I am such a procrastinator!! I really do wonder why The Continental Hotel is rated 3-star and not 4 or 5 star. My wife and I arrived in Venice soon after 9/11 (told you I procrastinate!) After checking into and right out of a horrid hotel, I chanced upon the Contenintal...never thought we'd be able to afford it.
The very nice and very helpful gents at the front desk gave us the key to Rm. 301 ( I think that was the #) to look at the room. We took the lift up there, put the key in the door, walked across the room and were able to look lovingly down on the Grand Canal.
That night there was a group of 25 or 30 older Americans floating down the canal in gondolas, all singing songs. It was beautiful...and I toasted them w/ a glass of fine Italian wine.
True, it is a good walk to St. Marks Square, but as the charming gentleman at the front desk said to us..." Get off the tourist paths and get lost on the back canals of Venice". Though it's real hard to get lost in Venice!
Free breakfast was very good...and who cares about no shower curtain around the bath!!

My girlfriend (26) and I (slightly older!) have just returned from a long weekend in Venice and stayed at the Continental. Although the hotel is not ideally located for St Marks Square (approx 20 mins walk) we loved the location. The hotel is about 5 minutes walk from Piazzale Roma (main bus terminus - ACTV from Marco Polo aiport) and located on a busy street in the day time but peaceful enough at night. Check out the Cassanova bar/club across the road!

There is a waterbus stop (Ferovia) within 2 minutes walk from the hotel and from here you can catch a waterbus along the Grand Canal for 5 euros each. This will take you all the way along to St Marks Square passing under the Rialto Bridge & Accademia.

The hotel was a bit of a rabbit warren and although the decor in the room was a bit gawdy (dark green) it was clean and comfortable and the showeroom was the same. There was a TV in the room.

Breakfast was a buffet which included scrambled egg & bacon, plus cereal, fruit juices, sliced ham and cheese, toast and lots of pastries.

I would recommend this hotel to young couples, although older people may prefer to be nearer to the main square. For younger people not afraid of a walk, there are loads of little alleys and paths to explore when winding your way to the tourist centres. At 120 euros for a 50 minute gondola ride -avoid it unless you really want to spend that kind of money. And check the drink prices - it is more expensive if you sit down! We found in one place that 2 cappucino's would cost 11.20 euros sitting down which is nearly £4 a cup!!

A group of 47 of us, Senior Citizens and Art Lovers spent 7 days, (6 nights) at the Hotel Continental, in Venice last week. The holiday was superb, none of us wanted to go home afterwards. We had a private Waterbus with a Guide from Marco Polo Airport right to the hotel landing stage. The location of the hotel couldn't have been better for us, situated on the Lista di Spagna close to all amenities. The Hotel had everything you would expect for a 3* rating, the staff were efficient and friendly, and checking in went very smoothly. As leader of the group I found the staff, without exception, ready to help at all times. Breakfast, although termed Continental, offered Fruit Juices, Cereals, Fruit, Eggs, Bacon, boiled Eggs, Cheese and Ham, and a huge assortment of lovely breads and cakes, with preserves. In summer, meals are taken on a Terrace overlooking the Grand Hotel. On the morning we left there were two rooms available to store our luggage as our flight didn't leave until 8 p.m. so we had almost another full day to sight-see. What more could one ask for?
A neighbouring HOTEL NAZIONALE where 8 of our members stayed also gave good service, but I wouldn't recommend it for elderly people, as there are two flights of stairs from street level to reach Reception and the lift was less than adequate. Ideal for fit young people though so don't rule it out. It is popular with students.
All in all, I think Venice was the best location ever for a holiday. Being a small Island it is easy to get about and yet after a week we still hadn't seen half of the wonderful places there are to see. Can't wait to go back.

We stayed in the Hotel Continental in Venice as part of a European Tour. The Hotel is in a great location - close to everything - in walking distance of most things in Venice. The Hotel was clean, staff were friendly and the service was O.K. The room at first sight was ordinary, relatively old, no fridge and no tea or coffee making facilities. There was no shower curtain so water went everywhere when you had a shower (this was a common comment from others on the tour). However when we opened the window the view looked straight down the Grand Canal - it was to die for and made romantic Venice just that much better. Without the view it would have been an ordinary hotel in a central location - so ask for a room with a view of the Canal.