Martina was very accessible during our stay. I appreciated that her friend met us at the boat dock and actually guided us to the apartment. She was sure to give us tips on Venice itself.

LOCATION: I loved the location of the apartment because it was steps away from a local grocery store, eateries and far enough away from the heavy traffic of St. Peter's square. We felt like we could actually rest there.

APARTMENT: What's nice about the layout is that the rectangular shape of the apartment ensures that the living room is closest to the street and the bedroom is farthest (hence it was quiet when we went to bed). The bed is very firm but my husband and I prefer this so keep that in mind if you need a plush mattress to get your rest. There's plenty of storage in the apartment as well (bedroom and kitchen). The air conditioning was great after those long sunny days walking around!

RECOMMENDATIONS for anyone that stays at Ca' Martina:

1. FOOD - Restaurants are very expensive in Venice so what we found that worked best was shopping at the local grocery store and having breakfast and dinner at the apartment (in addition to being armed with snacks and water for the day). This strategy ensured we weren't "eating out" a ton and we had enough food to fuel us. During the day, try the local fare in smaller portions; a cannoli or have some gelato when it's hot. After dinner, go find a place to sit at a restaurant that has a spectacular view and simply share a bottle of wine (or two).

2. EXPLORE - I will mention this recommendation I got from a local. The major thoroughfares are ripe with "touristy" shops, restaurants and the like. If you are looking for a little more authenticity, go get lost in Venice. Take your time and wander the small, narrow walkways in the general direction of Saint Peter's Square instead of taking the main waterside walkway (that is usually jam-packed with tourists). Don't worry, you'll eventually end up on a main street. I happened upon shops and restaurants that were only in Italian and didn't take credit cards (always a good sign). I also got to visit with artisans that are true Venetians selling very unique handiwork that could take the time to tell me about what life is really like in Venice (instead of monitoring all of the customers and tourists in their shops).