Paola met us directly from the waterbus and took us to the apartment, which is just a 2 minute walk from the Grand Canal and the Rialto Bridge!
We met her mum there and they gave us a very warm welcome and explained everything in the apartment to us. The apartment is a very quaint Venation one and not for the gadget freaks among us who want ultra-modern appliances etc. It scores very highly on its location which is perfect for exploring Venice - it's no more than an 15 minute stroll to St. Mark's Square for example and there are plenty of little cafes and bars in the neighbourhood plus little supermarkets. There was a local problem with the plumbing in the locality while we were there, but I'm sure it will have been taken care of by now. Venice is great for just walking around exploring as that's when it's at its best - avoid the waterbuses as much as possible and you'll save money (€7 for a one way trip and€20 for a 24hr ticket) and avoid the crowds. One recommendation - take the waterbus trip to Murano from the keyside at St Mark's Square and see the glass factory etc - it was a nice break from the bustle of the city. Just be aware the Venice is not cheap - budget realistically and you won't be disappointed when you get there.