Venice is is known as the city of love but did you know that it ialso an awesome place to visit as a flashpacker? It is possible to find budget food, budget Aperol Spritz and even budget accommodation if you know where to look. On my Interrail trip through Europe, I stayed for two nights at the A&O Venice Mestre. Read on for my full A&O Venice Mestre review.
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A&O Venice Mestre Location
A&O Venice Mestre is located on the mainland of Italy rather than the islands. It is about 8 minutes walk from the Venice Mestre station making it very convenient for those arriving by train and those heading into Venice proper. The train takes 11 minutes to reach Saint Lucia.
My top tip is to stay on the side of the road of the train station as you walk towards the hostel or you will get a bit stuck and have to go round the long way. (Yes, I learned that the hard way whilst it was raining and I was carrying a backpack).
A Look Around A&O Venice Mestre
Ground Floor Facilities
The lobby of A&O Venice Mestre is large and full of facilities. As you walk in, you will see the reception desk in front of you, full of friendly and knowledgeable staff, If there is a long queue, you are too tired to fancy a chat or everyone has disappeared there were six or seven check-in machines. Here, you pop in your booking details and it will pop out your room key.
To the left is a tour desk which I didn’t see many people using but I guess everyone in were savvy travellers. I bet they get more business from families and traditional tourists. At the end of the room, past a series of seating options is a long, large table which had plenty of people on laptops tapping away. Wifi is fast and free so it is a good spot for nomadic working. Then, behind them were a couple of vending machines. One had loads of snacks and other, all kinds of items that you might need, sanitiser, condoms, shampoo and Sprite.
Around to the right is the bar which does a reasonably priced selection of boozy treats, ice cream and snackettes. Their Aperol Spritz was pretty good and much cheaper than those in town. They have a spinning wheel on which you can try your luck. You might end up getting a drink from a friend, or buying a round for everyone else. There is a large table with tall chairs and plenty of plugs doe working over a pint. A little further over you will find the karaoke area. I walked through one evening, expecting to see an empty and slightly forlorn spot but there were around ten people having a proper giggle here. Finally, tucked in the corner is the kids’ area with puzzles, books and toys. This hostel is for everyone!
Laundry Room & Lockers
Through a door, you will find a big bank of chargeable luggage lockers. These are very handy if you want to maximise your last day in Venice. You can pop your luggage in here, go into the city and then rush back to grab the bag in time for your flight/night train.
A little further around the corridor is the kitchen (more on this in the dining section) and a laundry room. I used the washing machine which was really easy and affordable. You didn’t have to buy separate detergent, get powder everywhere or gamble on where to put the soap as it was all automatic. The dryers were broken during my visit but luckily, my private room meant I could just hang everything around my room to dry.
My Room
I was lucky enough to have a private room all to myself, number 204. It was a nice, large room with loads of storage room. I had a little hanging rail (so handy for my wet washing), three large cubbies (my backpack and day pack both fit in one easily) and even a shoe rack with full length mirror. The window let in some light but on a gloomy day, not all that much.
It was unseasonably chilly during my mid-May visit so I was thrilled to see that I had control over my heating…I definitely thought I would be using the AC to cool off but hey ho.
My Bed
The double bed was two singles pushed together and set in the European way (with two duvets). This was perfectly fine for me as a solo gal, and would have been OK for Mr Fluskey too. However, it is worth bearing in mind if you wouldn’t like this arrangement with a partner.
My Bathroom
The bathroom was very reasonably sized, as evidenced by the fact there was room for a bidet. Would you believe, this is the only hostel I have ever been in with a bidet?! The shower was fine but a little tight. I very much appreciated the towel rack which was an exceedingly handy spot for my freshly laundered undies. The soap and body wash provided were quite plain (not particularly scented) and I had seen the same products in a few hostels during the trip. I was happy to see a hairdryer provided in the bathroom. It is more hotely than hostelly in some aspects. THIS is flashpacking!
Dining
Breakfast
Breakfast was taken with a token. There was a big buffet with several stations dotted around the room. There was lots of bread, sliced meats and cheese galore and fresh fruit. Plenty of people were pocketing apples and oranges for lunch…I did too obviously. Then there were a couple of kinds of yoghurt, several cereals, warm eggs and cold salad. You could have a three course meal, an excellent start to the day. The drinks selection was very good with lots of tea, two cappuccino machines and a funky juice dispenser with four fruit juice, still and sparkling water.
Was I obsessed with the little pancake machine that churned out the cutest little fluffy pancakes automatically? You bet I was! I got a seat near it so I didn’t miss a single dollop of batter or the gentle plop of each pancake on the plate. It was mesmerising.
The Kitchen
The kitchen seemed quite small for the size of the hostel if I am honest. When I arrived on day one, there were only two hobs and not an awful lot of pots, pans and cutlery. There was a kettle and big fridge but no oven or microwave. On day two, a refurbishment took place and they added two more hob set ups. Still, it was quite disappointing…I guess everyone eats out in Venice (which makes sense).
Like the classy girl I am, when I checked in I was seriously hungry so I made instant ramen noodles on the hob. Just as I was serving up this highly nutritious dish, someone else came into the kitchen. I could have died of shame. Here’s me in one of the best foodie countries in the world and I am scoffing a knockoff packet of Super Noodles. I should be ashamed.
Final Thoughts about A&O Venice Mestre
A&O Venice Mestre is a very well-run hostel which really offers budget travellers in Venice a hub. The evening activities mean you really can buy a bottle of bubbly for cheap and have a fun time with like-minded travellers…a rarity in so many hostels these days. Transactions with the staff were always quick and smiley. Everything was user-friendly around the hostel so I could just get on with making lunch and doing laundry without bugging anyone else. I would say that if you are on a budget, travelling solo or with a group of friends then this is an excellent option but it is not the place to come for a romantic weekend with a partner. Overall, it is a brilliant place to stay for a fun trip to Venice.
Rosie xx
