Just returned from a 3 night stay at the 'Liassidi Palace Hotel' in Venice, chosen for our wedding anniversary. I will say that the building is picture postcard Venice (especially from the canal if approached by water-taxi), and it's location is also excellent for sight seeing.

The rooms are clean and smart, with the illusion of Venetian style and opulence, being created by use of an obviously reasonable maintenance and decor budget, although room layouts may not be as functional as they might first appear.

Breakfast is good in as far as continental style is concerned, with cereals, sliced meat, cheeses and scrambled eggs also readily available.

A small but little used bar may be open early in the evening, but then later on it appears to be dependant upon whether any staff are in attendance or not, and cannot be guaranteed.

There is a lack of services normally associated with most other 4 star hotels, such as tea and coffee making facilities, on-site restaurant, room service, lounge areas (other than hallways), entertainment and also the distinct lack of a compulsory hotel atmosphere.

Guests will seldom get the opportunity to meet and discuss daily experiences over a relaxed pre-dinner aperitif, as all meals and evening entertainment is only to be found outside the hotel in other establishments or in the city itself.

Staff are helpful and polite, although why 6 reception staff (at last count and at varying times) are needed, when no other services are available, did seem very strange. Several requests made prior to our arrival for flowers and wine to be provided in the room, were also conveniently ignored.

We had an absolutely fantastic time in Venice, probably due to visiting outside of the main tourist season and found enough superb (and expensive) restaurants to keep us occupied in the evenings. However, if you want to put your feet up after a hard days sight-seeing and really don't want to walk for your dinner, make sure you book a hotel with full facilities elsewhere in the city.

In essence, the Liassidi is a very expensive and smart 'Bed and Breakfast' establishment, which provides a very comfortable and quiet base for exploring Venice. The hotel may deserve accolades for style and quality, but should not be recommended as a 4 star hotel due to the overall lack of facilities.