Best Hotels in Small Islands of Venice, Venice

Designed by famed Italian architect Matteo Thun, the JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa offers visitors a private island setting about a mile south of downtown Venice. Although some former travelers were displeased with this JW Marriott outpost's removed location, getting to and from the city center is easy thanks to the property's water shuttle service. Though there's plenty offered on-site. Activities and amenities, such as bicycles, a kids club with cooking classes and mask art projects, yoga lessons and excursions to local glass-blowing and lace-making facilities, are offered by the hotel. When you're ready to relax, take a dip in one of three swimming pools, enjoy a spa treatment or sip on a coffee or glass of wine at Rose Bar Lounge. Several dining options – including a deli, a poolside restauran and the Michelin-starred Dopolavoro Dining Room – are available as well. Then, retire to your modern room, suite or villa, each of which features a neutral color palette and modern conveniences like a flat-screen TV, a coffee maker and Wi-Fi access. Members of the Marriott Bonvoy program can cash in or earn points for choosing to bed down here.

While some recent guests wished the San Clemente Palace Kempinski was situated in central Venice, others thought the hotel's location on its own private island was the main draw, pointing out that main Venetian attractions can be reached by taking a short boat ride. The property boasts three restaurants – Acquerello (which serves gourmet Venetian and Italian cuisine), Insieme Restaurant (where guests can enjoy breakfasts that highlight fresh local produce) and La Dolce Restaurant (a casual poolside restaurant) – and three bars, an outdoor pool, a tennis court, a spa, fitness center and a putting golf course. A private dock with a complimentary shuttle boat that takes passengers to and from St. Mark's Square every 30 to 40 minutes is also available. When you're ready to retire for the evening, retreat to one of the hotel's luxurious guest rooms or suites, which all have high ceilings with Murano-glass chandeliers, flat-screen TVs and park, courtyard or lagoon views. Part of The Leading Hotels of the World, the property participates in the Leaders Club loyalty program.