Venezia 2000 Apartment, Venice - Review

Italy Heaven Review

I booked a week's stay at this holiday flat in Venice in January 2007. This is a quiet time of year for Venice and the price was very reasonable: €399 for seven nights in a flat which can sleep two or more. Shortly after booking I received an email from Stefano, the apartment's owner to confirm directions, and to arrange meeting up with the keys. He kept in touch by phone, checking with the airport to see if my flight was on time, and arrived to show me around the flat with a welcoming bottle of Prosecco.

The apartment is a studio, with enough space for a couple of adults to feel comfortable.. The external door, which is on a quiet lane, opens directly into the kitchen area, which is separated by some living space from the bed and bathroom. The decor was clean and bright, and I thought a frescoed landscape painted onto a wall by the bed was a rather sweet touch. Because of the ground floor location there's not a huge amount of natural light, and of course no views. In winter the flat wasn't hot, although the heating seemed reasonably effective. Being on a corner and at ground level probaby doesn't help the retention of heat nor the faint clamminess in the air. It's hard to tell if the flat would be pleasantly cool or not in summer. A ceiling fan, in any case, promises some relief from summer's heat.

The flat has a double bed in a narrow corner. It has twin mattresses so could be made up as a twin. There's also a sofa/bed combination which could sleep another two, but the small studio would be very crammed. It would be nice for parents and a child.

Built into a corner of the rectangular space, the bathroom is pleasant, white-tiled and clean (although the shower-curtain could do with replacing). The shower itself is fine (don't expect power-showers in Italy) and gets nicely hot. The bathroom contains a basic wall-mounted hair-dryer.

The kitchen wall has gas hobs, a fridge, microwave and washing machine. Two of those useful features of Italian kitchens appear here: a sink with two basins and a small drying cupboard with racks for dishes to drain. The cupboards and fridge contain a few foodstuffs - goods left by previous guests. Surprisingly there is no washing-up liquid or soap. The nearest supermarket is a little Coop in Campo San Giacomo dell'Orio; there is a larger Coop on the waterfront next to Piazzale Roma, which is open on Sundays.

The table is more of a narrow breakfast bar, really, but adequate for both eating and working. The wide sofa bed is not the most comfortable sofa in the world; there are also some folding chairs. Opposite is a cupboard and a wardrobe. The latter's shelves are occupied by spare pillows and blankets; there is also some shallow hanging space for clothes. I found an iron and small ironing board on a shelf. The small television set receives Italian channels, for what it's worth, and there is a DVD player.

The negative aspects would apply to most Italy holiday rentals: you're rather dependent on a random assortment of equipment and on the washing-up abilities of past guests. Surfaces were kept clean, but my discovery of a past guest's pyjamas when I moved the bed slightly suggests that a thorough spring-clean doesn't happen between guests. Tourists keen on their privacy might prefer more substantial curtains, though the window is only overlooked by one neighbour.

If you don't mind the limited confines of a studio, this is a good cheap place to stay. It's near to the transport hubs but just far enough to avoid the tourist crowds. I took the vaporetto a few times (about 20 minutes to St. Mark's if you travel around the outside of the island) but mostly I toured Venice on foot. The lanes near the apartment, although initially confusing, lead past some very picturesque churches, canals and other sights. Signs point you in the direction of the Rialto.

Apartment location: the flat is in the Santa Croce area. The nearest vaporetto stop is Riva de Biasio, served by the 1, 51 and 52. It's only a short walk from the railway station and Piazzale Roma, the bus depot.

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Venezia 2000 apartment review by an Italy Heaven editor.