Trying to decide between these two apartments for 5 people. Can you help?

http://www.oikosvenice.com/i/sotoportego.html (there are also a couple other apartments available from this company)

and the Al Pugni apartment at Palazzo Foscarini (www.palazzofoscarini.com)

The Oikos Venice apartment is a bit less but it does have a strict cancellation policy.
Can anyone who knows Venice tell me which area is better?
Thanks!!!!

They are very close together, just leading into and on Campo Santa Margherita. They are in my favourite overall area, but be aware that CSM is just about Venice's only place with late night bars frequented by lots of young people, so it could be noisy especially in the summer. (But maybe you are noisy young people ) Very good for shops, fish stalls etc - on our visit last month we shopped at one of the CSM fish stalls nearly every day.

Both apartments are on the 3rd floor (4th floor in U.S. terms) and the listings do not mention an elevator. I'd want to be sure about this before booking. Both apartments look nice enough and are in good locations.

I don't think hiking up the stairs will be a problem. Glad to hear the locations are good1 Anyone else have an opinion?

<i>Can anyone who knows Venice tell me which area is better?</i>

They are equally (very) good locations. SO...I would chose based on the physical apartment (square footage, windows, furnishings, etc.)

Having had a slightly longer look and thinking about the questions I myself ask, the facilities seem to be the same except it doesn't sound as though Ai Pugni has a washing machine ? By "washing-up machine" I assume they mean a dishwasher. I don't know when you are going or for how long - but even if it's only a week or 5 days and you don't need to wash clothes, it would be nice to be able to wash towels wouldn't it ? I see they offer a laundry service, although if it's anything like hotel laundry prices it will be expensive.

Both have aircon and heating.

Both have what sounds like a full cooker - I don't know if you are bothered about whether they are gas or electric ? (Sotopotego says gas, Ai Pugni doesn't specify.) Although the PF website makes a point of saying "domestic appliances for preparing breakfast", which would make me wonder whether the facilities up to preparing dinner - but maybe you aren't planning to eat in at all ?

I'm assuming 5 people are happy with 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom, which they both have ?

We will be there for three nights at the beginning of our trip so a washing machine is not essential. Thanks for your insight! Still pondering.