My real rating on this hotel is a 4.5 or 4.75 but Tripadvisor has no such categories.

This was my third trip to Venice, but first to the Lido. I stayed two nights at the sister hotel, the Danieli, and had booked an "escape" to the Des Bains. If you think of any grand old hotel that is STILL GRAND, the Des Bains qualifies. With a real deal on the price from Orbitz to boot. The only criticism that I can possibly offer is that it could use some sprucing up on the outside - rear landscaping and just some rough edges that need a bit of polish.

Were this hotel in the states, it would rank with the best of the grand old resorts of the 1920's and 1930's but yet completely modernized for today. Marble and heavy wood everywhere. Grand chandeliers in the dining room. A breakfast buffet that will rival any at any hotel anywhere. Superb, caring service by dedicated staff that take care of every need. Everything from making water taxi reservations to wake up calls to dinner reservations - the staff handles it all and clearly without holding their hands out for tips!

The beach at the Lido is far better than I would have ever thought, there is a nice small town and it is simply an extremely restful location. With my deep fondness for Venice I will likely spend more time on the Lido next time rather than "downtown" and would recommend this hotel (or its sister the Excelsior). I would gladly return and will!

After 3 nights in the centre of Venice, we opted for 2 nights on the Lido. We took the waterbus (no. 1) since we had a 3-day ticket which was still valid, and then took a leisurely stroll up the promenade (15 minutes at most) to the Hotel des Bains. We were impressed with its grandeur on first sight, and the chairs and tables on the verandah looked very inviting.

Reception/concierge were very good,and we were escorted by the receptionist to our room, while the concierge took care of our bags. Our biggest disappointment was that in spite of the hotel being practically empty (it had opened for the season only 3 days before) we were given a room at the back, overlooking the garbage! It would have been no problem for the hotel to allocate us a room at the front. However, our room was spacious and well furnished; the bathroom was large and luxurious, and the walk-in wardrobe was a bonus. In-room mini-bar and "snack" prices were over the top, and we did not indulge!

Breakfast buffet was first class, and we were surprised (after our central Venice experience) to find a hot option on offer (bacon etc) as well as the usual fruits, cold meats, cereals, smoked salmon, pastries, juices - and even Prosecco! We found the staff at breakfast a little snobbish - it obviously helped to be "somebody" to be seated somewhere nice in the restuarant - and on our second day we waited fully five minutes before the maitre d' (who had acknowledged our arrival) deigned to point us to a table at the very back of the restaurant..

The hotel, beach and entire Lido island were very obviously gearing up for the season, and as such there was very little on offer to us; the pool was just being filled, the gardeners were just planting out the "annuals" - in fact you couldn't even walk round the gardens, or sit out anywhere apart from the terrace at the front of the hotel (in spite of beautiful sunny and warm weather).

The shuttle service to central Venice was wonderful! Minibus to the Excelsior, launch into Venice and the same back - we really felt we were travelling in style! Be warned though that the shuttles returning from Venice will leave exactly on time, so if you are even a couple of minutes late, you will have to wait for the next one!

All in all a lovely experience; the Lido is so different from Venice, and we spent a lot of time exploring it. We would like to return "in season" to see the beaches in use (they were mostly closed) and this lovely hotel up and running at full speed.

I have stayed at this hotel three times in the last couple of years and wouldn't hesitate to go again. It's a magnificent palace on the beach, but you should consider the following before booking to make sure you won't be disappointed:
As the hotel is on the Lido, it will take you 40 minutes to get to the centre of Venice, by the hotel's fabulous shuttle service that is. If you have little time in Venice and plan some non-stop sightseeing you might want to stay in the centre.
The hotel features a magnificent pool in a wonderful garden which is great to relax from sightseeing, but only open mid-May to September. Before and after the pool-season the main argument to stay is the very competitive rates often offered online. In the off-season (of the Lido - there is none in Venice), I twice got rates for which you wouldn't even get a ***-hotel in the centre!
The common rooms of the hotel are breathtaking and the guestrooms and bathrooms are very nicely appointed. The breakfast buffet is extensive.
Be warned that everything not included in your rate (minibar, restaurant, roomservice,...) comes at outrageous prices!
Do check for special offers at the Starwood website.

We just returned from three nights and four days at the Hotel Des Bains..It was a nice stay...The people at the hotel were very friendly and hospitable. We were on our honeymoon and found it to be a relaxing place and a nice little room witha great bathroom. If we had to do it over, I wish we could've moved the hotel to the main part of VEnice.
Everything in Venice is very expensive and the most economical way to get around is on the water bus that goes up and down the grand canal. WHile stayying at the hotel, there is a bus that transfers you to the Westin Excelsior and from the Excelsior, a water boat shuttle takes you to hotels near ST. Mark's Sguare where everything pretty much is. It runs about every 15 minutes which is very convenient. There is not much to do at night there accept go to the casino, which was a fun expreience..We had to pay five dollars to get in and rent a jacket for my husband.
The hotel breakfast is pretty goo with a good selection of foods, which I still tired off after the third day. Egg scrabled or boild, many fruits, cereal, bacon, sausage, muffins, croissants, and a variety of juices. The service was great at breakfast also. The hotel is closing soon for the winter.
The beach was no where near as pretty as California's but very cloe, right accross the street. To get to the hotel from the airport, we walked straight out of the airport, headed left until we saw a sign for the allilaguna (water bus) that took us to the lido in about an our. The guy on the boat wil say LIDo pretty loud. It ws I believe the fourth stop.
WE went to see glass blowing in Murano which is neat but kind of a scam to get you to buy lots of things. If you go th the Basilca later in the afternoon, the line is not that bad. The view from tha cmpanile was nice and not a long wait either. Doges Palace has very interesting prisons.
To eat, Rafaelle's was delicious. For the GOndola ride at night we went to a travel agency near ST. Mark's Square to book a 50 minute nightime serenade for forty euro each. The usual is about 90 euro for the two of you alone, no singing.. The catch with ours was that the boat would have up to six people in it. The take alot of gondolas at once up and down the grand canal and the singing is amazing with a accordian and mic.
Shopping in the rialto market near the bridge was the most economical for the best things. Bring DVDs and a mini playyer because the only thing on television at the hotel was pay per views and CNN in English. We had a good time but jetlag was horrible...BEd a a bit hard...Nive and quiet from the noise though...