Mara was a wonderful and gracious host. She picked us up at the airport when we got in and pointed out everything we needed to know about the neighborhood. She speaks little English (and we speak little Italian), but we communicated easily over email (with translation) during our week-long stay.

There was a care package of wine and food for the first night waiting when we got to the house. The home itself is in a great location—just a few minutes walk to groceries, ATM, busses straight to Venice and the Mestre tram line. The wireless internet signal was weak in places, but worked well when we were patient. Each bedroom has a dedicated bathroom, which came in very handy. And the air conditioning was a lifesaver in the Venetian summer heat!