We are looking for an apartment to rent for next May in Venice.

One guide book I have (I think it is the rough guide) recommeded Venice-Rentals.com. The site is great (lots of pictures) and the apartments look wonderful. They are supposed to be the largest "vendor" in Venice for apartments, and I like that they have someone locally (in Venice) to meet you, and help you out.

Has anyone rented from them before? On slowtrav.com, I see lots about venicerentals.com, but this is a different outfit and does not even show the apartments on their web site.

If anyone has rented from venice-rentals.com, and has a particular apartment that they liked, please let me know.

I am also curious if we will need air conditioning in mid-May. Some of the apartments have it, some do not.

VeniceRentals is also large and the owner lives in Venice. (Not true of venice-rentals.)

The apartment choices do seem to be missing from venicerentals.com and that seems odd to me. I would write them and ask about it.

May is typically a gorgeous, low-humidity month in Venice but, depending on weather patterns, it can get hot. The need for AC will depend on the weather and your heat sensitivity. Venetian buildings are typically cool and there's almost always a breeze.

That is strange. I rented from venicerentals for our trip in Sept, and pics of all the apartments were there. I just went to their site, and no more pictures. They say to email them with your requirements, and they will send you details of suitable, available apartments. I preferred being able to scroll through. All of their apts looked very nice. We are staying in a one bedroom in S. Maria Formosa campo for 135/E night.

I will say that, although we have not gone on our trip yet, I have been very pleased with their service to this point. I have received several helpful emails, and Denise will meet us on our arrival and take us to the apartment to get us situated. We just have to call from the airport to tell them how we are getting in so they meet us at the right stop.


Anne

I just received an email from Venicerentals.com with 4 apartments that they chose based on our criteria and dates.

I am not at all impressed. Compared to the apartments at venice-rentals.com, they are not nearly as nice as far as furnishings or amenities and are every bit as expensive.

Renting an apartment in Venice from an agency has become very expensive. For this reason, I now rent directly from owners. If you want to be in the San Marco area, then take a look at:

http://www.holiday-rentals.com/index...perty/1670.cfm

If you don't like the idea of renting from the owner, then the same apartment is available through an agency for 40-60 percent more money.

If you state your criteria here, then maybe more suggestions will be offered.

We are 2 adults - no children.

Our criteria is this:

Updated apartment (modern bath, kitchen and nice furnishings)

Neighborhood that is not jammed with tourists day and night but somewhat central and not too remote - so probably not San Marco or Rialto area

Walking distance to grocery, newstand

1 BR/1 Bath

Higher rather than lower floor location

Terrace, garden or courtyard

air-conditioned

Right now we are leaning toward this apartment:

http://www.venice-rentals.com/venice/v143.html

That apartment looks absolutely lovely (and for that price, it should). The location is right by the Campo S. Giacomo dell'Orio, a very local neighborhood where you will find everything you would need as far as groceries, etc. About a 5 minute walk to the San Stae vaporetto, 10 minutes to Rialto. 10 minutes to the train station (day trips; check email at the nearby internet cafe). And not many tourists venture into that particular part of the city. I just wish I could find something in my price range there!

That apt does look wonderful, but it was well outside of our price range ... you will be paying about 2x what we are paying. Also, we only needed 5 nights, and many places had a minimum 7 night rental. I'll post a trip report when we return, but based on all the reports on venicerentals that I have seen, I'm not expecting any problems.

Anne

Holly - and anyone else -
Someone said that this is "not a great area" and would not be their first pick.

Do you agree?

Is it too near the train station or too remote?

The apartment looks wonderful, but I personally would find it a little too close to the train station and a little too remote from the main points of interest in Venice.

Personally I don't prefer that area - it's quite a long way to anywhere - we prefer Dorsoduro/San Polo. I also prefer to rent direct from owners, but a couple of excellent agencies that friends have used are www.veniceapartments.org and www.apartments-venice.com. Both have nice apartments in good areas - and veniceapartments.org had some very reasonable rates. The prices are not on the web site, but they get back to you within 24 hours.

Apartment v143 has no obvious relationship to Venice's train station, whatsoever. Anyone who suggests that you'll experience some aspect of train station activity in this location doesn't know Venice well.

If you take it, you'll be on the south side of the Grand Canal (the train station is on the north side) and I can assure you this area is delightful. You'll be a stone's throw distance from Venice's infamous Da Fiore restaurant, a very short walk to Campo San Polo, and another very short walk to Santa Maria dei Frari, all MARVELOUS parts of Venice.

The neighborhood has an authentic local feel because there isn't much for tourists there and I love that. Yes, you're not near much "action" but, so what. The Rialto Bridge is a ten minute walk from the apartment (if you don't stop to window shop) and Piazza San Marco is another fifteen minutes from the Rialto.

You can easily access this apartment from the San Toma, San Silvestro, and Rialto vaporetto stops. You do not have to rely on S. Stae if you're coming from the direction of San Marco on the Grand Canal.

The price of the apartment includes the luxury of three rooftop terraces. Believe me, eating and enjoying a cocktail up there with someone you love is worth its weight in gold. Good luck!

That kind of neighborhood is exactly wht we are looking for - away from the "touristy" areas, more local in feel, but walkable to some of the main places.

We looked at alot of apartments, and that one (in our price range) stuck out time and again. Aside from the terraces, it also has air, which we wanted "just in case".

Thanks Holly and NYCFoodSnob for your help with giving us a picture of the area.

Suggest you look at livingvenice.com. Lovely apartment in Dosoduro at an extremely reasonable price. You rent directly from the owner and not an agency.

We are looking for an apartment with a terrace or balcony, and air conditioning.

wanderer, our apartment at Campo San Aponal in the San Polo area of Venice had a rooftop terrace with 360 degree views. We rented with venicerentals.com and really enjoyed having the terrace both in the mornings and evenings.

I agree that their website no longer has photos of all the apartments, as it did before. However, you can email them and they will send you the link with photos to various apartments.

I forgot to add that the apartment was in a quiet area where many locals live, yet still fairly close to the major sites. It also had air conditioning and was very close to a grocery store, produce stand, and ATM.

We would definitely stay there again since we liked both the apartment and it's location. Feel free to email me at [email protected] if you are interested in more info on it.

TTT

Statia -

This is the email I received from Denise (See Below). Perhaps they no longer have that apartment. Do you remember the name of the apartment?

The only property we have with an outside space, central air conditioning and update furnishing is the Bandiera e Moro

The name of the apartment Statia rented from Venice Rentals is called the San Aponal, and it is by no means in the class of apartments you are considering. I rented the San Aponal 3 years ago and, although I was happy with the "bang for the buck" as far as having more space than a hotel room, the apartment itself was very poorly appointed, i.e., ratty old furniture and no decor on the walls whatsoever. The rooftop space is not accessible from inside the apartment. It's possible that the furniture and decor have been upgraded since I stayed there, but that still wouldn't put it in the same league as the unit you're considering in San Giacomo dell'Orio. I'd stick with what you've already found.