Venice’s grand hotels are ruining everywhere else for me

The Venice Venice - (PRESS HANDOUT)

At Airelles Palladio, even going to the loo can improve one’s appreciation of art. An oil painting hangs within contemplation distance of a heated seat with sufficiently intriguing settings to prolong the visit considerably. By the time you have explored the controls, you have had ample opportunity to study the brushwork.

Venice is enjoying a hotel gold rush. Danieli has joined Four Seasons, the French Airelles group has planted its flag on Giudecca, provocatively close to Belmond’s venerable Hotel Cipriani, and the founders of Golden Goose have turned one of the Grand Canal’s oldest palaces into The Venice Venice Hotel. The danger comes afterwards, when another hotel with precisely the same number of stars expects congratulations for bringing a towel.