except for maybe the experience of hanging the laundry across the street we did pretty much which anna suggested to us. great ideas and help.
also the apt offered whatever is needed, from wifi to clothes lines ;-) to kitchen utensils, vaporetto time schedule and cold water in the fridge.
and a stone throw from both giardini and arsenale for biennale or 2 to s. marco or other nice places.
getting there directly from the airport just take the public Alilaguna blu vaporetto/boat line which runs every half hour to the stop Arsenale. it's a short walk from there and anna will probably pick you up.