The Aqua Palace is a well-positioned four-star hotel in Venice. Just a ten-minute walk from St Mark's Square, it sits squarely in the antiquated Castello quarter of the city; a romantic spot of sandy-hued bridges and meandering canals. St Mark's Basilica, Doge's Palace and the wealth of designer boutique in Rialto are all easily accessible.

The facilities

The hotel effortlessly blends old and new, with 16th-century furnishings sitting alongside sleek, modern wallcoverings and artworks. There's minimal facilities; the focus is wholly on the bedrooms. There's no restaurant on-site, but a wealth of options in the surrounding streets (be sure to ask staff for recommendations, as good-value dining options in Venice can be hard to come by). Room service runs throughout the day, until 7:00 pm.

The rooms

Each of the Aqua Palace's 30 guestrooms is stylish and refined, with precious antiques sitting alongside modern touches. All boast air-conditioning, minibars, flat screen televisions and safes. Wifi is complimentary throughout the hotel.