Accommodation, Italy
RUSTIC VENETIAN CHARM AT GENERATOR HOSTEL, VENICE
Next to London, Venice was another city that we felt money constantly draining from our wallets.
With no convenient city passes or hop-on hop-off buses to help save us some cash, it came down to good ole’ fashioned budgeting. To allow for a bit of splurging, we chose to stay at a hostel further out instead of an overpriced hotel off the Grand Canal.
Having already stayed at the Generator Hostel in London, we expected another great stay at Generator Hostel Venice— and we weren’t disappointed.
I’ll admit that at first we were hesitant of staying there because of its location, out on the island Giudecca, but we quickly realized its location was definitely a plus. But with that being said, if you are planning to stay at Generator Venice, make sure to buy a vaporetto pass from the start.
Set away from all the noise of Venice, but just a convenient 5-minute vaporetto ride to Piazza San Marco, it was perfect.
If it hadn’t been for staying there, we honestly probably wouldn’t have explored Giudecca, and I’m so glad we did. It was filled with interesting churches, cute restaurants, and cats. Lots of cats.
You know what it wasn’t filled with? Crowds and tourists.
Oh, and exorbitant prices. We found that prices were lower overall in both restaurants and grocery stores.
The hostel is set in a converted grain house, right along the waterfront just minutes from two different vaporetto stops. The common areas have kind of an art deco feel with inviting sitting areas that include a fireplace and clown chandelier made of Murano glass.
There were always people around socializing, perfect for the solo traveler.
We stayed in a large, private room up in the attic. I loved the rustic furniture and bedding, it complemented the wooden beamed ceiling perfectly. I felt like I was staying in a rustic cabin rather than a hostel.
To my surprise the room also had a full walk-in closet with a clothes rack inside waiting with hangers.
It also had a private bathroom complete with toiletries, which I think was the first time I’ve experienced that at a hostel.
We constantly heard the soothing sound of cooing pigeons nesting right in our window, which, by the way, also overlooked the canal toward Venice. For those on a bit tighter of a budget, various dormitories are also available.
Generator has food available throughout the day at a low cost. Similar to Generator London, they provided a full-scale continental breakfast complete with meats and cheeses to make sandwiches with, salads, fruits, cereals, toast with various jams and a large selection of beverages.
You can also buy croissants, muffins and lattes if you prefer. I actually ended up grabbing a muffin to snack on one afternoon and they were pretty good. If you’re looking for something lighter, there are also vending machines so you can munch at any time of the day. And don’t forget the full service bar!
Check in was a little late, but if you need someplace to store your belongings before or after your stay, Generator also offers free luggage storage. The room is open to anyone, so do be aware of your belongings. I took advantage of the luggage storage for my suitcase, but then chose to keep my electronics inside a locker.
The only downside was that the lockers were very small. I ordered a medium because I wanted somewhere secure to store my 13” laptop, and the laptop barely fit! I had to balance it upright and then tilt it sideways to get it inside. Also the lockers were pay, but that seemed to be a common theme across other European hostels. So apart from the whole locker ordeal, it was a great value in a notoriously expensive city!
We worried about catching an early train at 6am, but lucky for us the vaporetto that serves Giudecca basically runs 24-7– perfect for those who plan to stay out late.
Oh, and the best part? The gorgeous views looking across the canal to Venice.
Leaving so early in the morning, we got to see a glorious sunrise over one of the world’s most romantic cities.
And let me just say, even if you don’t need to get up early, it’s worth doing so just one morning in order to witness it for yourself.
Book Your Stay