Would any of our world travelers have suggestions for Venice or Athens hotels for pre and post cruise.
Does the location of the hotel matter for timely embarkation to cruise ship? Thanks so much.
I've been to Venice but had to leave because of asthma attacks (mold).

In Venice we loved the Europa & Regina. Not inexpensive but wonderful location, service and rooms. The included breakfast lasted us all day. The canal view rooms were well worth the extra money.

In Athens we stayed at the Grande Bretagna. Outstanding hotel and well located on Syntagma Square, it was perhaps 30 minutes to the port. Hotel was just recently renovated. The rooms are magnificent and the lobby bar/restaurant was perfect for a jet lagged late night snack.

I loved the Hotel Grande Bretagne in Athens, too.

Never been to Venice.

Correction: I said Marriot...meant Hilton (thank you, cactuslady for reminding me of my error)...We hear the Hotel Grande Bretagne is the best, but we thought the Hilton was extremely lovely. We had a lovely, large, modern room, excellent service and beautiful views of the Acropolis. There is a great roof restaurant. It is one of the nicest Hiltons that I have ever stayed in..I am not a Hilton lover...I usually find them solid business hotels. This hotel was rather glamorous and 5 star all the way. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.

Hotel Grande Bretagne was outstanding - we loved location - Joanna

Like Bonnie, we loved Europa & Regina in Venice. We've also stayed at Hotel Danieli which is closer to St. Marks Square. Both are great!! They're NOT CHEAP (luckily we redeemed Starwood points each time we've stayed at them).

The Athens Hilton is also of the glamorous sort. There is a rooftop terrace restaurant and bar that is just the place for watching the sun set over the Acropolis and the lights come on.

Athens:
We stayed at the Hotel Grande Bretagne. Our travel agent got us on the top floor which had a patio that overlooked the Parlament building on the left and the Acropolis on the right. We sat out on the patio at night with wine and cheese and marveled at the Acropolis all lit up at night.
Venice:
We stayed at the Danieli which has the most amazing lobby of any hotel anywhere. However, our room was just so so. How do you properly use those bidets anyway? They ought to have a manual for us Americans.

We stayed at the Intercontinental in Athens. We loved it. The service was outstanding. In Venice we stayed at the Bauer. The rooms were nice. The location, a couple of blocks from St. Marks Sqaure, was terrific.

Another vote for the Athens Hilton. Really nice property. We, too, redeemed HH points for a free stay. However, if we didn't have HH points to redeem, we'd have stayed at the InterCon...But, of course I'm partial!

Being we just checked out of the Westin Regina and Europa yesterday, I can vouch for its stellar location, amenities and service. We ate dinner at La Terazza at the Danieli. Our room was perfect.

Here are directions for use of the ever present bidet: Bidet Instructions Here

Ok I will join this one. In Venice if you can get one of the balconies then do stay at the Danielli. The Europa and Regina is great, and also the Gritti but it is not what it used to be. If you stay at the Gritti be sure to get a room that faces the Canal. The Grande Bretagne in Athens is right in the heart of things and you can get cabs there. But beware that in Athens cabs are scarce and many times you have to share or the driver will just stop and pick up other people.

Have fun.

Mpbear.. you didn't give us a price range which would probably help us help you.
I will give another vote for the Grande Bretagne and ofcourse our favorite hotel in Venice the Gritti Palace.. but both of these properties are 5 stars and that means $$$$$.
There are many wonderful hotels in Venice so if these are out of your range tell us and we can give you some hints.
And as far as being close to ship.. just depends where the ship docks in Venice.. some smaller ships get closer to St. Marks square while the megas need to be at the port area... for a few EU
water buses ( or hotel boats if you want to pay their prices) can take you right to the port from most everyplace that you might stay.

has anyone stayed at the Bauer Hotel in Venice. I am booked there in April on a land trip and see mixed reviews at trip advisor. Wonder what you all have to say if anything?

Venice - I'm sure the Gritti Palace and Danieli are wonderful, but if you want to consider a more affordable option, you might look into the Hotel Metropole . We stayed there a few years ago and really liked it. The location is good - close to Piazza San Marco and on the Grand Canal. We had a large room with a nice marble bathroom, and the included breakfast was good. The hotel has a private dock which is convenient if you use a water taxi. Best of all, our room had a large rooftop terrace with a wonderful view. We were there in March and it was too cold to really enjoy it, but in the summer it would have been wonderful. I can't recall exactly but I think we paid 150 - 170 euro for a standard room. It was low season (March) and I think we got very lucky - I have a feeling this room was an upgrade from standard.

Here's Grant on our terrace. The picture doesn't show how large it was or that there was a view to the lagoon in the other direction.

Dena

I've stayed at the Bauer. The hotel is pretty standard. The rooms are not large, but not tiny either. I found it a little impersonal though. It's a big hotel. The location is terrific. It backs onto the grand canal so it is easy to get a water taxi to the airport. We paid 200E a night because it was August. That seemed like a fair price to me. The rate included breakfast which we ate on a little terrace on the ground floor that looked out onto the grand canal.

We have been to Venice before and are traveling with friends this time. We are looking for a central location to spend just one night and then off to the cruise terminal. I am not sure how the cruise terminal is situation in Venice but your help is appreciated. Thanks!

You want to stay in Venice. You take a water taxi to the cruise terminal.

Thanks JuicyJuJu, I find you can avoid a lot of disappointment when you know what to expect. The feedback on this board in particular is extremely helpful as you know its not being posted by a "ringer" but by people who have been there, done that!

Ok some others we have been to. Hotel Londra Palace, San Clemente Palace both not that expensive considering Venice hotels, and also friends have suggest a less expensive one called Foscari Palace. Take the water taxis called the "vaperetto."

The vaporetto is like a bus. It stops and starts picking up passengers on a pre-determined route. Would not be easy with several pieces of luggage. A water taxi is a better choice. Just like a cab. Some hotels have their own water taxi just like they have limos to pick you up and drop you off. The vaporetto does not have stops in all the little canals so if you chose a hotel Not on the Grand Canal you could be "schlepping" your bags to get a water taxi. You might want a hotel on the canal or with a dock for a water taxi. Not all hotels can accomodate that. Editing to add that if it's during the high water (Aqua Alta) you will have an additional challenge.