Irene was waiting for us at the train station in Venice and was so patient as we got oriented to Venice. She helped carry our luggage and brought us the entire way to her apartment. Venice is very confusing and Irene helped us navigate our way on our first visit. Irene's apartment is charming, well equipped, clean and comfortable. Irene explained the workings of the apartment and made suggestions for restaurants, transportation and activities. We really appreciated that she washed the sheets in special detergent to account for allergies. The apartment is in a great location, walkable to much of Venice and near a vaparetto, shops and restaurants. Most importantly, it is extremely quiet, away from the crowds, allowing for a great night sleep. Irene had the most useful, thoughtful comprehensive book describing the different areas of Venice, attractions, eateries, transportation, etc. which we found extremely useful. Irene was attentive to our needs, we had a wonderful time in her apartment and would highly recommend a stay there when visiting Venice.