Just 30 meters from the canal jetty, we were met by Angelo, Elizabetta’s friend who showed us to the apartment where our delightful host met us a few minutes later. We had telephoned from the airport beforehand to let her know we had arrived.

Elizabetta had been extremely helpful in her emails, especially giving guidance on arranging the motor boat taxi. Elizabetta couldn't have been more charming and showed us around the apartment, giving suggestions on where to take eat and visit.

She also provided a lovely greeting pack of wine, milk and snacks

We arrived Sunday lunchtime, two hours before the official check in time, but having given Elizabetta plenty of notice of this, she kindly arranged for us to enter the apartment as soon as we had arrived.

Our host couldn't have done more to make our stay as seamless as possible. She was an absolute gem and even allowed us to stay in the apartment on our final day until the taxi arrived late in the afternoon to allow us to catch the evening flight home. Whilst we fortunate that there was nobody booked in to stay that day, it would have been easy for her to shrug her shoulders and let us struggle with our luggage all day around Venice. But Elizabetta was more than willing to let us stay at no extra cost. An absolute star :)

The flat itself was tastefully decorated with some beautiful old Italian furniture. It was clean, well equipped and very light with lots of windows showing great views of the roof tops of Venice. I loved to look out of the kitchen window onto the campo below and watch the hustle and bustle below

But the apartment isn't suitable to everyone.

Its up four flights of stairs, well maintained and wide, but tough with suitcases and after a few glasses of wine and a full stomach.

And you don't need an alarm clock as the church next door sounds its bells at 7.30 every morning just in case you had thought about sleeping off the previous nights excesses!

But the flat was quiet, no noisy neighbours when we stayed, even a busy convenient cafe / bar on the ground floor didn't disturb us.

A wine and chocolate deli across the campo, including a chemist and a really nice restaurant 50 meters away, makes this a great place to stay. And you must try the small Venetian tapas bar in the next street. Friendly bar owner and reasonable prices.

We loved wondering down the little streets and alleyways and finding delightful shops, bridges and sights around every corner. Only five minutes walk from Rialto Bridge and 10 mins from St Marks we didn't feel the need to spend a fortune on bus fares but did treat ourselves to the fabulous water taxi ride from the airport.

This was our first Airbnb booking. I don't think it could have gone smoother thanks to a great host and a wonderful apartment