We were a family of four, enjoying a ten-day reunion in Venice. Paolo and Riccardo were perfect hosts, friendly, informative and considerate of our needs. They met us at the vaporetto stop and guided us through the narrow (and thoroughly charming!) streets to a warm and comfortable apartment. Our visit spanned the Christmas and New Year holidays, so we were a bit worried about the shops being closed, etc. but the kitchen was generously stocked with breakfast items, pasta and pasta sauces in the cupboard, and basics like salt, sugar, olive oil, etc. There was also milk, butter, yoghurt and fruit in the fridge and even a lovely Christmas panettone for us! Plenty of dishes and lots of pots and pans. There is a wonderful open air market in Rialto and we had great fun shopping for fresh seafood and cooking for ourselves. We stayed for ten days, so were grateful for the washing machine and dishwasher. Everything we used was in good working order. The location was also perfect for us: within ten minutes to Rialto (convenient for the train station) and even closer to Fondamente Nove (for the airport shuttle and also for the outer islands of Murano and Burano); easy walking to San Marco Square and most of the major sights, with lots of shops and restaurants in between. The apartment itself is situated in a quiet section of town, in a lovely old building overlooking a large canal (expect to be awakened by gulls!)and decorated with marvelous Italian extravagance―chandeliers, beautiful carved woodwork, gilt-edged mirrors all over the place, etc. The phone was a great bonus -- we all know how expensive it is to use a cell phone abroad. The internet was stress-free. All in all, we heartily recommend this place. But a word of warning to first-time visitors: Venice is VERY expensive. But when you think about it, this is a very special place with special needs. There are no cars in the old city, so provisions have to be brought in by boat and delivered on foot; trash is painstakingly collected in hand-pushed carts; high tides have to be dealt with. We came away feeling that if you want to enjoy the ambience and cultural treasures of this magical city, you have to help pay for its upkeep.