Raffaella was an amazing hostess! We arrived ahead of schedule and she quickly accommodated us and got us settled in. She gave a great tour of her wonderful apartment, and left a binder with instructions and recommendations which made everything very easy. Additionally, she was great to talk to and made us feel right at home. The apartment is fantastic. It is quite big with modern fixtures and very well decorated. We were coming with family friend who had a baby, so Raffaella even had a crib set up when we arrived. The location of the aparment is also excellent. There are a few good local eateries in the area, and a superb gelato spot, the best we've had in Europe, all within walking distance. The bus to San Marco is easy to use and takes about 15-20 min. This is a great value for anyone looking to stay close to Venice, but also experience the culture outside of the very touristy San Marco. We would recommend anyone who is headed to Venice to stay with Raffaella, and we certainly will if we have the chance to go back.