Mr & Mrs Smith

Good location, easy to walk to all places of interest.

We were given a room in the annexe which was fine, although would have preferred the main hotel- it was a walk around the corner to the hotel which had it been raining, would not have been nice. It is a completely different building and not really what you might expect from the term 'annexe'.

Excellent local restaurant - Ai Artisti. Very small, but superb food and very friendly staff.

Location - off the Venice beaten track but easy access to the ferries from the Academia stop. This was just a few seconds from the hotel; a very quiet area. Quality - interestingly furnished bedroom; decent bathroom; welcoming staff; good range of food at breakfast.

The bath had a 'telephone' shower - not the easiest for a proper stand up shower. On any return visit, I would request a room with a proper shower.

Lots in the area but some were v. expensive. We enjoyed Ristorante Cantinone Storico - a couple of minutes from the hotel, offering a good range on the menu and very attentive and engaging service. The limoncello at the end of the meal - on the house - was much appreciated.

The breakfast at DD724 is fabulous, one of the best we have had anywhere and the service from the Italian lady who cooked and served it was perfect. We also spent one night at Palazzini G where the staff were extremely good but we thought breakfast at 50 euros each was a bit steep, so we ate at a cafe instead. Everything you arranged for us went like clockwork – very happy.

We had a fabulous time in Venice. DD724 is ideally placed, being in the less busy and quieter Accademia area, but within easy reach of the main tourist areas via a 50-cent traghetto trip. The owner greets all guests personally and the staff couldn't be more helpful. Eating out seemed incredibly expensive with the current exchange rate, and very variable. Avoid the restaurant to the left of the Fenice Theatre; the food was pricey and almost inedible. One to recommend: 'Rosa Rossa', Calle della Mandola. Great food, attractive indoor and outdoor seating and a photo of Johnny Depp to boot, who ate there whilst filming 'The Tourist'.

Ideally located near the Guggenheim museum, quiet but yet close to the city centre. The suite in the annex is spacious and beautifully decorated, with anything one can wish for, including a Nespresso machine.

To write anything to further describe La Serenissima would be only to echo the fine words of travel writers who have done it with such eloquance – if you have never been, go – it is truly wonderful . DD724 is pretty good too, in fact it's nigh on perfect unless you like large hotels with full-on service. Being on the Dorsoduro, it is close to everything but just that bit away from the St Mark's crowds. What is even more perfect is that just a short walk away to the waterway that divides it from the Giudecca, is the waterside area known as Zattere. There are some fabulous eateries here, most of them moored to the bank where you watch the hustle and bustle of Venice's water transport, framed by its glorious buildings and often gorgeous sunsets. Before I use up all the adjectives under the sun, jump on a vaporetto and cross to the Giudecca where the restaurants are a touch cheaper. Top tips, if money is no object, there is only one way to arrive in Venice from the airport and that's by watertaxi, it's about £90 one way, if you have enough then book lunch at Locanda Cipriani on Torcello, it's superb. Use the free tickets to get into the Guggenheim, it's your Mr & Mrs Smith freebie and it's fantastic – get an extended vaporetto pass and use it. There's no better way to get oriented, you can hop on and off and when the crowds have become too much. Catch a number 41/42 to the Cemetery Island, calm, peaceful and with a few celebs to commune with.

Remember to bring wellies if you are in Venice in October if you do not want to be stuck in the hotel during 'aqua alta'.

Lineadombra - (Ponte dell'Umitra, Dorsorduro, 19) is an excellent restaurant. The location is perfect – right on the Grand Canal, with a clear view of the sun setting behind the port – the service is impeccable and the food is delicious (particularly the desserts). The wine list is long and intriguing – in short, we had an absolutely fantastic meal and would wholeheartedly recommend it. The following evening we ate at Avogaria (+39 041 296 0491;  Dorsoduro 1629). The food was wonderful. This is a great restaurant for vegetarians, with a much wider choice of foods than is typical in Venice.