A seven-room residence on the Grand Canal, Al Ponte Antico Hotel is an elegant restored palazzo with a lovely shaded terrace overlooking the Rialto Bridge. Located on a quiet street in the heart of Venice (and just an eight-minute walk to St. Mark's Square), this hotel has huge rooms with flat-screen TVs, gilded-edge headboards, and traditional decor (wallpaper, upholstery, and bedspreads are all patterned). Guests get plenty of personal attention at this intimate, family-managed property, and the free breakfast includes homemade pastries, crepes, eggs, fruit, and cold cuts.

Occupying a former 16th-century residential palace on a canal (with a private dock), this charming upscale hotel features beautiful, decadently decorated interiors with definite wow factor. Its 13 guest rooms are full of ornate details like antiques, silk damask wallpaper, frescoes, and candelabras, and are equipped with flat-screen TVs, minibars, air-conditioning, and free Wi-Fi. Bathrooms can be a bit small, however, and fixtures could use an update. A free buffet breakfast is served in an inviting dining room or, weather allowing, in a charming garden that feels like an oasis. The hotel is just a three-minute walk to a vaporetto stop, plus it's within walking distance of most attractions (but far from the train station). For something truly luxurious and with more features, check out the Westin Europa & Regina. 

The clean, 67-room Carnival Palace Hotel near the train station in Venice is tucked away in the quiet north of the city, away from the tourist bustle. A big, well-kept interior garden and small bar in the lobby provide convenient places to relax. Rooms are bright and upscale with Murano glass chandeliers and either face the Cannaregio Canal or the garden; the garden side is quieter. This hotel is a good pick for visitors that want to explore a more local side of Venice. It's worth comparing rates with UNA Hotel Venezia, but rooms here are more modern.

A classic Venetian small palace turned 36-room hotel, the UNA Hotel Venezia is located in the charming Cannaregio district near a Vaporetto stop. A cozy café serves a big breakfast buffet and free afternoon refreshments -- including Prosecco. Clean rooms have elegant, historical style (think: damask wallpaper, bed drapery, striped fabrics, gilded mirrors, chandeliers), but some may find the rooms with green decor a tad busy. There are pretty canal views from some rooms but there’s a pesky fee for Wi-Fi. It's worth comparing rates with the Carnival Palace Hotel, which has free Wi-Fi and arguably more stylish rooms.

The 42 luxurious rooms of Ca’Sagredo were designed in aristocratic Venetian style. This restored pink palazzo on the Grand Canal has maintained its original grandeur, including salons filled with frescoes and sweeping staircases. Huge rooms have plush furnishings and marble bathrooms; the terrace along the canal is a scenic place for a drink. This is one of the most decadent hotel experiences in Venice, and it's right on the Grand Canal, within walking distance of St. Mark's Square.

A luxurious, 72-room converted palazzo in the northern edge of Venice, Grand Hotel Dei Dogi, The Dedica Anthology is a quiet retreat from the chaotic heart of the city. The rare, private garden and spa with hot tub, sauna, and steam room are highlights. Rooms have classic decor and Venetian portraits, but upgrading to a Junior Suite gets guests more space and style -- these rooms have high ceilings and intricate crown molding. The hotel's location is far from Venice's main attractions, but it does offer free water taxi service to St. Mark's Square and Murano.

A 97-room classic Venetian property, B4 Bellini Venezia overlooks the Grand Canal near the bus terminal and train station. Rooms are traditional and elegant with small flat-screen TVs, Murano glass lamps, and big marble bathrooms -- some rooms have nice balconies, too. A bright breakfast room overlooks the garden and breakfast is free, but Wi-Fi is only available in the lobby and bar. Just note that the Cannaregio location is a significant trek from many popular tourist sights.

Hotel Principe is a formal, upscale 139-room hotel with classic touches in the Cannaregio district on the Grand Canal. The view is amazing on the terrace overlooking the canal where guests can enjoy all meals, including the free breakfast. It’s a four-minute walk to the Santa Lucia train station but farther way from more traditional tourist destinations like San Marco. The furnishings are traditional, and some guests have complained of small rooms and unpleasant odors. It’s worth comparing the hotel Principe to the Carnival Palace Hotel which is more modern but farther from the train station.