Irene’s apartment was situated in a quiet part of Venice, and one very much felt one was ‘going home’ each night after a hectic day’s sightseeing. The apartment overlooked a small canal and this added to the authentic feeling of living, briefly, like a local! The apartment had everything one needed for a decent stay, with a large bedroom and a good size living room, semi-open plan with the well-equipped kitchen. The whole place felt very homely, and the period furniture and interesting pictures on the wall all added to the atmosphere.
Irene was extremely kind and helpful, meeting me off the riverbus from the airport and helping me to get my initial bearings, as Venice can be very confusing to a first time visitor! There was an excellent supermarket about 5 minutes walk away and at least three useful vaporetto stops within 10 minutes walk. The nearby canal felt a bit like a high street, with a number of bars and restaurants to choose from and several interesting shops to browse.
With Irene’s help I even learnt how to brew a proper cup of coffee Italian-style (at home in London, I normally just use instant coffee!).
My three-night stay went very quickly, and I was pleased to have chosen Irene’s apartment as a base from which to explore this fascinating city.
Given the high prices one can so easily pay in Venice, the apartment was relatively good value, even after factoring in the substantial cleaning charge.
Irene’s hospitality could not be faulted, and I can warmly commend her place, especially if you fancy staying somewhere away from the main tourist drag!