Stella Marina 3

Hotel Description

I remember stepping off the vaporetto at the Palanca stop on Giudecca – you know, that long, skinny island stretching out like a forgotten arm of Venice – and thinking, wow, this is the side of the city most tourists never bother with. The Stella Marina 3 sits right there on Fondamenta S. Biagio, tucked away from the San Marco madness, with that salty lagoon breeze hitting you as soon as you drag your suitcase over the bridge. Honestly, it’s a relief after dodging crowds in Dorsoduro; here, it’s all quiet residential vibes, with locals biking past and the occasional delivery boat chugging by. I mean, parking? Forget it – Venice doesn’t do cars, but if you’re coming from the airport, grab the Alilaguna water bus straight to Zattere and hop a quick vaporetto over. Check-in was a breeze, even when I showed up mid-afternoon during high season last July; the staff – this one guy named Marco, super chatty – sorted everything in minutes, no fuss, and handed over a room key with a tip about the best sunset spot nearby at the Redentore church, just a five-minute stroll down the fondamenta.

What really got me about the place is how it nails that cozy, lived-in feel without skimping on the comforts – it’s a solid 4-star, rated 9.1 for good reason, but with these little touches that make you feel like you’re crashing at a friend’s stylish apartment. My room overlooked the Giudecca Canal, and mornings started with the soft lap of water against the walls (though, fair warning, it can get a tad noisy if a cruise ship horns blast by at dawn – earplugs helped). The bed was plush, sort of cloud-like after a day of walking cobblestones, and the bathroom had those heated marble floors that are a godsend in cooler months – Venice gets chilly and damp come October, you know? Breakfast was served in this sunny courtyard – nothing extravagant, but fresh cornetti, strong espresso, and those ripe tomatoes that taste like summer – and it set me up perfectly for exploring. I wandered over to the nearby Molino Stucky for a rooftop drink one evening (pro tip: time it for aperitivo hour to avoid the lines), or just chilled on the hotel’s tiny terrace, watching the vaporettos zip across to San Giorgio Maggiore. Oh, and the Wi-Fi? Spotty in spots, but solid enough for streaming – well, most of the time.

Look, if you’re the type who wants to escape the tourist crush but still dip into the action – it’s a 10-minute boat ride to Piazza San Marco – Stella Marina 3 is your spot. It’s not perfect; rooms can feel a bit snug if you’re packing heavy, and prices spike in summer like everywhere in Venice, but that’s the trade-off for authenticity. I left feeling like I’d actually experienced the real lagoon life, not just the postcard version – the kind of stay that lingers, with that faint scent of sea air on your clothes long after you’re home. If you’re planning a trip, book early for those canal-view rooms; trust me, waking up to that view beats any alarm clock.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $207. Three-Bedroom Apartment with 2 × 1 large double bed and 2 single beds for Max persons: 3

Reviews

• A comfy, quiet, clean, and well-connected base from which to explore this amazing city. – Charles from United Kingdom – 2 June 2025 (9/10)

  It was exceptionally clean and the check-in process was very straightforward. The plumbing was excellent! The kids loved the reading nook! The area is very quiet, but you are only a 5 minute walk (at most) from some very nice restaurants and bars (as well as the vaporetto).
  
  What could be improved: The third “bedroom” is really just a bed in an open balcony above the main living area, which means that once that person goes to bed, the rest of the household must too, unless they want to sit in the living room in silent darkness! This was fine for us, with the kids, but I don’t think would work with older kids.

• We enjoyed our stay at starfish apartment. Easy communication with the hosts before and upon arrival – Pia from Germany – 2 December 2024 (9/10)

  Location was convenient to see all sights in Venice. We opted for the stay at Giudecca because we wanted to get away from the hustle and bustle of Venice main tourists sides. In Giudecca there are plenty of good restaurants at reasonable prices , small supermarket where the locals buy and good spots for a coffee and a crosissant plus everything is moderately priced compared to the rest of Venice. You have a feeling of staying in a nice neighbourhood. And fun part are the boot rides to San Marco.
  
  What could be improved: The apartment has 3 bedrooms, One room is a childrens room with 2 narrow single beds. Could be a bit difficult if you need space to sleep as an adult.

• Exceptional – Corina from Romania – 30 April 2024 (10/10)

  A very nice apartment in the quiet island of Giudecca, everything was great. Thank you very much Cristina!

• Exceptional – Philipp from Germany – 7 January 2024 (10/10)

  Cristina is a very friendly host. The appartment was perfect for travelling as a family with 4 teenagers. The location in Guiadecca was perfect for relaxing after long days downtown and easy and quick to reach from S Marco-S Zaccaria.

• Wonderful stay.. – Judian from United Kingdom – 9 September 2023 (8/10)

  Very happy with the apartmentIt, it had everything you need for a comfortable stay. My friends and I enjoyed our time here and look forward for a return stay.
  Good location, local shops, supermarket, restaurants and bus boat all within walking distance.
  
  What could be improved: N/A

• Exceptional – Michał from Poland – 20 October 2022 (10/10)

  Great place, great manager.
  
  What could be improved: Nothing

• Great location but uncomfortable beds – Heidi from United Kingdom – 6 October 2024 (7/10)

  It was cleaned to a good standard. The location was very good and the communication from the host was excellent.
  
  What could be improved: The beds were so uncomfortable. My husband and I slept in the downstairs double bed which was far too soft. We couldn't even turn over without it creaking so loudly. My brother slept in the upstairs single bed which was also uncomfortable and creaky. The washing machine sounds like a bearing needs replacing and there's a grinding noise. The dishwasher never released the washing tab and kept randomly beeping. Thorough cleaning behind beds and cabinets needs to happen, very dirty. Shower traps need cleaning, clogged up very quickly.

• very nice quite place, very clean and had a fantastic stay – Anonymous from United Kingdom – 26 August 2022 (10/10)

  Cristina was very accommodating
  
  What could be improved: no complaints at all

• Superb – Alain from France – 26 May 2025 (9/10)

  L'appartement était très agréable et bien situé au calme car éloigné de l'effervescence de Venise.
  La station de bateau à quelques minutes à pied.
  L'appartement est très bien décoré et très propre.
  
  What could be improved: Dommage que la 3eme chambre soit en mezzanine donc pas fermée et les velux sans volets ce qui nous réveillés au lever du jour.

• Krásný víkend v Benátkách – Jitka from Czech Republic – 19 May 2025 (10/10)

  Výborná výchozí poloha. Ubytování v krásném prostředí bývalého pivovaru (jestli jsme dobře dohledali informace :-)).
  Klidné prostředí. V dosahu obchody, pizzerie, kavárna, zastávka na vodní bus. Ubytování čisté, útulné, super vybavené. Výborná komunikace ohledně ubytování.
  Moc jsme si víkend užili. Děkujeme za skvělé zázemí.

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