This flat is lovely! It has that aged elegance that is so Venice. The rooms are larger than I expected and furnished with antiques - real antiques that look like they've just always been there, and maybe they have. You really feel like you're living in Venice, with the view of a side canal and a cute little gated entryway. Lions' heads on the front door complete the image. The place was clean, the fridge was cold and ready. You could sleep 4 (1 double bed and a pull-out sofa), but you'd have to pull the kitchen table out from the wall to seat you all for dinner.

Giovanna, the owner, was very good about responding to our emails/texts and kept in constant communication. We received a detailed instruction list of when/how to do trash and recycling, but no info about check-in/out. We had to ask Giovanna about getting keys and locking up. BUT, since there seemed to be no standard procedure, we were able to make arrangements that best suited our needs. She even sent someone to meet us at the vaporetto stop and show us how to get to the apartment. (Then we caught the wrong boat, and the poor woman had to wait for us!) So I would say the whole interaction was pretty Italian - casual (unstructured), but very friendly and welcoming.

Generally, I think this flat was just right for my family. It was quiet, even though it was located in a busy, centralized part of town (you do hear the gondoliers occasionally calling out). It felt authentic and offered a wonderful place to duck in out of the crowds. I would come back!