We just finished three weeks in Italy, and the highlight of our trip was our stay in Mario’s apartment. He was courteous and polite, easy to reach and quick to respond, and offered us some options for our trip that would allow us to see the Venice beyond the main tourist sights. The apartment was beautiful, clean, modern, and has all the amenities that you need for a relaxing stay (we cooked al fresco some nights!), and the neighborhood is perfect on the island of Giudecca. It’s just a five minute walk to the Vaporetto (water bus) with easy access to St. Mark’s and the sites on the Grand Canal, but it also provides you with the opportunity to be in a real Venetian neighborhood. And it’s quiet and relaxing (with amazing views on the roof deck). I think that it’s kind of a well-kept secret with the locals, but we have family there, and it’s the best place to see all that Venice has to offer and not feel pressured with crowds. We’ll absolutely be coming back the next time we are in Italy and recommending it to our friends back home!