Hotel Ai Do Mori

The tiny and friendly Hotel Ai Do Mori offers comfortable rooms across the street from St. Mark’s Square.

What’s not to love? With a location just steps from Saint Mark’s Square, great views and tidy doubles, this place is golden. Throw in friendly (even humorous) management, and it becomes a classic. Rates in the high-season can extend outside of our cheapo range, but there are still good deals to be found here.

The hotel’s 11 rooms sport a pretty blue or yellow Venetian style, and dark wooden furnishings (no “classic Venetian” antiques here). All rooms are equipped with a TV, telephone, safe, and air conditioning. Free Wi-Fi works throughout the hotel.

Almost all of the rooms have their own compact private bath, most of which are equipped with a shower. A hairdryer is available in each bathroom. Only two rooms share a bathroom in the hallway.

The Ai do Mori’s rooms are spread out over three floors, and one additional room, suitable for the young and spry, is located at the tip-top of the hotel and boasts its own small terrace. All but one room in the hotel have a view of the bell tower in St. Mark’s Square (either full-on or from the side).

It’s important to note that the Hotel Ai Do Mori does not offer breakfast, although several cafes and bars surround the hotel.

Also, note that the hotel does not have an elevator and it does have several floors of steep stairs. If this is an issue, mention when reserving—the hotel’s annex has three rooms that are just “12 steps to the first floor”.

Interesting side note: Antonella, the gregarious proprietor of the Ai do Mori, pointed out that the hotel’s name actually refers to the characters in the mechanical clock that perform a little show every hour. And yes, from our room we were able to see the back of the clock. (For more fascinating tidbits about the hotel, neighborhood, or Venice in general, introduce yourself to Antonella. Tell her Tom sent you!)