Unfortunately, we got off on the wrong foot with our stay with Nicola.....but things worked out "ok" in the end. Nicola and two of his young friends have sub-rented three apartments in Venice which they have listed on Airbnb. It was a very cold and foggy, damp early afternoon when we arrived in Venice...which is expected in December. The boat ride (canal bus) takes about 45 minutes from the train station to the stop near the apartment.
So we were already cold when we got to the stop.
The directions to the apartment don't say specifically which stop is the one to get off, so we had to guess on that. The next problem we ran into was the listing DOESN'T actually include an address. So once we got off the stop, we had to wait in the cold and fog until we could call Nicola to come meet us. The stop doesn't have wifi...so getting a hold of him took more time. Once we got him, gratefully, he was there in about another 10 to 15 minutes.
The short walk to the apartment was fine, and I'm sure in warm sunny weather, it would be enjoyable. But once we got to the apartment and climbed the stairs, he informed us that the heat in the apartment had been turned off for four days. (We are still wondering, knowing that we were coming and had made this reservation weeks in advancd, he or his friends hadn't turned the heat on?) This is an apartment with high ceilings, cement walls, and shiny cement floors with NO carpets anywhere...so lots of cold surfaces to heat up. Although Nicola insisted the new boiler system would heat the apartment quickly, in reality it took til almost 2 in the morning (8 hours) before we could take our shoes and coats off to feel comfortable.
During that time I called him and asked him to please bring more blankets for the beds because there was only one blanket per bed and no extras in any of the closets. He told me there weren't any more and to just wait until the apartment heats up! Hum????
There are some small things the apartment lacks...like a frying pan WITH a handle, or hot pads, extra blankets, rugs...even small ones by the beds so you're not having to step on cold floors, etc...but all in all, it's an ok place....even though the distance is quite far from the main tourist places.