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ABOVE: As this Google Map shows, the Crowne Plaza Venice East isn't in Venice. It's miles away on the mainland.

Over the last year or so, we've had a number of inquiries about the Crowne Plaza Venice East, a hotel that isn't in Venice at all: It's in Quarto d'Altino, a town on the Venetian mainland about 16 kilometers or 10 miles from Venice as the crow flies.

We have nothing against the Crowne Plaza Venice East per se. Its user reviews are mostly favorable, and we're confident that it's a decent place to stay if you have business in the surrounding area or want to organize a conference away from Venice's distractions. It's also handy for the cruise lines and tour companies that use it, since it can accommodate large groups and tour buses.

But again, the hotel is not in Venice. It's out in the sticks. Naming it the "Crowne Plaza Venice East" makes about as much sense as using the name "Crowne Plaza Manhattan West" for a hotel in the Meadowlands of Northern New Jersey.

Our advice:

Unless you're being hauled around in a tour bus and have no control over where you're staying, book a hotel in the city of Venice--or near the Mestre Railroad Station (10-12 minutes from Venice by train) if you prefer a modern hotel at cheaper rates. After all, as we point out in our No. 1 Warning! article, location is all-important when you're visiting Venice.

These articles and pages at Venice for Visitors will help you find a hotel that's comfortable, in your price range, and--above all--close to the canals, palazzi, and other sights in Venice:

Venice Hotel Guide

Venice Hotel Maps

Venice Airport Hotels

Venice Cruise Terminal Hotels

Venice Mestre and Marghera Hotels

ABOVE: Maggie of Maggieinvenice.com guards the doorway of Harry's Bar in Venice.

We have mixed feelings about Harry's Bar (can anyone really justify spending nearly 17 euros for a Bellini?), but there's no denying that the saloon/restaurant has a colorful history and was an institution among the moneyed set before it became a popular tourist attraction.

Recently, Wendy Furtado of Nowness.com called our attention to a video interview with Arrigo Cipriani, the proprietor of Harry's Bar, from the luxury lifestyle site's "Five Days of Food" series. (Nowness is an editorially-independent Web site owned by LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the international group of luxury brands.) You can watch the video below:

Immortal Venice: Harry’s Bar on Nowness.com.