PodShare Venice

There’s a lot of potential here, but after four nights our initial excitement had worn off. We rented a queen mattress in pod 35, near the kitchen and bathroom in a high-traffic spot. The mattress itself was comfortable, and the hostel had a quirky feel. The grounds were inviting, with a basketball court, plenty of outdoor seating, hammocks, and benches. Staff did move us to a quieter pod when we asked. There’s a bus stop nearby with service every 15 minutes, and they offer baggage storage and on-site laundry. The main issue for us was feeling unsafe and unable to get our concerns properly addressed. We found bed bugs in our bed and both noticed bites. When we told staff, they seemed indifferent and offered no solution. We worried about taking bugs home, and it seriously affected our comfort and peace of mind. Privacy was poor, even in the bathrooms. The locks could be opened from outside, and there were gaps in the shower cubicles. As a woman, I had to change in the open when the showers or other changing areas were occupied. Curtains or separate changing rooms would help. Other guests also ignored shower times. One person stayed in a shower for hours, possibly smoking; the receptionist said she was fine and vaping. That guest also made noise in the kitchen during quiet hours. The back bathroom shower head was old and dirty, with weak pressure, and the cubicle smelled moldy. The toilet had dried urine stains and smelled unclean when we arrived, though it was cleaned shortly after check-in. Laundry cost $7 for washing and drying, without detergent. We used our own pods but were refused a subsidy, and guests couldn’t run their own loads because staff handled the laundry. My clothes came back with an odd sock, my partner lost a sock, and my bra had a broken strap. Staff said, “sometimes things go missing in the wash.” I also saw staff vaping while working, and they seemed unresponsive, possibly because they were high. As a registered nurse, I felt I should write this detailed review to alert others and encourage the owner to take action.

Dustin really went out of his way to help me arrive late, even staying past his shift. The hostel is in a converted church, and the beds are incredibly comfortable, clearly chosen with care. I arrived very late, and guests stop being received at 2:00 AM because staff leave. Since I’m not from the area, getting there meant a train and a bus halfway across town, so it wasn’t easy. Dustin was one of those staff members who truly cares. The big drawback is the lack of air conditioning. With over 30 beds, people make the room hot, and ventilation is very limited. He kindly found me a bed by a window. Without that great service, the A/C problem would have earned a 3-star rating. Hostels run on tight margins, and insulation, an A/C system, and the electricity bill would all cost a lot.

I came for two days and ended up staying four because I felt so comfortable and safe. The staff were really friendly, the amenities were clean, and there’s a great upstairs workspace for remote workers like me. If you’re up for an adventure, this is the place.

Free parking was great, and the bathrooms were fairly clean most of the time. I can imagine having fewer problems if you get an upper bed in the big room, away from the hallway between the bathroom, kitchen, and beds. The open layout was the main problem for us. There are no doors separating a six-bed room, the living area, kitchen, bathroom, and exit, so sounds carry constantly. My boyfriend and I stayed one night and barely slept. The sink was open to the sleeping area, and the shower and toilet had louvered doors, so you could hear everything all night. Quiet hours were meant to run from 10pm to 10am, but people started using the bathroom around 7 or 8am, and the exit door opened early too. Someone on staff turned on the light and talked very loudly with people. There were only three usable toilets for the whole unit, since a fourth had no door, so people kept waiting or searching for a free one. I was also disappointed by the atmosphere. I’m used to hostels feeling welcoming and friendly; here, staff were friendly when asked for something, but otherwise seemed annoyed.