LisaE

We are two couples who will be in Venice for 5 nights in June. Due to the very high hotel prices, we're considering renting an apartment. I found one that sounds promising on viewsonvenice.com, the Ca Dei Nomboli apartment. Has anyone used this company and/or stayed in this apartment? Any other suggestions? We need two bedrooms and two bathrooms.

DRJ

Take a look at vrbo.com.

LisaE

DRJ, I did look at vrbo. It was very overwhelming. Rented an excellent apartment in Paris through vrbo but can't seem to find anything suitable for Venice.

HappyTrvlr

Getting two BR and 2 Ba can be difficult in Europe so you're lucky to find one. We have rented 3 br to get 2 baths for us and another couple just to get the second bath. Never heard of this agency so can't help there.

LisaE

Thanks. We'd be willing to do that as well.

ssb100

We used this agency several years ago and were very satisfied. They seem to have several 2BR, 2 bath apartments.

LisaE

ssb100, thanks for your response. Did you have any problems with viewsonvenice? Was the apartment as depicted on the website? Any payment problems?

willowjane

We stayed here in June of this year. http://www.cavecchiopozzo.com/
We were very pleased - there are canals on two sides and it is just lovely inside. The apartment is the childhood home of the owner and she is also a licensed tour guide (we used her and she was fabulous). I will add that one bedroom is a large bed and there are "two" other bedrooms, one with two twins and one with one twin so I am not sure if that would work for you. The location was minutes from St. Mark's. Good luck.

cicchettigirl

Views on Venice and Truly Venice are very well regarded agencies. I love that apartment, It is also listed on VRBO for the same price. I have had it bookmarked for months! What I like about it is that the bedrooms and bathrooms are "separate but equal". That is, one couple isn't getting stuck in a bedroom with bunk beds or something!

The neighborhood is fantastic.

rialtogrl

This apartment has 2 bedrooms and 2 baths - http://www.homeaway.co.uk/p811212

It is a REALLY nice apartment - but it looks like it is booked up the first two weeks of June so maybe it would not work for you.

As stated above Views on Venice and Truly Venice are both excellent agencies so you've got a few options.. happy planning.

LisaE

Thanks to all of you for your advice and suggestions. I'm relieved to hear that Views on Venice is a reputable agency. Assuming our traveling companions agree, I think we'll go with their apartment

baby2

I rented this apartment (http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p333948 ) two years ago and then again last year for my family. The apartment is as depicted and very lovely. I highly recommend it.

wesleymarsh

Viewsonvenice has been around for awhile. Some people on the internet have posted good experience with them. I find their apartments overpriced, but that's the case with most agency inventories. Somebody has to pay for agency expenses.

I personally feel that renting through an agency is problematic, unless the agency offers user reviews or you develop a rapport with a specific agent. Without customer feedback, it's impossible to know if the agency ad represents the truth. From my experience in Venice, so many rental properties have something to hide. The biggest problem is mold and mildew, or worse, a serious sewer gas smell issue. Then there's the issue of noise.

Saving money on decent housing in Venice is really a challenge. The 120 Euro a night apts all seem questionable, and it's almost impossible to find anything cheaper. You really have to wonder about the few places that are priced cheaper. Some apts are so dark, you might as well be in a cave. Other places get flooded in winter and no agent will tell you the truth about that. Watch out for the rentals that try to pawn off a sofa-bed as the primary sleep source. Not to mention, some of these apartments are in awful locations. Almost every ad I read says "close to San Marco." In the meantime, the studio apartment with the sofa-bed is located in Mestre. Venice can be funny and frustrating.

rialtogrl

Wesley, have you seen the renter submitted reviews on slowtrav.com? Its a good resource -
http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/vr/list.asp?r=Venice

There are reviews for both Views on Venice and Truly Venice rented apartments there, among many others.

I have rented a lot of apartments and haven't had too hard of a time finding good places in the 100-120 range but you absolutely must book early.

wesleymarsh

I have seen those reviews. I love the Slow Trav site. But there aren't many reviews of the same apartment. Trusting one or two people's opinion with the vacation roof over your head doesn't sound like fun to me. And too many ST reviews are too old. I know it doesn't often seem so, but things change in Venice quite quickly. All it takes is one bad acqua alta to ruin a perfectly fine apartment. I've seen that damage firsthand.

Mimar

Wesley, I feel the opposite. That it's better to rent from an agency, a reliable, recommended agency, as opposed to an individual renter. With an agency another eye (and nose) has checked out the place. And if some unforeseen problem occurs at the rental (plumbing problems, etc), they have a list of other options. In the end the agent's business, his/her livelihood, is on the line.

With a single renter, you never know for sure if they even own the place. Or if the photos are of the actual apartment. At least historically, a landlord on VRBO and Homeaway was able to screen and reject negative reviews. So you can't rely on the reviews at the advertising website.

I'm willing to pay a little extra for a good agency. As a kind of insurance upfront.

Indogirl1

bookmarking

wesleymarsh

"I'm willing to pay a little extra for a good agency. As a kind of insurance upfront."

That's fair. I have used agencies in the past with no complaints. Since I've been renting for a very long time, I prefer to deal with owners.

LisaE

Again, thanks for the opinions on agencies v. private owners. We are not looking for a 120 Euro a night place. We're just looking to spend less than $400+ per night per room for 2 couples. Splitting the cost of a more expensive apartment 2 ways seems a lot better than what we've been finding for a nice hotel room.If anyone can recommend a decent hotel that's not in Mestre or near the train station for @ $300 per night, I'm interested. Otherwise, I think we're going the apartment route.

maryhks

This is the part of my trip to Italy and Switzerland that I am having the most trouble with too. Hotel or apartment in Venice. There are 7 of us and I'd love any recommendations.