Four Seasons is one of the most luxurious hotel brands in the world, and it is natural to ask the question, is there a Four Seasons in Venice? After all, there’s a Four Seasons in Milan and in Florence (although there are no Four Seasons hotels in Rome), so surely there must be a Four Seasons in the watery city of Venice?
Is There A Four Seasons in Venice?
Well, unfortunately, the answer is no. There is no Four Seasons hotel or resort in Venice. There is a hotel with a great club lounge in Venice. Some of the best Marriott hotels in the world are also the best Marriott Bonvoy hotels in Venice. But there is no Four Seasons in Venice.
Wherever you are in the world, Four Seasons hotels are consistently one of the best in that city or resort. This means that most Four Seasons hotel room rates start at $500 – $1000 USD per night and because they don’t have a Four Seasons loyalty program, you will never be able to book a free stay by racking up and redeeming points, or by collecting points on your credit card and spending them on a Four Seasons hotel stay.
It can’t be done. But you can get free benefits or discounts at Four Seasons hotels, a secret few people know about.
So Where Should I Stay?
The best luxury hotels in Venice include The St. Regis and the Gritti Palace, which are part of the Marriott Bonvoy group, but we think the hotel that is most like a Four Seasons hotel is the Belmond Cipriani, an other-worldly resort with a gorgeous pool in Venice.
A favorite of the late Michael Winner and the location for George Clooney’s marriage, this magnificent hotel is nestled on the tip of Giudecca Island. The Belmond Hotel Cipriani is just 40 minutes by water taxi from Venice airport and a short boat ride across the water from St Mark’s Square.
When you enter the grounds of this hotel, Venice becomes partially inconsequential. The glamorous Narnia of luxury, the stunning rooms, exquisite gardens, and the perfect pool will stop you from leaving its perimeter. This exclusive hideaway under the Mediterranean sunshine also happens to enjoy dreamy views across Venice.
And yet Venice is on your doorstep, and a quick trip across the water in the stylish Belmond Hotel Cipriani shuttle (complete with its Top Gun style driver in his Raybans and white Navy-inspired suit) is certainly not to be missed. However, the maze of iffy scented canals, tiny passageways, pushy selfie stick vendors, stifling heat, and the crazy kamikaze pigeons in St. Marks Square can all be hard to bear for prolonged periods. So it can be a relief when the hotel’s shiny mahogany motorboat picks you up from the Hotel’s jetty just off St Marks Square, whisking you back to the gated solace of the hotel. You can request this complimentary pickup at absolutely any time of the day or night by just picking up the phone on the jetty, a stylish way to escape the wonderful madness that is Venice.
A highlight of the hotel is, of course, the pool. It is huge, surrounded by gardens and a bar & restaurant that’s open during the day and again later in the evening. The pool area itself is under the command of a lovely lady who will do her best to find you an ideal spot to while away your day poolside. Loungers are arranged by deck boys who will set up your sunbed with just the right amount of shade and provide as many Evian spritzers as you can use. Other than the size of this saltwater pool, what was noteworthy was the space around it. There are plenty of loungers available, and you can always find a little bit of peace and quiet if you so wish.
The gardens at the Belmond Hotel Cipriani are also beautiful. You can stroll underneath archways of roses and sweet-smelling white flowers, find a place on the lawns to laze or stroll through the kitchen garden. Tennis players can play a game or two on the secluded clay court while parents can shuffle children off to the kids’ club and enjoy the Spa and Wellness center. There’s wildlife too, the garden being home to a beautiful rabbit who helps the robot lawnmower keep the grass tended and a chicken and some friendly ducks too. It was fun at dusk to sit and watch them all go about their business.
The room to choose is the Junior Suite Pool room (around €2,500 EUR per night in season), which backs straight onto your reserved loungers at the pool, meaning that you can go for a dip without the indecency of having to trawl along corridors and down lifts in dressing gowns. All rooms are the epitome of classic elegance, adorned with handcrafted Murano Glass features, including handsome blue chandeliers that look like octopuses on the ceiling. The marble floors are softened with Turkish silk rugs, and the bathrooms are large, with huge walk-in showers and double basins sporting lovely-smelling designer Hermes amenities.
Once the sun starts to drop, the majority of residents at the pool bar amble over to the main bar to continue their Bellinis. I can’t think of a more romantic setting than being served drinks overlooking the Venetian lagoon, with the piano playing in the background as the pink sky turns to purple. The constant flow of boats chugging up and down the waterway in front of the bar and restaurant area is something I’d never tire of watching.
The only problem with staying here is that you inevitably have to deal with the sadness of leaving this paradise, with its wonderful characters, fantastic views, and a relaxing pool. You will miss the toll of the church bells, the splish sploshes of the lagoon water, and the swimmers powering up and down the pool. You’ll miss wandering under rose-laden archways and watching the lizards scoot into the undergrowth. You’ll even miss the joy of waking up and knowing all you have to do that day is amble over to the pool to take a cooling dip and enjoy endless refreshments.
So maybe you don’t need a Four Seasons in Venice. Maybe there already is one of sorts. Below, you can find reviews of our own favorite hotels in Venice.
Best Hotels In Venice
Review: JW Marriott Venice
I write this review while lazing on the balcony of my Junior suite, dappled in sunlight at the JW Marriott Venice. The outlook is not what you would expect of Venice; all I can hear is bird song, and all I can see is an expanse of green forested gardens with the odd glimpse of Venetian Lagoon through the trees. This impressive luxury Marriott hotel opened in March 2015. Arrive by water taxi if you can. Not only is this a glamorous way to travel through Venice, but the dock at the JW Marriott is like something out of a Bond movie, providing a great first view of the property.
Hotel Review: Belmond Hotel Cipriani Venice
Belmond Hotel Cipriani Venice is undoubtedly one of the best luxury hotels in the world. Once you've stepped inside this glamorous Narnia and sampled its stunning rooms, exquisite gardens, and perfect pool, you will find it hard to leave. This exclusive hideaway under the Mediterranean sunshine also happens to enjoy dreamy views across Venice.
Review: Aman Venice
The Aman Venice is not simply a hotel; it's an intimate retreat in the center of Venice's busy Canal Grande, protected from the madness of the city by palatial walls and a thick wooden door that only opens for those fortunate enough to enjoy temporary residency at this luxurious palace. We compare Belmond Cipriani Vs. Aman Vs. Gritti Palace Vs. Hotel Danieli, Venezia, A Four Seasons Hotel separately to help you decide which hotel will work best for you. Nestled in the center of Venice, the Aman is just 40 minutes by water taxi from Venice airport (around €150 EUR each way).
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