we are just back after spending 4days in the hotel. It lived up to what other reviewers have written.We opted for a superior room overlooking the square and we very happy with the room though the top floor unlike the others did not have a balcony.The room was kept spotless and had everything you would have wanted.Breakfast was good .The only jarring note for me was that the 2 waitresses reminded me of prison warders making sure that guests did not go off with fruit or bread for their lunch. On one morning a waitress was rude to an American couple who were going off with 2 apples.They were rudely told in a loud voice that the food was for the breakfast only. Reception staff were helpful though.Overall a nice hotel in an excellent location.We went to the opera at la Fenice one night.It was a great experience but if I was going back I would have worn a shirt and tie-dress was generally formal.We also went to a Vivaldi evening advertised in the hotel lobby and it was excellent.Regarding eating out Venice is very expensive.The Trattoria alla Madonna is under the same management as the hotel and will give you a reduction of 10%.Make sure you notify them before the meal and check that the 10% is taken off the bill.It's a very busy place-there are no reservations and you need to be there before 7-00 to get a place.It's nice but pricey and they add 12 and a half % to the bill. We eat twice in a small restaurant off the square at Santa Maria Formosa for 17 euros 50 which included service and a quarter of litre of wine-excellent value.

I spent hours on the internet looking for an hotel in Venice which was not cripplingly expensive, had a central location and got good reviews on Trip Advisor. The recent reviews on Villa Igea were all good and our stay lived up to expectations. We were there for 4 days from 8th April 08.

The room we had (611) was small but it was a standard room so I wasn't expecting too much. It was spotlessly clean and being so small, presented the staff with a daily challenge with our stuff being in heaps on the floor. They managed magnificently and returning every afternoon, the room was clean,tidy and the bathroom was immaculate.

Breakfast was excellent -- very varied with 3 choices of cereal, yoghurt, fresh fruit salad, fresh fruits, cheese, cold cuts, breads, scrambled eggs, boiled eggs, bacon, sausage.... The only slight downside is that the breakfast room is a bit small and one morning we had to wait about 10 minutes for a table.

The location is superb as other reviewers have described. There is a snag to this though. We had terrible weather -- rain and cold most of the time, and there wasn't the incentive to roam far afield in the evening for somewhere to eat. The result was that if we chose to eat close by, then we had to pay St Marks area prices. The Igea's sister hotel (Savoia and Jolanda) gives Igea guests 20% discount but it still cost us EUR 46 for 2 pastas, 1 dessert, 2 coffees and a (small) bottle of water!

All in all, I would really recommend this hotel -- very clean, good location, excellent staff, good breakfast. What else do you need for a short break?

Stayed in room 703, charming old world style. Great view of the square.

Staff were excellent. Breakfast, same as they were having in the sister hotel Savoia & Jolanda, which was varied and plentiful.

Location, couldn't be faulted.

Went with two older friends who have stayed at both hotels many times over the last 50 years.

Highly recommended.

I agree with other reviews this is a great location if you only have a short time and want to be close to the main sights. Water taxi from the airport drops you off about 200m away. Walking through a small passageway into a quiet square and there was the hotel. The Doge's palace, bridge of sighs, basilica and st marks square are all within 5 minutes walk. There are also water bus stops within 20 seconds walk which take you everywhere, including the airport.

We had a room on the top floor which was a corner with four windows looking over the square. Decor was fine, as was the bathroom but the curtains do not shut the whole way. Luckily shutters block out most of the sunlight and the church bells only ring once at night (midnight).

On a lower floor you may get noise from the walking tours that start coming through the square about 8-9am, we could hear the woman talking through her microphone.

The breakfast is great if you like your cereal, pastries, fruit and toast. Cappuccino coffee was pretty cold though every day.