My visit to Venice also took me to the Hilton Molino Stucky. This new hotel is a real contrast to the modern simplicity of the Palace Bonvecchiati (below). Converted from a nineteeth century flour mill, the huge hotel dominates the skyline of the Guidecca Island.
The interior retains many of the mill's original features, from timber beams to silo-shaped ceilings. The historic features, combined with all the modern facilities you'd expect from a Hilton, make the rooms luxurious, cosy and comfortable.
We loved the rooftop swimming pool, which has stunning panoromic views over Venice. Families and the fair skinned should watch out though - shade is hard to come by which can be uncomfortable in Italy's strong summer sun.
Although Guidecca is only a ten minute boat ride away from San Marco, we were tempted by the hotel's elegant Aromi restaurant. Dining on the terrace watching gondolas glide by in the Venetian sunset, it's hard not to feel like the Doge himself.