"With a prime spot on the St. Mark’s Basin waterfront, right in front of the Arsenale ferry terminal, no bridges or steps are required to reach the boutique Ca’di Dio. A water taxi can deliver you directly to the hotel’s dock. From the ferry stop, it’s mere steps before reaching the jewel box hotel lounge-meets-lobby. Plush velvet and leather seating and colorful Murano glass are sprinkled about, all courtesy of Spanish designer Patrica Urquiola, who executed a unique retro-modern makeover when the VRetreats hotel opened in 2021. There are 66 rooms, some with lagoon views, others with wooden beam ceilings, all with refined art deco-style glass lighting. In a previous life, the bolthole was a medieval pilgrim's hostel. There are two traditional Altana-raised roof terraces and three internal courtyards, the largest of which is a dreamy, leafy space. If the weather permits, don’t miss breakfast—organic eggs, perfect bacon, and fresh juice—or aperitivo hour in the courtyard, possibly one of the most peaceful spots in the crowd-loving city. —Lauren Burvill" - Sarah James, Anne Hanley