Venice Vacation Apartments

When to consider a self-catering holiday rental

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ABOVE: This holiday apartment is on a quiet street and canal just two blocks from the main pedestrian thoroughfare between the Piazza San Marco and Venice's Santa Lucia railroad station.

By Durant Imboden

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 more 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.

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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.)

• Check-in can be a mild nuisance, since you may have to wait around for the owner or an agent to show up.  (Departures are usually easier: Often, you can simply leave the key in the apartment when you leave.)

• Booking and payment can be complicated if the owner insists on being paid in cash. Some owners and agencies accept payment by credit card or PayPal, but others require you 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. To minimize problems, use an online booking platform that permits online payment.

Tip: Be sure to have euro banknotes and coins when checking in, since landlords are required to collect the city's tourist tax in cash.

• Be aware: Venice addresses aren't sequential street addresses. Instead, they're building numbers within a district or sestiere. If you're not being met by your host at a vaporetto station, Alilaguna airport-boat stop, or water taxi landing, be sure that you have exact directions (including the names of the sestiere and street). The address, such as "San Marco 9999," will be useful only when you reach the building's approximate location.

To browse short-term holiday flats in a variety of price ranges, click here. (Disclosure:  These listings are provide by our affiliate partner, and we receive a small commission on referrals. This will not affect the rate you pay.)

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About the author:

Durant Imboden has written about Venice, Italy since 1996. He covered Venice and European travel at About.com for 4-1/2 years before launching Europe for Visitors (including Venice for Visitors) with Cheryl Imboden in 2001.

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