Ca Allegra was the perfect base for our 4 night stay in Venice.

Sandra met us at the Rialto, walked with us to the apartment and then spent some time with a map pointing out must-see places to visit and good restaurants. She also tailored her recommendations to our own tastes.

The place itself is charming. Very clean, perfectly appointed for a short stay, cosy and warm (we visited in November). The bedroom has quaint views over the tiled roofs of Castello. We found the wifi particularly helpful. We didn't use the washing machine (though there was one) and we only cooked dinner in the apartment on one evening - there's a gas hob and microwave but no oven. A bowl of fresh fruit and a fridge full of breakfast things (milk, OJ, coffee, butter bread and jams) also greeted us on arrival. Tucked away from the main tourist drag and on the third floor, the apartment is also quiet.

Unfortunately we did not see Sandra again when we left but we checked out without a problem, simply leaving the apartment keys on the table (check out before 11am). Throughout our stay she made it clear that we only had to call her if we had any question and problem and she would respond promptly.

If you are traveling to the airport over the lagoon it couldn't be easier. From the nearby Rialto stop we took the Alilaguna shuttle (€47 return) which runs twice every hour. Would definitely recommend this transport to and from the Marco Polo airport.

The Castello neighbourhood near the Rialto is a great location once you leave the well-trod tourist trail. Make sure you check out the delicious cichetti over a spritz in osteria La Portego around the corner. You'll notice it's amazingly popular with young locals of an evening, so don't be shy about claiming your territory at the bar.

Our highlights of this trip: the recently opened Punta della Dogana art gallery at the eastern tip of Dorsoduro (Pinault's private collection of contemporary art in a stunningly revamped space); an early evening vaparetto trip from Sam Marco to la Giudecca for a stroll; an amble around the refreshingly tourist-free area of Cannareggio and a meal at the atmospheric restaurant Paradiso Perduto which serves great seafood (book or get there early) and visit to the awesome Tintoretto-leaden masterpiece, the Scuola Grande di San Rocco in San Polo. In general, make sure you take plenty of cash as most places don't take cards.

Mid November is a great time to visit la Serenissima. Temperature was around 13C and we we had one day of blue skies and sun and a couple of atmospheric ones mist and fog.

Overall our experience at Sandra's was clean, cosy, convenient and charming. We would return without hesitation.