Venice Vacation Apartments
When to consider a self-catering holiday rental
ABOVE: Cheryl Imboden enjoys the living room
of Casa Oliveti, a short-term rental flat in Cannaregio.
If
you're staying in Venice for more than a few days, renting a furnished apartment can
be a pleasant alternative to staying in a hotel. Still, a self-catering flat
isn't right for everyone, so weigh the pros and cons before making a decision.
Pro:
-
You'll get more space for your money. A comfortable
one-bedroom apartment typically costs no more than a double room in a three-
or four-star hotel, but you get a bedroom plus a living room or seating
area, a kitchen, a dining table, and (often) a washer for your clothes. If
you're traveling with a family, an apartment becomes an even better value,
because you can rent a two- or three-bedroom apartment for much less than
the cost of two or three hotel rooms.
-
You can save money by eating in. Even if you enjoy
dining out, it can be fun--and economical--to have breakfast and the
occasional lunch in your apartment. Just as important, you can pick up
prepared food at a supermarket and skip going to a restaurant when you're
tired or want to get away from other tourists.
-
You can enjoy the fantasy of living in Venice. For a
week or two, you'll be an ersatz expat or a virtual Venetian as you come
home to your apartment when other tourists are going back to their hotels.
Con:
-
You'll have to make your own beds. Your apartment will be cleaned before
you arrive, but you'll normally be responsible for do-it-yourself
housekeeping and dishwashing during your stay. (You might even need to put
sheets on the bed.) Many landlords require you to do
at least a perfunctory cleaning before departure or pay a cleaning fee.
-
Check-in can be a hassle. Typically, you'll need to
meet the landlord or a rental agent at the apartment building or the nearest
vaporetto stop, and you'll need to do it at an appointed time.
(Departures are usually easier: Often, you can simply leave the key in the
apartment or drop it in the owner's mailbox when you leave.)
-
Booking and payment can be complicated. Some owners and rental agencies
accept payment by credit card or PayPal, but you'll often be required to
send a deposit by international bank draft with final payment in cash.
The latter can be a nuisance if you're arriving from abroad and your ATM
card won't let you withdraw 700 or 1,000 euros in cash at the airport. Also,
deposits are often non-refundable--unlike hotel reservations, which usually
can be cancelled on short notice without penalty.
In general, we'd recommend staying in an apartment if you're in
Venice for a week or longer, like being on your own, and don't mind a bit of
inconvenience when booking and checking in. For more information
on holiday flats, see:
HomeAway:
Venice apartments our partner
HomeAway lists hundreds of vacation rentals in Venice,
with no agency markups or commissions. (Your inquiry goes directly to the
landlord.) Note: We've used HomeAway for a
number of apartment stays in Venice, Rome, and Paris, and we've never had a bad
experience.
Venice Links: Apartments
This page from our Venice links directory has listings for apartments in the
historic center and on the island of Giudecca.
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