Renting an Apt vs. Hotel in Venice
 

Hi,

I was almost set on booking a hotel room in Venice (Hotel Alla Salute), when I received an email letting me know that an apt in Venice is available for rent. At first, it seemed to good to be true, that a nice, fully equipped apt (Rent A Flat - Beccarie apt) is available for only 105 Euro vs. hotel room for 140 Euro. I then did a bit more research and found few other apts available. So my question is, is renting an apt better than renting a hotel? What's the catch?

Hi eriel,

The devil is always in the details.

What amenities are provided? Do you have to pay cash. Can you rent for a few days or must it be a week? etc, etc, etc.

eriel, you've just discovered what a lot of travelers have known for ages, and many recent threads have addressed this issue.
There are ups and downs to both sides. Some prefer the "luxury" of a hotel with maid service and a concierge or desk help to give information. Others prefer the space of an apartment and some really like the kitchen idea.

Yes, it can be much cheaper to rent an apartment in Venice -- especially if you are staying a week at a time.

We did it for the first time this year and saved quite a lot. Granted, the apartment wasn't as "luxurious" as the Rialto Hotel where we'd stayed twice before, but it was certainly a lot bigger and a lot cheaper. Having been to Venice before we really didn't care about the services at the hotel that we were "giving up". But we only used the kitchen for the refrigerator as a place to keep some cheese and orange juice!

Just for comparison. Here's a link for the apartment in Dorsoduro which we found here on this website. It's the upstairs of a private house.

http://www.world-world.com/properties/it-foscarini.htm

There is no "catch" assuming you're thinking clearly. As Ira points out, you may not have the amenities you're used to at even a small hotel like daily maid service. Towels may not be plentiful. You may not have a/c (current temp in Venice is 75F), you may have to haul luggage up lots of stairs (you may have to climb lots of stairs to get to it). But it could also be absolutely wonderful.

I see from your other thread you'll only be there for 3 nights. The only thing that would concern me would be the convenience of the location (is it near a vaparetto stop and in a good area) and whether you think you can manage w/o the help of a concierge/front desk.

Thank you everyone.

Yes, we will only be in Venice for 3 days. Based on your responses, I now understand the differences between apt and a hotel. I'm not planning to cook (do enough of that at home) and I think we can live without all amenities that hotels offer, but the most difficult one to live without would probably be the inability to ask for information.

As for the location, flat Beccarie is located near Rialto bridge and Rialto fish market (?), which I assume is a good location? Apt Malvasia (offered by Palazzo Guardi hotel) is also 5 minutes from Rialto bridge. Perhaps someone had previously stayed at these apts? Thanks again

One of my best experience's thanks to many people from this forum was renting an apt. in Rome last year. From my personal experience i will never go back to a hotel when i travel to Italy again. One thing i will recommend is doing a search on any feedback you can get on this place.Slowtrav.com may have reviews on this paticular apt.Good luck.
By the way Patrick, ( if he reads this!) How was Palazzo Olivio for you??

The location near the Rialto bridge can be wonderful (for convenience and central location) but could also be awful with noise (the market starts very early) and possibly smell???

I read reviews on tripadvisor for Palazzo Guardi. I'm confused about an apt they'd have near the Rialto. If you read the reviews there's mention of an annex near the hotel (which would be in Dorsorduro) so not near Rialto. I agree with Ivitaly. You should try to find reviews from someone who's stayed in one of these places. Frankly that's the biggest difference betw. an apt and a hotel...finding reviews is not so easy. Good luck. Venice is wonderful.

There are a number of hotels and inns in Venice that are now offering apartments as well as rooms. So, if you are worried about having someone around to talk to or in case of emergencies, you could look into one of these apartments. La Calcina has apartments now, as well as Al Campaniel, Gli Angeli, and Ca' Bernardi.

www.cabernardi.com
www.lacalcina.com
http://www.alcampaniel.com
http://www.veniceby.com/gliangeli/pages/faciliti.htm

Thank you so much for all your suggestions.
rialtogrl - I've contacted all places that you've mentioned. Thank you. Unfortunately, I already know that La Calcina doesn't have any availability.

