The hosts were very welcoming - it was especially helpful that Michele met us at the train station and walked us over to the apartment, stopping along the way to pick up some pastry for breakfast! The apartment is a bit tucked away and we likely would have gotten lost on our own. That being said, it's actually a benefit because it's in a quiet location and once you figure out where it is, the location is very easy and convenient. There are some shops, restaurants, and bakeries right around the corner from the apartment. The fun of Venice is exploring all of the various neighborhoods as you wind your way to the main attractions, and this apartment was perfectly situated to do just that. The apartment was exactly as advertised (the hosts have done an excellent job providing such a detailed description) -- 4 of us stayed there and found it to be quite comfortable. While there isn't a "living room" area, the table in the kitchen sat 4 and was sufficient for sitting together and planning out our days -- also there are many travel guide books available in the apartment. The maps and restaurant recommendations were also helpful. The kitchen was stocked, as advertised, with oil, coffee, tea, sugar, etc. That was a very nice feature as many other apartments don't always offer that. Michele took time to explain everything about the apartment when we first arrived. He was also very responsive when we had an issue with the electricity very late one evening. Unfortunately it required a trip to the mainland hardware store on Sunday morning to fix it but Michele took care of it as soon as possible. We just chalk that up to bad luck -- everything else about our stay was great!