Palazzo Barocci

We booked a semi-private water taxi from Marco Polo Airport. Because Palazzo Barocci sits beside the Sant'Angelo vaporetto stop, the boat pulled directly to the hotel's private dock. The concierge team was waiting before we'd even figured out how to get Daisy off the boat, out the door, taking bags, greeting us like old friends. While I was filling in the check-in form, our bags were already in the room and the welcome Prosecco was in my hand (Daisy tried to knock the glass clean out of it; the staff laughed it off). Nobody looked twice at her. Just a proper warm welcome.

I'd booked a single room (I'd rather spend on the property than the room category), but we were upgraded to a Superior Room with a king bed and a Canal View. Ground floor, with a concrete-and-stone finish that makes sense for a Venice palazzo (these buildings flood, you won't find plush carpeting at lower levels). Robes, slippers, and a welcome treat in the room, biscuits, fresh fruit, a handwritten card. No dog bed, no water bowl, no welcome kit for Daisy, that's a 'nice to have' that bumps a hotel to 9 or 10 out of 10 for us, but it's never a dealbreaker. We always travel prepared with Daisy's own kit.

Limited dog-specific amenities, no bed, no bowls, no treats, so come packed. Venice in general has very little green space if your dog needs grass for bathroom breaks (Daisy is fine on concrete, which made it easy). Breakfast isn't included, budget for eating out or add it at booking.

Daisy had the run of the place. Off-season Venice is full of locals walking their dogs through the narrow streets and across the bridges, so the city is unexpectedly dog-friendly once you arrive. Daisy never had to go in her carrier (unless tired), and we walked everywhere, partly by choice, partly because there was a 24-hour transit strike on arrival day. For reactive dogs or dogs that get overwhelmed in crowds, off-season visiting is essential, peak summer in Venice would be a different experience entirely.