We'd used Weekend a la Carte before for a trip to Abisko to see the Aurora Borealis and yet again, we were so impressed with the arrangements made on our behalf. We were greeted at the airport in Venice and taken by car to all the boats. Arriving to our hotel In a private water taxi was the best way possible to start off our four days - we felt like Hollywood stars! The Hotel Metropole was excellent - nothing was too much trouble for the staff and they were really knowledgeable and helpful. Excellent choices for breakfast, we drank Vivaldi Martinis in the bar where Vivaldi wrote The Four Seasons (Bruno the Bar Manager's suggestion - divine) and the Michelin starred restaurant for my birthday meal, The Met, was out of this world. Excellent location too, just a couple of bridges down from The Bridge of Sighs. Venice itself exceeded any expectation we had prior to our visit and around every corner was another beautiful scene. It's impossible to take a bad photo in Venice! Weekend a la Carte booked everything on our behalf and they clearly knew Venice well, giving hints and tips to make our weekend even better. We had private water taxi transfers, visited Murano (twice!), Burano and Torcello, had a private gondola trip at sunset, had the benefit of Venice Museum St Mark's Pass Card (The Doge's Palace is breathtaking), welcome and birthday prosecco, dinner at The Met and we walked miles! We will definitely be going back to our now favourite city and I'm certain will use Weekend a la Carte again, a first class travel company who clearly know their destinations well. We can't thank you enough for another truly memorable break ... where to next I'm thinking!! Kathryn and Nigel Bardouleau