On Giudecca Island, away from Venice's busiest crossings yet gazing directly towards the lagoon, Hotel Cipriani remains one of the city's most assured addresses. Rooms and suites carry Venetian polish through Fortuny and Rubelli fabrics, marble bathrooms, garden or lagoon views and, in Palazzo Vendramin, a more palatial residential mood. Days unfold around the Olympic-sized pool, Casanova gardens, private boat shuttle, Cip's Club, Oro and the Gabbiano Bar. The hotel's glamour lies in its discretion: close to San Marco, but with space, gardens and water all around.