A 40-room family-run boutique near Piazza San Marco, Hotel Flora is a quiet escape in central Venice. A quality breakfast is served in the beautiful interior garden during the warm months, and guests can also bring drinks from the bar into the garden during the evening. Rooms are quaint and clean with free Wi-Fi, but some rooms are on the dark side (as is often typical in Venice). Upgrading to the deluxe suite gets significantly more space and polish.

Hotel Becher is a mid-range, 17-room, and largely typical canal-front property that veers little from the norm for Venice hotels. The location is outstanding for getting around the main attractions, and there are plenty of cafes within walking distance, though access via public transport is a little awkward. Rooms are classical 18th century Venetian and, while some are on the small size, many overlook the canal. Breakfast is included and offers a small selection of pastries and cold items. There's also a small but charming front patio area overlooking the San Luca canal. Rates are good for the location, but not great for the caliber of hotel, so it's worth comparing prices with the nearby Hotel Saturnia & International or AD Place Venice.

The Hotel Ala is a mid-range hotel with 85 rooms in a beautiful location convenient for travelers. It’s less than a minute’s walk to the Giglio vaporetto stop on the Grand Canal, and the shops and restaurants of St. Mark’s Square are within a five-minute walk. The hotel has a full bar and a rooftop terrace. The building and furnishings have some charming historical touches, but Classic Rooms are on the small side. Still, the hotel is one of the best hotels in this price range in San Marco.

The six-room Ca' Pagan is an eclectic Venice hotel filled with antique Venetian decorations, exposed wooden beam ceilings, and Murano glass fixtures. Rooms feature Asian and Venetian decor, flat-screen TVs, and windows with courtyard views, although the decor might be loud for some tastes.The hotel offers a free breakfast in a quaint room and rustic courtyard, and Wi-Fi is free throughout. Visitors may prefer the decor at the Hotel Hesperia, which is similarly priced but charges for Wi-Fi. 

The Hotel Casa Petrarca is a small, family-run bed-and-breakfast in a 14th-century building that's about a five-minute walk to St. Mark's Square. The value property, which has the ambience of a private home, has seven traditionally styled rooms with mini-fridges, coffeemakers, and mounted flat-screen TVs. Five of the rooms have air-conditioning and private bathrooms, while two share a bathroom and have ceiling fans in lieu of AC. Breakfast, which is included in the room rate, comes with eggs, pastries, cured meats, and cheeses, and is served in a charming room with damask fabrics overlooking a canal, or in guests' rooms. Wi-Fi is free throughout, and the hotel offers sightseeing itineraries. For a bed-and-breakfast with a touch more style and a roof terrace, travelers might want to check out the Ca' dei Fuseri. 

The 10-room Albergo San Samuele is a no-frills hotel that offers affordable rooms near the Grand Canal. The small hotel features a comfy lounge with a shared kitchenette and an Internet corner. Rooms are basic and have traditional decor, but lack TVs and air-conditioning. Some offer exposed wood beam ceilings, Murano glass fixtures, and balconies. If the lack of in-room TV is a deal-breaker, try the Hotel Hesperia, which also has some budget-friendly rooms and is near the railway station. 

The 48-room Hotel Montecarlo is a comfy, budget-friendly hotel close to the Piazza San Marco. Classic antique-inspired furnishings (that border on being just plain dated) and flat-screen TVs fill small, yet cozy rooms on a busy street. The hotel features a cozy bar, a buffet breakfast room with traditional furnishings, and a TV room with an Internet corner, but space in common areas is limited and can feel cramped. The three-pearl Hotel American Dinesen offers more spacious common areas and rooms, and has canal views.

The 30-room Antica Locanda al Gambero is a value option that's an enviably short walk from Piazza San Marco, the Rialto Bridge, and the Doge's Palace. Rooms are decorated in classic Venetian style, with antique furniture and wallpaper, though they offer modern features like flat-screen TVs and minibars as well. Some have balconies and views of a small canal. The breakfast buffet is free and goes beyond typical continental fare, and the on-site restaurant serves Italian fare and Venetian specialties. Travelers looking for slightly lower prices may want to consider Hotel Al Duca di Venezia, where some rooms have charming accents like exposed wood-beam ceilings.

The 44-room Gorizia a la Valigia, is a two-and-a-half-pearl hotel in the center of Venice, just a three-minute walk from St. Mark's Square and near most of the city's major sights. Decor is formal and old-fashioned -- which is fairly common in Venice's lower-category hotels. Rooms can be a bit gaudy and dated, but feature free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, minibars, and seasonally available air-conditioning. Some have terraces with views of the St. Mark's bell tower. The hotel has a bar, and a free continental breakfast buffet is included in rates (though it can be busy). Prices are reasonable for the area, but guests looking for a gym and sauna might try the nearby Bonvecchiati Hotel. Just keep in mind that you'll be paying more.

The 28-room Hotel Do Pozzi is a typical lower-middle-range hotel with classic Venetian decor -- ornate in the lobby, sparser in the rooms -- and limited amenities. It's located right in the heart of Venice, a four-minute walk to St. Mark's Square and a two-minute walk to the Grand Canal. Rooms are simple but tasteful, with wooden floors, air-conditioning, satellite TVs, and minibars, and there's a free breakfast served either in the breakfast room, the outdoor courtyard, or right in guest rooms. The nearby Hotel Violino d'Oro offers comparable digs with more ornate decor and a small cocktail bar, though its entry-level rooms are located in a less-desirable annex.

The Cavalletto & Doge Orseolo is in an excellent location across from both St. Mark’s Square and the Hard Rock Café on the Orseolo Basin. The 107-room 14th century, mid-range hotel is a basic option, with slightly dated furnishings and small rooms. Still, it's one of the most affordable options in this touristy area, there are a few attractive historical touches, and some guests feel that the rooms are nice enough. Those willing to stay farther from St. Mark’s Square will find that they can get much nicer accommodations at the Carnival Palace Hotel for around the same price.

The Albergo San Marco is in an excellent location steps away from the shops, restaurants and historical sights of St. Mark’s Square. However, the mid-range, 56-room hotel is need of renovation. The floors are uneven and paint has chipped off its façade. The historical Venetian decor inside the rooms looks a bit dated in some cases, rather than charmingly old-fashioned. It's one of the more affordable options in this central location, but it's also worth considering the similarly priced Hotel Ala.