The Villa Beatrice lies on the island of Venezia Lido and although it’s not exactly next door to all the top sights in town, it’s comfortable enough to make up for it. And getting to town isn’t too difficult, anyway: the nearest bus stop is just about 5 minutes from the villa. Take the A or the B bus, ride till the Lido- Santa Maria Elisabetta stop, and then take vaporetto number 1, 82, or 52 to get to town.

All our bookings (and subsequent changes) had been done either on the Net or by telephone with the lady who owns the hotel.Il patrona- as she was referred to by the maid- turned out to be a charming and helpful blonde who apologised for the fact that the room we’d booked wasn’t empty when we arrived, but ensured that our luggage was kept safely while we went off to explore Venice. Getting back in the evening, we saw our room for the first time- a comfortable place, with table, chairs, bedside tables, luggage rack, large wardrobe, TV, and minibar. The bathroom was small, but actually so well organised that you didn’t really feel the lack of space. Everything, down to the prettily embroidered white curtain at the bathroom window, was spotless. And yes- the walls were hung with large framed maps of Venice, all old and delicately etched.

A night’s stay cost us €90, and was inclusive of breakfast. The buffet breakfast, laid out on the bar counter, was a little more substantial than the usual coffee and rolls you’ll find in a lot of European hotels. In addition to our café con latte, there were two types of cereal; juice; prosciutto; salami; and fruit yoghurt. All of which we had sitting out on the verandah that abuts the lovely garden in front, with its urns full of pansies and its trees laden with fruit. The garden, in fact, was so alluring that we wished we had the luxury of spending some more time in it, probably in the hammock, with a good book and a long cool drink.

All in all, a very comfortable, quiet and pretty hotel. The atmosphere’s informal- we were given a key for the front gate, so that we could let ourselves when we returned. And the local cat, if you make sufficiently pleasing sounds to it, may just condescend to pose for a photograph.

It's delightful, totally. The place is run by a husband and wife team whose names I never did get, but who have a cat named Brian. He, the husband, is an artist in addition to running the B&B and his work hangs on the walls. The hotel has been completely re-done in the past year with new floors, windows, doors, moulding and plumbing. The rooms are large and have king sized beds, ceiling fans, mini-bars and matching antique furnishings. The bathrooms are well equiped with tub/shower combos, hair dryers and good ventalation. Everything was immaculate. Breakfast is included in the room and is a bufffet of cereals, yogurts, fruits and juices, cheese and sliced meats. The Breakfast room is open and airy with a wall of sliding glass doors looking out onto the privite garden. The area is quiet and green and seemed very un-touristy.