Our Anniversary to Italy: Part 18 – Hilton Molino Stucky, Venice

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Emily Jablon:  Daraius and I went to Europe in September to celebrate our 2nd anniversary for ~2 weeks.  It was my first time in Italy so I was very excited!  In Italy, we visited Varenna on Lake Como, Milan, Venice, and Rome.

Since we were in Europe, we visited a friend in Strasbourg, France and also spent a night in Zurich.  We started our trip with a one day layover in Chicago to see friends!

Hilton Stucky Hotel Venice
Emily at the Rooftop Pool at the Hilton Stucky Hotel Venice

Our Anniversary To Italy – Trip Report Index:

How You Can do it Too!

It costs 50,000 Hilton points for 1 night (70,000 points in May, June, July & September) at the Hilton Molino Stucky in Venice.  The regular price for a room varies from ~$300 to ~$500, so this is a great use of Hilton points!

You get 2 free weekend nights (weekend is defined as Friday, Saturday, or Sunday nights) with the Citi Hilton HHonors Reserve Card.

You also get free Hilton Gold status with the Citi Hilton Reserve card.  Hilton Gold status will get you free internet and free breakfast.  It costs 20 euro or ~$27 for 1 day of internet in your room (internet is free in the lobby) and 15 euro (~$21) per person for breakfast at the Hilton Molino Stucky.

So we didn’t have to pay ~$68 a day for the convienence of free internet and breakfast with the free Hilton Gold status from the Citi Hilton Reserve!

A less obvious way to get Hilton points is to get the 50,000 mile Virgin Atlantic card and to then transfer 50,000 Virgin Atlantic miles to 100,000 Hilton points for free.  That way, you get 100,000 Hilton points which you can use for any 2 nights at the Hilton Molino Stucky.

See this post on all the ways to earn Hilton points.

Hilton Molino Stucky, Venice

1.   Getting To Venice

We took a 2.5 hour train ride from Milan to Venice.  We bought the cheaper 2nd class tickets at the automatic ticket machine in Milan.  The tickets were 37.5 euros (~$55) for each 1-way ticket from Milan to Venice.

Hilton Stucky Hotel Venice
You can Purchase Train Tickets From the Automatic Machine at the Station

The machines were easy to use, and we had our tickets in just a few minutes.

Hilton Stucky Hotel Venice
User Friendly Ticket Machines at the Station

We selected our destination, and tried to pay with a credit card.

Hilton Stucky Hotel Venice
75 Euro for 2 1-Way Tickets From Milan to Venice!

However we used our British Airways card which has a chip, but the machine wanted to know our PIN as well.

So we just used an American Express card which didn’t require a PIN number.

Hilton Stucky Hotel Venice
Keypad for Entering Our PIN Code

Soon we were in Venice and outside the train station were the Venetian canals I had read – and dreamed – about since I was a child!

Hilton Stucky Hotel Venice
The Venetian Canals Greeted Us as We Exited the Station

2.   Venice Water Taxi to the Hilton

We took a water taxi from the Santa Lucia train station directly to our hotel, the Hilton Molino Stucky Venice.  Daraius wanted the James Bond experience!

This cost 60 euro (~$82) for both of us and it is easy to find a water taxi outside the station.

This was cheaper than the 136 euro (~$186) if you arrange for a private transfer through the hotel.

Hilton Stucky Hotel Venice
Emily on the Water Taxi to the Hotel

We could have taken the cheaper water bus, but it would take 45 minutes to 1 hour (instead of 15 minutes in a water taxi), so we decided to pay more and save time.  We only had 2 days in Venice and were anxious to do some sightseeing!

That said, we did take the water bus around Venice at night and it was a very nice experience.

The hotel publishes a detailed document with all of the transport options including pricing and availability.

The public bus takes about 45 minutes and costs 7 euro (~$10) per person, and includes one piece of luggage.  Additional luggage costs 7 euro each.

Hilton Stucky Hotel Venice
The Public Water Bus Costs 7 Euro but Takes Much Longer

If you do take the water bus, you have to get off at the “Palanca” stop.  There is a short 5 minutes walk including climbing up a few stairs.  This isn’t really a big deal if you don’t have a lot of luggage!

Hilton Stucky Hotel Venice
The Stairs You Have to Use for the Public Water Bus

The water taxi costs around 60 euro and takes about 15 minutes.

