With a plan to spend 5 nights in Venice, my split-decision choice to stay in an airbnb rental on the mainland was dogging me. An acquaintance who visits Italy annually questioned my decision then tried gently to talk me out of it. It took very little persuading.
On booking.com I quickly grabbed an available room at this B&B in Venice's San Polo neighborhood and arrived certain that I'd made the best decision. If you're going to Venice there's no substitute for taking a vaporetto from the airport to the San Stae dock or waking up on the isle of Venice with cars only a vision from your past.
For a rate of about $221US per night, my son and I stayed in the smallest of B&B Cà Del Modena's 3 rooms. This room appears to go for less if you book directly through the B&B's web site but I didn't, and the proprietor gave me this room after realizing I was traveling with my son (the room has 2 twin beds and its own bathroom and shower).
Venice is an island crawling with tourists and staying in the San Polo neighborhood was a welcome reprieve from the masses that one encounters in many of the other neighborhoods. In this neighborhood, it's easy to get almost anywhere by vaporetto and to almost all Venice's neighborhoods via a healthy walk.
The B&B isn't directly on a canal but walk out the front door and you'll reach one in less than 30 seconds.
B&B Cà Del Modena sits up a single flight of stairs. The rooms, common room included, are simple and elegant but not fancy. We didn't need air conditioning but they have it, which I understand is key in Italy's hot months. Breakfast is included in the price and though it was the same each day, it's a good, ample, and satisfying breakfast served for about 1 hour beginning at 8:30 a.m.: croissants and rolls, fresh fruit, homemade yogurt, a tray of cured meats, fresh juice, and coffee. I saw other guests at breakfast, but never heard them when I was in my room.
The B&B is run by its owner, Maurizio, who is around but not on-site at all times. Others help him with serving breakfast and cleaning the rooms, and when Maurizio is on-site he's just the type of B&B owner I desire; that is, he's not chatty or invested in giving you recommendations on what to do. Perfect.
Venice is an incredible place and one shouldn't corrupt the experience by staying on the mainland and bussing in each day via the causeway. Were I visiting again, I'd not hesitate to stay in B&B Cà Del Modena, booking directly through their web site. They are very well located and met every one of the criteria I sought for Venice lodging. read more