms are small and feature shower/tub combos, bidets, and heated tower rails. Counter space is limited, but each has a wall-mounted hairdryer, towels, and toiletries.

The hotel doesn't have too much in the way of features. The highlight is the spacious lobby area, which includes large sofas and nooks for reading, a large flat-screen TV, and the small bar serving drinks. There's no restaurant, but a continental breakfast is served in a bright conservatory area, and includes cold cuts, cheese, fruit, breads, pastries, cereals, tea, coffee, and juice. It's not included in nightly rates. There's a computer station and the reception desk is open 24 hours. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel. Guests also receive free access to the Venice Casino and a Murano Glass factory.