Okay- lets be honest!
Venice is one of the most expensive locations on the planet. If you understand this from the begining and adjust your sights accordingly- you can stiil enjoy one of the truly great cities of the world.
Locanda Vivaldi generates great debate- on the whole most people love it. It is close to the centre of the city- with some of the most fabulous views you will find. You can pay several times the room rate at more well known hotels along the Grand Canal- only to find inadequate room size and no view at all.
This hotel is value for money based on its competition. My wife and I have stayed here many times over the last few years. If you cannot enjoy this hotel- you will not like Venice and you might as well stay at home.
The hotels only failing is the breakfast selection- so what! Go out and enjoy what this city has to offer. The staff are fantastic and welcoming (particularly Stefano).
I am not going to say what is the best room to book- I dont want to lose it to others. However- I suggest that you splash out and book a room at the front- and you can then lean out and enjoy this vibrant & sometimes noisy city at its best. Learn to enjoy the italian part of your soul.

The Hotel Locanda Vivaldi is a first class hotel in a amazing location on the Gan Canal. It 's just few steps from St. Marks, and is also in front to the main vaporetto stops.

Our rooms were a nice size had a view over the Gran Canal. The furnishings are greats and the room was elegant and confortable.

The breakfast buffet was excellent, and the terrace bar had a nice view on St. Mark basin.

The front desk staff were very friendly, professional and helpful.

We would return ti this hotel.

The rooms are small. The dining area/bar is just as small. The guests' lounge is small. The breakfast is average. BUT those are not drawbacks when you can feel the music of Venice. You are right on the lagoon - 2 bridges from St Mark's square - the buskers are your foreplay. The violin ensembles (less than 10 mins walk on any night) are your massage. The coffee and limongellos at the ("oh so expensive") 300 years old cafes in the square are delicious tingles. The red wine in some bar down some side walkway late into the night is your afterplay. Then you come home to this Hotel (this hotel of Vivaldi - on the lagoon) and open the windows and breathe in Venice and know that you will never understand this lover but that you are living - right NOW. And you can feel the music.

Had four nights at the lovely Locanda Vivaldi with my husband. Hotel is very charming, small, boutique style with typical Venetian furnishings - fabric wall coverings, glass chandelier etc. Our room, number 106, was spacious (especially for European hotel) with a reasonable size well appointed bathroom. It is a corner room so you get four sets of windows making it very light and airy. Room 206 would be the same. Great views over the water.

The hotel is less than three minutes walk along the waterfront to San Marco Square, fantastic location.

As it is right on the waterfront, there are large numbers walking by during the day so there is some noise but by evening this has dropped off enormously and becomes very quiet.

There is no restaurant at the hotel but there are numbers of restaurants very close by. No hardship at all.

Breakfast was very good - plenty of choice, and always eggs plus the usual continental fare.

Water taxi comes direct to the hotels own steps and staff very friendly and helpful.

We will definitely stay at this hotel again (and we've stayed in many 5 star hotels so don't say it lightly)