2010

mvor:

Thanks for the information! It's helpful & good to know that there are small markets & shops in the vicinity of the apartment. I'm sure that I can get more details from the owner at the time of booking.

BTW - I checked out the website for Palazzo Olivia. The Rosina apartment looks especially charming & comfortable for a one-week stay!

annhig

hi 2010,

I think that a lot of americans do carry "mobiles" [UK speak] in europe and there have been a no. of threads about how to do this - buying/bringing an old one and buying a local simcard to go in it. it probably doesn't make much sense if you're only here for a short while and/or only once every few years. but if you are a frequent visitor to Europe, it might well be cost efficient. it's certaily easier than trying to find phone boxes!

an alternative of course is to find an internet cafe and send messages/keep in touch that way.

thanks for your good wishes - I'll be sure to report back.

franco

2010, they have a mobile phone at La Rosa di Venezia that you can borrow (buying your own reload card, so you just pay your calls, no rental fee). I know because once, I had forgotten my own mobile phone at home... But certainly, it's easier to bring your own - it's not unusual that you'd have to contact the "key-bringing" lady on arrival, i.e. before you could borrow their phone.
I've returned from my last visit only recently, so I can say there was a brandnew construction site nearby (certainly not the one knwolf was referring to above - don't remember that one, but there is no other now than the new one), and there was only some noise during the day (nothing to write home about) and none at all at night. But on noise in general, as I've told Venice travelers on several occasions, it's important to bear in mind that the canals are not primarily for the tourists and their gondola rides - they're the city's mainfares, and all deliveries, tools for construction sites, taxis and so on have to go along the canals. There are simply no streets that would allow any deliveries of any importance, just narrow alleyways. So you either have a (perhaps!) quiet location looking into some unattractive backyard; or you have a view, i.e. a canal, and that means you have some traffic, as well. So if you are a light sleeper and want a view nonetheless, the advice about the earplugs is certainly good. That said, I think the canal on which the Rosa di Venezia is located is pretty quiet for a canal, and though I'm never getting up early, I've never had any noise problems there.
What else? The sub spoke no English... that may have been bad luck. I got to know two subs over the years, one proudly told me she was attending an English class (I talked to her in Italian, of course), the other one was a foreigner (I don't remember where he came from... was it Hongkong?) whose English was so much better than his Italian that I preferred to talk English, in this particular case. And in any case, Bob, you are such an experienced Italian traveler that I'm surprised that you noticed at all that the sub spoke no English; don't you think it would have been polite, in Italy, to speak Italian with him anyway, without even trying to speak English? I agree with you, though, that the bathroom is small; narrow, above all. As far as the kitchen, it's certainly well-equipped (if somebody happens to know my "Venetian food" thread, almost all the recipes given there have been prepared by myself at La Rosa di Venezia); and the old TV set "on the floor" doesn't exist any longer, they have a flat screen now hanging on the wall.

2010

Hi, Franco:

Thank you so much for the information regarding cell phones & contacts, apartment space/amenities and what's going on in the neighbourhood currently!

Regarding your comment on noise: On our first visit to Venice in September 2009, our bedroom faced the Orseolo Canal. I remember that first morning being awaken rather early by clatter & voices outside the window. To our surprise when we peeked through the curtains, the narrow canal was jammed with boats filled with deliveries for the local businesses! It was wonderful to be in the center of daily life in Venice! And it was so easy just to fall back into bed!

We are currently planning our next holiday to Italy where we will return to Venice & Tuscany; visit Umbria and venture into Rome. We are considering apartment stays in both Venice & Rome this time ... although I have left a question for you about locations of some hotels in Rome on your Rome accomodation thread!!!

Thanks again, Franco!

Cindywho

Yes, we stayed at this apartment in June 2008 and found it very agreeable. The location absolutely cannot be beat. You are minutes from St. Marks Square and close to grocery, bakery, cafes and so much more.

I believe the website speaks to the light in the apartment and that is true. There are three tall window sets in the apartment with wood shutters that close in addition to the glass. One of these windows is actually the balcony window. It has alot of light and it might be considered noisy, but I enjoyed hearing and watching the activity of those on the canal each morning. When we entered the apartment we were drawn to the windows. You have a view from two different sides of the apartment as it sits in the corner of a building.

The bathroom is not large, but it is not too small at all. The kitchen is small, but we didn't use it much. The "living" area is small and is an extension of the bedroom.

All in all we would definitely stay there again. I believe it is a great value!

franco

Cindy, you're right about the bathroom - I didn't want to say it's uncomfortably small. It's perfectly spacious for one; just if you're planning on using it in two, it's getting cramped. But I respectfully disagree about the living area - I'm pretty much convinced it's larger than the bedroom!

vcrew

We stayed here in July of 2009 and thoroughly enjoyed our time. We enjoyed sitting out on the balcony sipping wine and watching the world go by. We didn't cook anything as we wanted to explore and try different places and there are plenty of places to visit. One night my wife and I went out for pizza at this little take out place we passed earlier in the day. Our daughter said she was tired and wanted to stay in. When we got back we found out that she found the McDonald's just around the corner. I think we got the better deal.

Wine refills? Why didn't I know this while we were there! I'll have to make a note for next time. We loved the location of the apartment and would not want to stay anywhere else in Venice. There is a mystery though. Right across the canal was a flat where the window was always open, clothes were strewn on the bed and there were various things out on the window ledge (one item was a plant and then some plates). Everytime we looked across at the window we never saw anyone. We would go out, come back and we could see that things were moved around, but still no sign of anyone. It was pretty funny. We would take turns noticing whether we could see anyone. So if you stay here and look across the canal and see someone in the flat that has the window always open, be sure to wave hello to them for us. Thanks!

2010

Cindywho: Thanks for speaking to the light, the space & the location of the apartment! You describe it well!

Vcrew: I love a good mystery! (I just finished reading Donna Leon's <i>Faces</i> which is set in Venice!) I shall keep a watch at the open window across the canal!

bardo1

We stayed there in 2009 and loved, loved, LOVED it! A perfect rental experience fr beginningto end. HIGHLY recommend.