JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa

Set on its own private island in the Laguna di San Marco, JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa occupies a position that few hotels in Italy can claim: genuinely removed from the crowds of the historic center, yet connected to it by water. This is a five-star property built around the idea of the lagoon as a destination in itself, rather than a backdrop to a city visit. With a rating of 9.0 across nearly 500 reviews, it draws guests who want Venice at a measured pace — families with children, couples seeking a spa retreat, and travelers who prefer to arrive by boat rather than navigate cobblestone streets with luggage.

The island setting shapes everything about a stay here. Three outdoor pools face open water, and the spa — with its steam room, sauna, Turkish bath, and full range of massage and body treatments — is substantial enough to anchor an entire day without leaving the property. Yoga classes, fitness sessions with a personal trainer, a kids' club with an indoor play area, and cooking classes mean that different guests in the same party rarely run out of things to do.

Guests checking in from 3 p.m. onward arrive into a property where the shuttle service is not a convenience but a necessity — it is the link between the island and Venice proper, and for anyone flying into Marco Polo and continuing directly to the hotel, it removes what would otherwise be a logistical puzzle. Checkout at noon leaves a generous morning before departure, long enough for a final treatment at the spa or a last coffee on the terrace watching the lagoon traffic pass.