Hotel: San Clemente Palace

Address: San Clemente Island, Venice

Website: sanclemente.thi.it

TraveLife Ranking: Five Plus Stars

Rooms: 205

Room rates: $350+

Awards: Voted one of Venice’s top three hotels.

Highlights: You are brought to this amazing island hotel aboard a sleek mahogany power boat. The boat docks at St. Mark Square and the ride to the island takes about 15 minutes. The hotel is more a resort, right down to the miniature golf course and huge column-lined swimming pool area where casually-dressed servers deliver drinks with little umbrellas popping out the top. San Clemente is one of hundreds of tiny islands that sit off land-challenged Venice. Most of those islands are home to ancient buildings, many of which are in a state of decay. San Clemente's featured pavilion, a massive building that has served as a monastery and hospital in the past, was headed for a similar fate until an Italian hotel group, Turin Hotels, rescued it and turned it into a Palace.

History: The history of the crescent-shaped island is almost as amazing as the hotel. San Clemente is where religious pilgrims and soldiers rested before sailing off to the Holy Land in the 12th century. The pavilion that houses the hotel was started in 1645 by Camaldolesi monks and offers some of the most stunning views of the Venetian skyline, including St. Mark's Square. The haunting ruin of a church built in 1131 remains attached to the main pavilion to this day and is a great place to explore, especially at sunset.

Interior highlights: A sweeping staircase welcomes guests off a main lobby that is dripping with class and opulence. Historic frescoes line the walls and at first glance San Clemente Palace looks more museum than hotel. The main building is built around an inner courtyard where the monks would go to reflect. That space is now used by guests for the same purpose. The hallways of the former monastery are, without exaggeration, wider than most of Venice's narrow streets.

In the next room: Because of its seclusion, many Italian and North American film stars use it to escape the hustle and bustle of busy Venice. The titans of business have also discovered the remote hotel and like its seclusion to carry out their big deals.

The rooms: The hotel's superbly appointed rooms are some of the most spacious in all of Europe - not surprising since they once served as apartments for the monks who resided here. While the building may be ancient, the hotel has been brought up to modern-day standards with the addition in each room of two phones, data port, high speed Internet access, fax machines and a safe big enough to store a laptop. The decor in each room was inspired by various classes of the Serenissima Republic at the height of its 12th century power. The hotel identifies the category of its rooms by sophisticated titles like Nobles, Doges, Merchants and The Navigators, the latter being inspired by the idealistic seafarers who would always return to the comfort of their Venetian homes. The oversized beds some with fluffy everything and the marble bathrooms are a delight.

Amenities: There’s a wonderful spa on site that offers all the latest treatments. There’s also a miniature golf course and lots of walking trails. The pool is a perfect place for family fun.

Restaurants: The hotel offers a number of fine dining spots – TraveLife’s favorite is the outdoor restaurant called La Luguna, located right next to the old church. La Luguna looks across the water at Venice and is a favorite gathering spot at sunset. There's also the elegant Ca' dei Frati, which offers stunning views of the island's lagoon; the informal Le Maschere and Gli Specchi, an American-style bar that serves up some of the best cocktails in Venice amidst lots of atmosphere.

Shopping: You’re just a boat ride away from some of the best shopping in Europe.

Close By The island is in close proximity to some of Venice's other noted islands, including Murano, known for its glass factories, and the lace capital of Europe, the island of Burano.

Tips: San Clemente Palace operates a 24-hour shuttle to Venice. You can’t visit the island unless you’re registered at the hotel. The gardens are a perfect retreat after a day of exploring historic Venice. Leave it to kids to pay the San Clemente the ultimate compliment. Upon leaving our room one morning, some French teenagers placed the following sign on the door to their parent's room: "Merci mama et papa pour un bonne vacance." Enough said!