Hilton Stucky Hotel Venice
Emily Happy to Get Started Seeing Venice

Daraius liked the James Bond feel of the taxi, but was disappointed at how slow the boat went.

Hilton Stucky Hotel Venice
Feeling Like Secret Agent 007 in the Water Taxi

3.   Hilton Molino Stucky Hotel

We booked two nights at the Hilton Molino Stucky in Venice, and used 50,000 points for one night and 1 free weekend night certificate from the Citi Hilton Reserve card.  

Hilton Stucky Hotel Venice
View of The Hilton Molino Stucky Venice From Our Water Taxi

Again, here are all the ways to get Hilton points.

Hilton Stucky Hotel Venice
Emily Outside the Hilton Molino Stucky Venice

The Hilton Molino Stucky isn’t on the main island of Venice, but on a more residential island called Giudecca.  We liked being away from the crowds and it was great to be able to explore the smaller and less crowded Giudecca island.

We also got a free upgrade to a Tower Suite because we are Diamond members (from spending on the Hilton Reserve card) and because it was our anniversary.

Regular rooms sell for ~400 euro (~$547) and our Tower Suite sells for a staggering $3,466!

Hilton Stucky Hotel Venice
Emily in the Lobby of the Hilton Milano Stucky Venice

The hotel room was very spacious.

Hilton Stucky Hotel Venice
Emily in Our Tower Suite

There was a king bed with two nightstands.

Hilton Stucky Hotel Venice
Our Luxurious Bedroom

Along one wall were two windows through which…

Hilton Stucky Hotel Venice
The Large Windows
…we had a wonderful view of the main island.  We could see St. Mark’s Clock Tower from our room.
Hilton Stucky Hotel Venice
The Amazing View from Our Bedroom

The bedroom also had a desk…

Hilton Stucky Hotel Venice
The Cozy Workspace in the Tower Suite

and a TV, table, and chair.

Hilton Stucky Hotel Venice
Flat Screen TV and a Sitting Area in Our Bedroom

The bathroom wasn’t that spacious.

Hilton Stucky Hotel Venice
Emily in the Bathroom

It had double sinks…

Hilton Stucky Hotel Venice
There Were Double Sinks in the Bathroom

but a small walk-in shower…

Hilton Stucky Hotel Venice
There was a Separate Tiled Walk-in Shower

and a bathtub.

Hilton Stucky Hotel Venice
A Large Sunken Bathtub

Across from the bathroom was a small closet.

Hilton Stucky Hotel Venice
A Small Closet Across From the Bathroom

In addition to the bedroom and bathroom there was another wing that had a large living room and dining room.

Hilton Stucky Hotel Venice
Emily in the Tower Suite Living Room

It had a formal dining table and chairs…

Hilton Stucky Hotel Venice
The Dining Room Could Seat Six

and a full living room…

Hilton Stucky Hotel Venice
The Living Room was Large and Spacious

with the same spectacular view.

Hilton Stucky Hotel Venice
The Living Room had a Great View of Venice

The couch was not a sleeper sofa, but there was room for a temporary bed in the room.

Hilton Stucky Hotel Venice
There’s Room for a Roll Away in the Living Room

There was also a guest bathroom for visitors or additional friends or family to use.

Hilton Stucky Hotel Venice
There’s a Half Bath off the Living Room

The hotel also has a beautiful rooftop swimming pool…

Hilton Stucky Hotel Venice
The Rooftop Pool Overlooks the City

with plenty of lounge chairs…

Hilton Stucky Hotel Venice
Comfortable Lounge Chairs at the Rooftop Pool

and a gorgeous view!

Hilton Stucky Hotel Venice
Emily Loving the View From the Rooftop Pool

The Arsenale Tower is lit up at night, but the pool is closed.

Hilton Stucky Hotel Venice
The Glow of the Arsenale Tower Against the Night Sky

The views at night were very romantic.

Hilton Stucky Hotel Venice
The Lights of Venice from Hotel Monlino Stucky

The downside of the hotel is that you have to take a boat to get to the main island of Venice.

The Hilton has a free shuttle service that runs throughout the day.  But it does take time and we were waiting for 45 minutes once because the shuttle never showed up on time!

Bottom Line

Daraius and I had a wonderful time in Venice.

Although getting to The Hotel Molino Stucky requires a boat ride, it was worth it for us because we didn’t pay for the room, internet or breakfast!

We liked escaping from the crowds of Venice to the more residential island of Giudecca.

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