From the moment of booking, Monica was available to assist us in many ways including clear and concise directions on how to get there. It's important to know that Venice is unlike any other place in that you are not delivered to a front door...you must have a journey to get there.

Monica met us upon our arrival at her home. Everything was just as described, and in some ways the room was better than we thought, as it overlooked a canal and the first thing my wife did is fling the windows open and listen to the sounds from the Gondoliers ferrying their passengers below us. The sound of "Oyay!!!" which is Gondola-Speak for I'm coming through (as there are no 'Yield Right of Way' signs on the waterways, echoed through the canal and our room.

The home which was built in the 1700's has been divided into several flats and it was somewhat apparent that the building had been set up for room rental use. A nice feature is that for each room, while not located in the room, has its own private bathroom. No sharing of such personal space.

The bedroom itself was tastefully decorated with furniture that was reflective of the vibe of the house...in other words, not brand new furniture; for instance, the dresser looked as though it had been there serving its purpose for a period of time...just as the home has been.

There is a nice dining area for the included breakfast each day and we were impressed that Monica put effort into preparing things like individual coffee drinks and even fresh eggs prepared to your liking. Also, freshly baked pastries were out each morning.

Perhaps the best thing about the property is its location, Cannaregio, which is pretty much perfect. We could walk to most of the 'must see' spots in 30 minutes or less, and literally on the streets that surround the home there are several great dining opportunities (Monica knows them all!)...several small shops, and even Santa Maria dei Miracoli (Church of Miracles) which was a wonderful landmark to come back to each day. This area is far from the crazy bustle of many of the other parts of the city. The neighborhood was quiet and authentic. A treat was stopping into Dolceamaro, which is a great place to pick up wonderful wines, chocolates, and coffee beans...all of small batch integrity.