Pros:
*Incredibly clear directions to reach this location. I'd never been to Italy but had no issue at all because of Luca's maps and photos.
*Luca keeps guests apprised of Venice's weather conditions to ensure they're prepared for them—he let me know the one day "acqua alta" happened and even shared an app to track its occurrence.
*The list of suggestions he provides in terms of what to see, where to eat, and what to expect from Venice proved invaluable. It comes from a local's perspective and it passes on knowledge a new visitor would otherwise never access.
*The neighborhood has enough markets and restaurants to supply pretty much any essential, including adaptors if you're dumb enough to forget one when you leave England because you mistakenly assume the U.K. and E.U. use electricity in the same way. Not that I know anyone who did.
*There's a great burger place right around the corner with some seriously amazing sauces for its fries. And yes, in case you hadn't guessed, I'm clearly American.
Cons:
*It's a small space, basically just two rooms, and the bed comprises quite a bit of it.
*The main door exits into an alley, meaning there's essentially no view at all from the room. I kept the windows drawn to ameliorate my gloom.
*The Internet information wasn't available upon arrival. Had to use a caffe's Wi-Fi to request it.
*Hot water in the bathroom could last longer.
*Hot water from the kitchen faucet scalds.
Dorsoduro's a cool distrcit/neighborhood, but it's a far walk to what most would consider the city's main attractions, e.g., St. Mark's. I'm glad I got to walk so much of Venice because doing so gave me an appreciation for how locals traverse it, yet getting anywhere else besides my immediate environs really did take a while. Maybe all the burgers slowed me down.
*The first time I used the washing machine, it wouldn't work; in fact, it stopped in the middle of its cycle with my clothes and a bunch of water still inside. When I informed my host of the situation and asked for assistance, none came: Luca simply stated the contraption usually worked "flawlessly," as if its past performance somehow solved its current lack of operation. I resolved the dilemma on my own, yet feel as if I shouldn't have had to. Risks of renting a place when its host isn't around, I guess.
Just one person's opinion(s)...