Alloggi Serena

The location was the one real plus for us. We picked this place because it was close to certain spots, but having been to Venice before, I think there are better options for similar money. The room looked much nicer in the photos. Sound carries everywhere, so it was hard to rest, and the building felt cramped, as if every room had been squeezed to get the most out of the space. Staff spoke very little English, which made communication difficult. The breakfast setup was uncomfortable too, in a tiny kitchen with three tables right beside one another. Food was served in very small quantities and seemed low quality, from budget supermarket yoghurts to a drink presented as juice that looked like colored sugar water. It also seemed like some food left from the day before was served again. Things didn’t look particularly clean, and the watery, unappealing “fruit salad” was something we wouldn’t touch. The croissants clearly weren’t fresh and were reheated in a microwave, one per person. Portions were tightly controlled. I couldn’t take a whole tomato: the woman in the kitchen cut it in half, gave me one half, then tried to give me the other the next day, when it wasn’t fresh anymore. I’d rather handle my own food so I can feel confident about hygiene and avoid any risk of food poisoning while traveling. Between the cramped space and the way food was handled, breakfast felt unhygienic. There were no eggs, and very little choice in cold cuts. We’d asked at check-in if we could get something to take along for an early excursion, since we had to leave before breakfast started at 8am. The guy who checked us in promised it would be possible. The next morning, though, an old man, presumably the owner, rudely dismissed us, and we couldn’t even get a coffee. The way the place is run gave me the impression that cutting costs and getting the most return for the least spending was the priority. I also saw management respond quite harshly to critical reviews here and on other platforms like Booking.com, which left an unpleasant impression. I wish I’d noticed that before relying on the mostly positive visitor reviews. UPD: From the response below, the hosts still come across as rude to guests, just in a more subtle way. It seems unprofessional and below basic hospitality standards.