Foresteria Sociale S Marco — Hotel in Venice

I have some mixed feelings about this hostel. Positives: -The location is absolutely amazing, cannot beat it if you want to be in the centre -That’s all the positives Negatives: -The worst thing is the key system. Every time you leave you must drop off your room and locker key at the front desk. It is very strange. Whilst there is meant to be someone sat at the front desk 24/7, they are often not there or do not even look at you, and leave the keys on the front desk, resulting in piles of keys. I may understand this behaviour at 3am, but at 9am having an unresponsive front desk person with 15 keys on the desk is not acceptable. Anyone could take your key and have access to all of your belongings. There were a couple of times where I had to grab my own key from the desk/key wall, as there was nobody there. This system is strange and makes me question how safe my stuff was given the fact that anyone could get in by simply taking a key. In addition to this, the keys are MASSIVE and it is very difficult to quietly unlock your door or locker, meaning that sleep can be difficult. The whole key situation feels so unnecessary, never seen this at a different hostel. -My other negative points are more due to the fact that this is a cheap hostel, so probably would be expected. One thing to note is mosquitos at night, but that’s probably more of a wider Venice problem rather that being specific to this hostel.

Overall, for the price and location it is ok, but the lack of security with the keys is a real concern for me, as the system did not feel safe. They should either change the keys to be electronic cards that we can keep, or actually have responsive front desk people who properly guard and take care...

Not amazing tbh, often travel to hostels don’t mind them but here’s my honest review.

Negatives:

Bed bugs, I stayed in the women’s dorm on bed E (near the door). Bed looked clean but woke up with bites on my arms and ankles.

Loud keys, you get given this insanely big key holder that whacks around when you’re trying to open the dorm door and Hard to lock the door with it. additionally the lockers are super loud to unlock and in the shared area.

€3 Euro add on, I arrived early and he told me it was a €3 euro early check in. I didn’t mind too much but I later met some girls from the hostel and they were charged €3 euro for not ‘online checking in’ same with other hostel goers for other reasons when arriving. None of us receives an email from the hostel or direction on how to do this.

Positive:

Goodish location; Difficult to find via maps. I recommend getting locations for Paul & shark and then taking the ally that’s next to it. Additionally you can walk there, no need for gondola even tho google says that.

Towel, hand soap and shampoo provided. Note you need to take your towel down with you on check out. - never had to do that before. Odd one.

Comfortable bed provided with thin sheet and thick blanket.(blanket was covered in hair though. One L plug socket and a lamp on a small shelf.

Overall smelt clean but I entered as they were mopping

Meh’s:

Ish, 24/7 reception; you have to give your keys to the reception when leaving but this includes your locker key. You then tell them your room and bed assignment and they hand you your key in return.

Kitchen is bottom floor next to reception, eating area is back at the rooms on the...

Only giving two stars because the cleaners do a fabulous job. On my second last night, a bunch of people checked in next door to us. Past 12am and they were still slaming doors and lockers, and throwing their suitcases on the floor and chatting and laughing loudly. My room mate went outside to make a complaint and told the male staff. He said to her " THIS IS A HOSTEL. YOU LIVE IN A DORM. OF COURSE THERE'S NOISE. " And my room mate had to explain again it's coming from a different room and that everyone in her room is affected by the sound and can't sleep.

on my first night, 10:50pm , a man with keys opened our door. ( all female dorm ) He looked at us in the eye then closed the door. doors are not auto shut or auto locked. So if people in your room forget to close the door or lock it, it's not secure. no curtains / board so if you want the lights on, you will affect other people. the room was very old. Stains on doors and walls. don't understand why we can't keep the keys when we go out ? If we lose it, we'll pay for it. You can walk up to the front desk and ask for whatever key you want and just open someone's locker. if you stay in a room on the bottom floor next to the receptionist desk, you will hear her playing music on the computer speakers and video calling her friends and family. She will also have conversations with her colleague late at night right outside your room.... sound proofing is terrible. you will jump whenever someone opens the door, cough or wheeling their suitcase. You will hear everything. Good luck having a good night's rest...

Edit : bug bite marks on my wrist,...