Rialto Project

That fish odor was so strong it got into our clothes and bags, and stayed the whole two nights. Opening the windows, as the rental agents suggested, didn’t clear it, and then we couldn’t use the air conditioning. We contacted them on WhatsApp as soon as we arrived, but they sent no one to investigate and offered no other apartment. The two plug-in fresheners with several refills didn’t help. The dishwasher was also full when we arrived, and the dishes smelled too bad for us to use. There’s no washing machine to deal with the odor in your clothes. The apartment is in a quiet residential area near the San Toma and Riva de Basio vaporetto stops. From a garage or other arrival point in Venice, getting there means a water taxi or about a 14-20 minute walk with luggage. The entry code only comes at 3 pm, and the apartment is up stairs with no elevator. Inside, there’s air conditioning, Wi-Fi, a dishwasher, two separate bedrooms, and a narrow linear bathroom. Sheets and towels are supplied. It’s reasonably set up and the location is okay, but dust, the smell, and unhelpful agents outweighed the spacious rooms and other positives. Not recommended.

The beds are nice, but the walls let through a lot of sound. There’s no proper heating either, so the place gets really cold.

We were told the apartments were on the first and second floors, but ours was actually at the very top, and we weren’t allowed to take the elevator. There were no coffee cups, plates, or utensils, and the Wi-Fi only worked now and then. The property manager wasn’t cooperative. The place was in fair condition, a step above a hostel at best. I’d stay somewhere else.

The location is good and the price reasonable. From the top-floor apartment, we had a window view, which you don’t usually get in Venice. The interior looks nicer in the photos. You can see wear from tourists who haven’t looked after the place, and the floor needs renovation. The shower door opens inward, which makes it awkward to close if you’re not thin. For the lift, keep the button pressed or it won’t move.