I Qs

Mr & Mrs Smith have a trip to this canalside boutique hotel in the diary, and just as soon as they’ve emptied the Versace and Valentino from their Gucci luggage, a full account of their stay in Venice will be with you… Meanwhile, just to get you in the mood, here's a taster of this homely contemporary hideaway:

There are few better ways to begin a romantic weekend than by stepping off a gondola onto the private pier of a luxury boutique hotel in Venice. At I Qs, that’s exactly how you enter the grounds, leaving the waters of the Rio di Santa Maria Formosa just before they curl into the Grand Canal beneath the Bridge of Sighs. In front of you, a great stone arch – mullion-topped, almost like a mediaeval portcullis – leads inside.

Despite the archaic exterior, I Qs is a thoroughly modern proposition: four contemporary-designed suites marry the beamed ceilings and fireplaces of old Venice with the frills and functions of a modern-day home. No bar, restaurant or other, more traditional hotel trappings, just a beautiful location in Venice’s palazzo-filled cultural quarter, dedicated but non-invasive service, and inspiring views of the canals and ancient Gothic courtyard. This is boutique apartment living as only Venice could imagine it.