Venice accommodation - new property - thoughts

I have booked new properties several times on booking and have had good experiences. Many times, there is an additional discount to book these properties which is very nice. As a precaution, I generally follow up with a couple of messages asking questions to get a better feel about the host or I look up other properties they have (if applicable) to check out reviews there.

I have booked places without reviews or few reviews twice. I think it is risky but I did it because I could not otherwise find what I was looking for. In one case, I was looking in Santorini and had a party of six and the second time it was Palermo.

In both cases, I had extended conversations through air bnb platform. I asked lots of questions. My purpose was not just to collect information but to gage the responsiveness. If you go this route, I would correspond via air Bnb vs booking.com. I think it is set up better for having a conversation with someone.

In both cases, there were a multitude of five star reviews from other people who had stayed there after I booked.

And do trust your gut feeling. I have learned from experience that lack of responsiveness does not bode well for the future. I had a place reserved for Venice that management company wasn’t very responsive. They had mixed reviews. I should have cancelled but seemed too much trouble. They met us but place had a number of issues like no wi fi, no a/c in one bedroom, and not the bed configuration we wanted. None were ever addressed.

hey hey jamies421
FYI: trying to be careful choosing a place for your large group is not easy. do it ASAP, it 's high season, cruise season, crowded and especially june 24-26 amazon head honcho, jeff bezos will be getting married there in venice.
you've been put on notice why things are expensive. supply & demand for 6 of you
we've used booking.com many times, no issues. what are the total in fees for same airbnb listing? there should be section to ask questions before reserving. the price of traveling nowdays
aloha

Thank you all. Feeling better about book. And yes, we have cross over with the Bezos extravaganza...although i'm sure his guests aren't interested in what I'm looking at! LOL. In any case for those of you that asks questions just to get a feel of communication...what sort of questions did you ask? I feel like I have a good understanding of the facilities so not sure what to ask.

The accomodation you found is also on Google Places and it has an official website that looks too polished to be a 'scam': https://www.palazzodeiguardiani.it/

It actually looks very much like the apartment we are in right now in Ortigia, Sicily. A bit fancy for us but well thought out and well equipped.

Ask things like is it very quiet at night, does the kitchen have knives and a cutting board, how is the recycling done, is any food provided —- really anything just to assess the helpfulness and honesty of the responses. Airbnb messaging does seem easier than Booking.com, although with Booking.com you can switch to Whatsapp to communicate.

Thank you all! Do you think it is in a good location for a 3 night stay?

Looks beautiful and is a great location, in my opinion.

Hi, have you checked if anything is available through Views on Venice: https://www.viewsonvenice.com/
We have an apartment booked with them later in the year and it's a little less expensive than your place for the same dates and similar apartment. They are a management company, not an apart-hotel type place with a front desk, etc.
Anyone else booked with them and want to share your experience?

I have had one not so good experience with a new place on booking.com. It was a 3Br 2Ba townhouse in London in early December, with only a few reviews that were suspiciously similar, but we really needed a place so we took it. It was in a great location, and on the surface was as described, but there were many issues including the heating system the broke twice in 4 nights (no hot water), wifi took a day before it was available (apparently they pay by the 24hr period and hadn't paid), no towels (they brought them quickly) the beds were all pull out couches, very uncomfortable etc. I wrote a fair and honest review and it turns out the listing was pulled quickly so that it could go up for sale. On the other hand, we were safe, in a good location and enjoyed our time in London, so not so bad.
For the place you're looking at, I would definitely reserve at the higher, refundable rate. You can keep looking or hopefully see some reviews posted before the payment due date.
Other questions to ask might include suggestions for restaurants in the area (to see if they are local), how many keys will be provided, are all beds with regular style mattresses? Anything to see if they can provide specific information.
Good luck.

The location is exactly the kind of location we look for when we go to Venice —- good restaurants, close to places we are interested in like the Accademia and the boatyard but away from San Marco and the Rialto bridge, and near a vaporetto stop. Also, the guy who does one of the zoom art history lectures I attend every week and who takes groups to Venice says that Dorsoduro is where he likes to stay. We probably WILL stay there next time

Thank you all! I booked! Very excited to hear about the location as well. I always book refundable, as you never know what can happen :)

Regarding location, it depends on what you’re looking for. If this is your first time in Venice and you’re interested in iconic sights like St. Mark’s Basilica, the Campanile, the Doge’s Palace, St. Mark’s Square, and the Piazzetta, then I’d recommend trying to find something closer to St. Mark’s. If this is your fourth time in Venice and those sights aren’t a priority, then your current location should be just fine.

I stayed in Dorsoduro my 2,3, 5, 6 th visits - I like it a lot there. Near Rialto Mercato 3 times, I like it there too. 2 times at the Ala, midway between La Fenice and San Marco and like that very much. Probably return there or Ca' Angeli on the Grand Canal near S. Silvestro depending.

I wouldn't want to be any closer to S. Marco and wouldn't want to be the S Marco side of the Rialto.