The NH Laguna Palace is one of a handful of more modern hotels in Mestre, a commercial area in mainland Venice with much more reasonably priced properties than on the island. The hotel is popular with tour groups and business travelers and is made up of two buildings divided by a marina where water taxis are available. Rooms range from standards to suites, and those in the main building are the nicest. All come with air-conditioning and some have views of the marina. It’s worth comparing rates with the similarly modern Hotel Residence Elite, but unlike the Laguna Palace, it doesn't have a marina. 

The Best Western Bologna Hotel - Mestre Station is a renovated and modern mid-sized chain hotel. The location in Mestre is directly across the street from a train station bringing passengers into Venice in under 10 minutes. This upper-middle-range property attracts tourists who want to spend the day in Venice but avoid the high hotel costs on the island itself. There isn't much reason to stay in this neighborhood other than the fast access to the canals of Venice. The hotel has a casual restaurant, Da Tura, and free Wi-Fi.

The Hotel Monaco and Grand Canal in Venice is historic hotel that offers an upscale environment in a prime location near St. Mark's Square, and the price reflects that. Rooms have classic Venetian style but may fall a tad short of four-star expectations, and there's not much in the way of property features besides the restaurant and meeting rooms. The nearby (and comparable) Hotel Saturnia & International is often a bit cheaper, but it lacks Hotel Monaco's waterfront setting.

The Antony Hotel is a modern, mid-range property located on the outskirts of Mestre, between the city of Venice and the Marco Polo Airport. It caters to travelers going on cruises and offers shuttle service to the cruise terminal, while also being convenient to the airport for early flights. The hotel provides easy access to Venice by bus, but is cheaper and less crowded than similar hotels on the Venetian island. Most guest rooms have been refurbished, and some have pretty views of Venice. A free buffet breakfast is on offer and there’s a decent restaurant on site, but there’s not much going on right around the hotel.

The 20-room Hotel Bucintoro is a unique property in Venice, with elegant decor inspired by ancient sailboats. It’s located on the eastern side of the docks, removed from the crowds but within walking distance to major attractions such as Piazza San Marco. Most rooms are small, but all feature gorgeous views of the lagoon and the city (you can even see the Campanile), as well as classy decor with wood panels and a subtle maritime theme, flat-screen TVs, minibars, and marble bathrooms. There’s not much in the way of amenities, just a business center, a bar, and a cozybreakfast room, and rates can be steep. But the quiet locale, the beautiful rooms, and the views make it a wonderful pick.