Molino Stucky Hilton instead of Luna Baglioni in Venice

[kmc33]

I was looking at the 2015 Italy itinerary and it looks like there has been a hotel change for Venice. The Molino Stucky Hilton is listed instead of the Luna Baglioni in Venice. Does anyone have info about the Molino Stucky Hilton or why ABD changed hotels? It sounded like the Luna Baglioni was a nice hotel.

 

[mare1203]

No info as to why they switched, but they are in the process of making the switch in 2014 as well. Our group stayed in the Molino Stucky. I am somewhat going to guess that there was feedback that groups wanted a more modern hotel. The Hilton offered the most "American" style hotel we got during the trip and many of our families liked that. The pool deck offered an incredible view and there is also a Nutella cafe that people seemed to enjoy. We thought the Molino was great, but we don't have any context for the old place, either. Our guides said they liked both and both had their charms. It is across the river from "Venice" proper, but there is a free shuttle and it was not a problem for us to access the island. There are also a number of good restaurants (or so our guides and fellow adventurers said; we ate in Venice for our night out) on the small island where the Hilton is located.

I am writing a trip report and will report on the Molino Stucky as well as the amazing (seriously, AMAZING) change to the last night celebration.

 

[kmc33]

Thank you for the reply! I did not realize they already switched as I was reading a recent review that stayed at Luna Baglioni and said it was their favorite hotel of the trip. I am happy to here good feedback for the Hilton. I am looking forward to your report. We are thinking about booking this trip.

 

[bellanotte10]

Didn't stay there for an AbD but on our own a few years ago. It is one of the best hotels I've ever stayed at. We had drinks in their lounge and it overlooked Venice and it was gorgeous. One of my favorite memories of that trip!

 

[twentyco]

Thank you for the reply! I did not realize they already switched as I was reading a recent review that stayed at Luna Baglioni and said it was their favorite hotel of the trip. I am happy to here good feedback for the Hilton. I am looking forward to your report. We are thinking about booking this trip.

We were on the trip last week (got home this past Monday) and stayed at the Luna Baglioni, so the change isn't universal yet. Maybe they are just trying it out on certain of the tours -- I'm not sure. We didn't do the boat for the farewell, either, but rather had it at the hotel; that is something that they used to do on the Signature Trip, I think, and have added it back in for 2015. I get seasick so I'm not sure I would enjoy it, but in any event I don't think it's a change that has been "universally" made for the remaining Viva Italia trips in 2014.

 

[mare1203]

We were on the trip last week (got home this past Monday) and stayed at the Luna Baglioni, so the change isn't universal yet. Maybe they are just trying it out on certain of the tours -- I'm not sure. We didn't do the boat for the farewell, either, but rather had it at the hotel; that is something that they used to do on the Signature Trip, I think, and have added it back in for 2015. I get seasick so I'm not sure I would enjoy it, but in any event I don't think it's a change that has been "universally" made for the remaining Viva Italia trips in 2014.

You are right, not all tours have been switched out. They are going back and forth over the next couple of trips and then most groups will begin staying at Molino in the late summer. At least that's what we were told.

 

[slachowski]

It seems like an odd change in my opinion due to the fact that The Hotel Baglioni is on the main set of islands near San Marco Square. With the new hotel selection you'd have to take a water taxi any time you'd want to go to the main parts of Venice. My fiancee and I loved The Hotel Baglioni, they had the best breakfast buffet, the rooms and bed were the most comfortable of our trip and also the most freedom when it came to the thermostat.

 

[pihanettie]

It seems like an odd change in my opinion due to the fact that The Hotel Baglioni is on the main set of islands near San Marco Square. With the new hotel selection you'd have to take a water taxi any time you'd want to go to the main parts of Venice. My fiancee and I loved The Hotel Baglioni, they had the best breakfast buffet, the rooms and bed were the most comfortable of our trip and also the most freedom when it came to the thermostat.

Agreed!
Our favorite hotel by far, loved the convenience to walk down to the square to shop or get a late night coffee at Florian. Like you said, the best beds, AC. The best room. Everyone in our tour that I spoke with said Venice was their favorite city and then went on to gush about the hotel, making me wonder if it was the city or the hotel that made us fall in love with Venice.

 

[Tozzie]

Agreed!
Our favorite hotel by far, loved the convenience to walk down to the square to shop or get a late night coffee at Florian. Like you said, the best beds, AC. The best room. Everyone in our tour that I spoke with said Venice was their favorite city and then went on to gush about the hotel, making me wonder if it was the city or the hotel that made us fall in love with Venice.

I loved Tuscany the best but the LUNA was the best hotel, nice and centraly located, easy to go out and eat and get back to

 

[OKW Lover]

We are on this trip in mid-September. Hope that we get the Luna Baglioni.

 

[kanadar]

I haven't stayed at the Luna, we stayed at the Molina Stucky and it was really nice. Unbelievable views! Especially from the pool on the roof. We noticed lots of old posters around of some type of pasta, so we were all kind of thinking it might have been an old pasta factory. It was more modern. But I also think the farewell dinner was pretty awesome that comes along with the Molina.

 

[Woodview]

Have you thought that ABD might not have Booked the Hotel in time ?

Other Hotels might be closed for renovation & so the Many other Tour Co.s

might have booked first . There are many many tour co visiting Venice ,

from all over Europe , every day

 

[Tozzie]

Have you thought that ABD might not have Booked the Hotel in time ?

Other Hotels might be closed for renovation & so the Many other Tour Co.s

might have booked first . There are many many tour co visiting Venice ,

from all over Europe , every day

No, ABD has the hotels booked when they offer the tours. ABD routinely looks at changes and other things to improve the tours, this year they changed the Hotel in Rome. Next year the Hilton is listed as the hotel in Venice so i am thinking that they are slowly trying it out to ease the transition.