Since there's so little time left and since I have just found out about the possiblity of renting an apt, any other and additional suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated. Thank you!!

Amelia at Ca' Bernardi also has some rooms in a building near her Bed and Breakfast - there is a communal kitchen there. I am renting her "loft" room later this month. Ask her about those if the apartment is not available. When are you going?

Thanks for the web address Patrick.
I am going to Venice for 3 days next June and i am looking for a nice accomodations for 3 people..

kismetchimera, the apartment in the link is in a great location, but not near a canal. It is the second (American third) floor of a smallish house and studio. The owner Lamberto Deho is an interior architect and boat enthusiast. We hardly saw him as he had just purchased a new boat so our fears of "being in someone's house" were totally unfounded. Sometimes we'd see him in his studio on the ground floor as we came and went. He was friendly, but left us on our own, which we appreciated.
I was particularly happy with the shower which was pretty large and glass enclosed, although there wasn't enough pressure to make all the multi-shower heads really work. It was quite hot while we were in Venice and I must admit the apartment could be fairly uncomfortable, particularly in the afternoon, but we were rarely there then. At night it was nice when the "stars came out in the bedroom". I'll leave that statement alone as a surprise to anyone who stays there.

Ivitaly, Palazzo Olivia was even better than I expected. Our fears of no airconditioning also vanished as the place is amazingly cooler than outside even in very hot weather. When we entered through the main door we were convinced the air conditioning was on full blast as it was quite cool, but no - there was no AC. Although the manager did tell us that the top floor can get quite warm.
We loved the place, clean, comfortable, spectacular location, and nicer furniture than we expected after some comments here about the cheap IKEA type stuff. We wouldn't stay anywhere else when going back to Rome. We've found a home!

Patrick, thanks again for the info..
I am thinking also about Palazzo Olivia in Rome, the location is great ,also I saw the pictures in the web.
I plan to stay in Rome 4 or 5 days..

By the way,I need also to fly from Venice to Nice,perhaps spending few days to Villefranche Sur mer, then I am off to Avignon to visit my elderly cousin.
Does anyone knows which airline has direct flight from Venice to Nice?
If i take the train is over 8 hours..
Thanks in advance,
annamaria

rialtogrl, I'm also going at the end of this month - from 9/23 to 9/26. Will this be the time you're there?

I haven't received a response from them yet, but if you're going at the same dates I am, I'm guessing it'll be taken :)

Yep, I'll be there! Who knows maybe we will be sharing a kitchen. :)

eriel,

You may have some difficulty renting an apartment for only three days, unless it is associated with a hotel. Most apartment owners want to rent for a full week; those that will rent for a shorter period almost always charge a higher rate, and many tack on a cleaning fee.

Obviously, the solution is to stay and enjoy Venice for a week.

Kitchen duty while on vacation--UGH!

How about Ca della Corte -- they have a centrally located small hotel but also apartments. In February, we stayed in their Carmine studio. It seems to meet all your criteria and avoid the apartment shortcomings identified by others:

1. daily maid service including bringing in the materials for making your own breakfast

2. right on a canal

3. on the main floor, hence no baggage-lugging issues

4. spacious studio with double glazing, modern kitchen, modern tiles, beamed ceiling and modern bath -- and a little terrace too

5. access to delightful hotel staff eager to give advice

6. you give a credit card number to secure your reservation but it is not processed until you arrive

7 at 90 euros a night it was much cheaper than many other spots. We were delighted overall with this studio (they own the whole building and have larger suites) right near the Carmine area.......see the "cadellacorte" web site for photos and details

I just went to that site and am a little confused as it appeared to be just a plain hotel. I saw no reference to studios or apartments. On the other hand they listed suites, but they are 130 € in low season and 210 € in high season.

