My (now) fiancee and I traveled throughout Italy for 9-10 days in May of 2007. Our first stop was Venice but we stayed in Mestre to save some money. It was part of our AAA Travel package that included airfare, 2 nights in Mestre, and 2 nights in Florence for two.

Even with her ability to speak fluent Italian we hit some bumps in the road. The town of Mestre was a little difficult to navigate at first. From the airport we purchased an all-in-one bus ticket. I highly recommend this approach. It was accepted on city buses to/from Venice (15 min) as well as all of the vaporettos. It was warm and humid while we were there so whenever we needed to cool off we'd just hop on the boat and go for a ride.

However, we were dropped off at the train station and I tried (as best I could) to find the hotel. Take my advise: don't depend on maps provided by any of the hotels - google/mapquest it!

The hotel was adequate; there was nothing outstanding and nothing truly dissatisfying. The concierge and hotel employees were very friendly and helpful. Remeber: you don't go to Venice for the hotels.

My husband, sister and I stayed at this hotel for 3 nights in August. We had two double rooms which were located beside each other. The rooms were very clean, had a double wardrobe, a security safe, a/c, spotless bathrooms (my sisters room only had a shower, no bath, but that was fine) and were a good size. I was going to take some photos of the room etc but then I realised they were exactly how they look on their website! The hotel on a whole was very nice, the staff were amazing! They couldn't have been nicer!

When we arrived we were checked in by Dania (she was lovely) and a porter carried our bags to our rooms whilst we got the lift. There is a great reception area with sofas and a bar which is a great meeting spot. The breakfast was also great. A really good selection and again the staff were very helpful. This hotel is situated on the mainland which wasn't a problem. There is a bus stop right across the street which takes you to Place Roma in around 10 minutes, and it costs one euro, although we got a 72 hour pass for the transport which covered the buses and vaporetto. You can get one of these at the airport but you can also pick them up at other places. It cost 30 euro so it made sense for us to buy these rather than pay as you go, plus you can use it on the bus to get into Venice from the airport. Just make sure you get on the right bus company! We got on an AVTO bus instead of an ACTV bus and the conductor threw us off the bus on a motorway! Luckily there was an ACTV bus stop close by. The buses can get quite busy coming back to Mestre in the evenings so don't assume you will always get a seat!

Venice itself is absolutely beautiful! I loved everything about it...and it wan't smelly at all, as some people had told me! In fact the water looked very clean. You can spend hours wandering through the narrow streets and St Mark's Sq is breathtaking. For anyone interested in art the Peggy Guggenheim makes a pleasant escape if it all gets too much. There is a lovely little veranda overlooking the grand canal where drinks and lunch is served. There is a 10 euro charge into the gallery. If you fancy a drink there are lots of lovely cafes and for Bellini's try Harry's Bar where you will pay 15 euro compared to 25 euro plus a hefty service charge at St Marks Sq. At the Rialto bridge there is a good market which sells everthing from fruit to pashmina's. We got around using the vaporetto's, a public transport boat, which was very convenient with stops at all the main attractions.

back to the hotel......We had a meal in the hotel restaurant on our last night there and it was excellent. There was silver service and again the staff were a delight, as was the food! And very reasonble...much cheaper than mainland Venice. We all had steak with vegetables etc, half bottle of wine each, coffee and belini's and it came to 120 euro! It was the best meal we had our whole holiday! There is also a great gelateria across the street..the best gelato we had also, plus a lot more for your money.

Mestre on the whole is quite a nice place, but there isn't a lot to do. There is a lovely little piazza with some nice cafes but don't go there if you want an evening meal as they only serve drinks and ice cream. We went to the market on a Thursday, but to be perfectly honest there was nothing there that you couldn't buy back home, although they did have a great selection of italian cheeses and meats if you wanted to pick up something to eat.

Staying in Mestre was ideal for a trip to venice and I would definitely stay in the Ambasciatori again. It was a really good hotel and, as i have already mentioned, the staff really do go out of their way to make your stay a pleasant one.

After a long motorcycle journey I couldn't have chosen a nicer place.
The hotel staff were polite and courteous but above all friendly from
the start. There was secure underground parking for my bike (5 Euros a day - 10 for cars incidentally). My very heavy luggage was cheerfully taken by the porter to a very acceptable room more than adequate for single occupancy. The bathroom was huge and very nicely appointed. The restaurant was very pleasant, well staffed and with a good quality menu. Breakfast was included in the price and was excellent. The bus direct to Venice stops outside the hotel and it is only a short journey away. I will certainly be returning again, next time with the family.

My wife and I stayed two nights here with a coach tour group. The hotel is very nice and is right on the main drag to the islands. The breakfast is pretty standard fare, but a good selection.

The neighborhood is busy, realatively clean, and there is a convenient bancomat (ATM) on the corner by the hotel. The shops in the neighborhood are upscale. If you get a little attitude, don't feel offended if they are a little curt. This area gets a lot of tourists and by the time we went, the season was winding down, so I think they were just exhausted.