Generator Venice

The bar is excellent, the beds are comfortable, and the facilities are decent. There are good restaurants nearby, and the pier has great boat connections to key places in Venice. It feels a bit corporate and impersonal, though, so it’s harder to connect with people than at many hostels. It also lacks that delightful, weird, welcoming DIY feel that makes a hostel truly great.

The staff were friendly and happy to answer my questions, and I really liked the design of the common areas. Still, having stayed in hostels around the world, I wouldn’t rank Generator Venice among the best. The room price alone was reasonable, but towels, padlocks, hairdryers, luggage storage, and even the trip to Giudecca all added to the cost. My €53.50 stay came to €103.05 after luggage storage, one breakfast, and vaporetto tickets. The only female-only dorm option was a 10-person room. It had one bathroom, with a couple more in the hallway. The air conditioning didn’t work, so we kept the windows open, and the noise became unbearable. Sleeping without earplugs would have been nearly impossible.

The staff were very accommodating, and there was always someone at the front desk. They gave really useful advice about getting to and from the airport at odd hours, which helps since many guests have early check-in or check-out. The hostel is in a quiet, peaceful neighborhood, just a short boat ride from Piazza San Marco, and it’s a convenient place to retreat to when the crowds feel overwhelming.

The lobby is lovely, and the place itself is really nice. But with rooms holding 12 students, for example, having only two public showers per floor isn’t enough. There should be more. Breakfast was really poor and ended before 10:00. It was just milk, horrible juice, coffee, English tea, water, dry bread, one croissant, jam, butter, cheese slices, ham, and old apples. They could improve the selection and keep breakfast open until 10:00 or a little later. More public showers and a better breakfast are needed.