Incidentally, I normally cringe when I hear the word studio as it usually means that you have either a sofa bed or a futon that you make into a bed at night. The first thing I want out of my room is a true comfortable bed! While some are better than others, I have yet to see any futon or sofa bed that makes into a truly comfortable bed.

I was also surprised to find that an apartment was less expensive than a hotel in Venice, so we rented from venicerentals.com last summer and were very pleased. We found that we had many more ammenties than a hotel, including a washing machine so we could pack lighter, and could even rent for as few as three nights.

We are pretty much sold on apartment rentals in any city now, as long as we have enough nights to be able to rent.

Patrick- I am pleased to hear you enjoyed your stay at Palazzo Olivia.As i recall, if it wasn't for your advice last year on this board and a few others i would have never thought or considered an apt.
As far as no air conditioning i could not agree with you more. Some how those oversize fans work real well.Exept for the night i woke up at 3 a.m, parched throat and sweating!! It was Buona Nolte?(sp.)- White Night in Rome and the whole country went out.Opened the windows to get some air (Basillio front room) and it was quite a party on the Corso going on! Damned if i did or did'nt.Did'nt bother me though as i dont sweat the small stuff on vacation. I cant wait to go there again.

Ah. Basillio was our apartment as well. I really didn't use that big fan except to help dry my laundry I put on the drying rack.

ttt

Kismet I had also researched flights between Venice and Nice. There are no nonstop flights. I think Air Littoral was going to do one but then filed for bankrupcty. Of the majors, I think the shortest total trip time is on Lufthansa with a connection through Munich (!) that supposedly takes 3 1/2 hrs. There might be a way to combine a Volare/Alpieagles but not sure what the connection point would be. Skyscanner.net shows an airline Baboo that flies from VCE to Geneva and Virgin Express and Easyjet fly from Geneva to Nice but that trip sounds like 4-5 hrs with layovers.

Thanks McLaurie,
Perhaps the best and easiest alternative is to take the train , although is an 8 hours trip.
Too bad I was hoping to fly there, but unfortunately is not feasible..

I guess you're looking at that noon till 8 PM train (roughly speaking). At first glance it may seem like losing a day, but get up early and spend a full morning in Venice. Take comfort in the fact that you don't have to allow an hour to get to the airport and an hour and a half to arrive before the flight. Relax and enjoy yourself on the train, take along some nice food you've picked up in Venice and have a "picnic" as you relax. Catch up on your journal or your planning for Nice, and the time will fly by with the pretty scenery.

Thanks tedgale. Incidentally, I have already contacted Ca' Della Corte, and based on their photos it is as nice as you described it. Unfortunately for us, they only have a large flat available, big enough for 4 (it's only 2 of us) for 180 Euro per night. Eventhough they said that they're giving it to us at discount, it's still more than we have budgeted for.

I will do that Patrick..Just relax, walking around venice, buy a good lunch to take with us and enjoy the gorgeous sceneries..

Venice Apartments
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http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34509035


Venice Apartments -- (another Venice Apts thread)
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http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34503664


Hotel vs. Apartment...Why?
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http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34524469


Is this a good location in Venice?
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http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34509269

I can recommend Gli Angeli B&B. We rented this apartment for 3 nights in June 2004 and would highly recommend it. The proprietor, Sonia, has two apartments to rent. Ours was a two-bedroom with kitchen and spiral staircase down to a large (for Venice) yard. This wonderful apartment is near Campo Tana, a 10 to 15 minute walk along the water to Piazza San Marco and is near the Arsenale. This was the most amazing and best lodging of our 31-day trip to Europe and our stay in Sonia's apartment was a highlight of our trip. The website is: http://www.realvenice.it/gliangeli/index.htm The apartment included one bedroom with queen bed; a narrow bedroom with two twin beds; a small kitchen and dining area fully stocked that opens onto a small balcony overlooking the garden; a wonderful modern and updated tile bathroom; a large garden area reached by a metal spiral stair case with a beautiful lit fountain. There was no air conditioning. But this beautiful accommodation and very reasonable price make this an incredible find.