I spent two nights at Zoia's. My initial impression was disappointment, as her apartment was located inside one of the numerous, generic apartment blocks that litter Italy's urban areas. However, once inside, her apartment was large and the guest sleeping quarter was the actual, spacious living room. There was no internet service (advertised), so I relied on my cell phone carrier for email. Zoia overall was kind and helpful. She lives with her son inside the apartment. The best thing about the room was the price. Nothing inside Venice was available for my short-notice accommodations, so this was a viable alternative. The apartment is within a 10-15 minute walk from the main bus routes and tram, and is also a 10 minute walk from several hip pubs as well as a high-quality Sicilian restaurant, which is where I dined the first night. Plenty of restaurants and bars(Italian) within a 10-minute walk, so most of your needs are nearby. Mestre is clean and organized. I spoke to her in Italian so I can't attest to her English language skills, but can attest to her accommodating nature. Recommended to most people.