As the #WombatsTraveller ambassador for wombat’s CITY HOSTELS, I have the enviable job of visiting all the wombat’s locations in Europe and writing about the hostels and their respective cities. wombat’s are already well established, in London, Vienna, Budapest, Berlin, Munich, and very soon to be in Venice as well! The brand-new wombat’s VENICE Mestre will be opening this summer, so to get a head-start on exploring this amazing city, I jetted off to Venice a couple of weeks ago. While I was there, I met some of the awesome wombat’s VENICE Mestre staff and got a sneak peek inside the hostel, while it is still a building site. As I’m so excited to see what it will look like when it’s finished, I can’t help but share what is going to be a fabulous new hostel in Venice!!
**UPDATE: Unfortunately, Wombat’s Venice Mestre is now closed due to the Pandemic. It may re-open, however it is looking unlikely at the moment. You can find alternative budget accommodation in Venice on Hostelworld here.**
Where to Stay in Venice
Hostels in Venice
I stayed at the fabulous Wombat’s City Hostel Venice Mestre, which is now sadly closed due to the pandemic. It may reopen in future, but it’s not looking good at the moment. However, there are other hostels in Venice if you are visiting Venice on a budget, take a look at these options:
- Anda Venice: a trendy hostel a short train ride from Venice in Mestre with excellent reviews
- Ostello S. Fosca in the centre of Venice
- Combo Venezia, set in the grounds of a 12th Century convent.
You can also take a look at all of the hostels in Venice on Hostelworld.
Hotels in Venice
Although staying somewhere close to the train station isn’t as convenient for St Mark’s Square, you won’t have to worry about moving heavy cases around the streets of Venice.
Hotel Antiche Figure, for example, is just opposite the station and gets great reviews for the friendly staff, good location and great service.
Albergo Marin is a good choice to get a mix of value and location, next to Grand Canal and 10 minutes walk from the railway station.
B&B Ca’ Bonvicini is a lovely bed and breakfast hotel just 7 minutes walk from Rialto Bridge if you would rather be more ‘in the middle’ of the action. It gets great reviews for the traditional Venetian decor and friendly staff.
Apartments in Venice
There are lots of options for Airbnb in Venice, but given how many locals have had to leave their homes, I would advise against getting a whole apartment for yourself. A private room in a local’s apartment will help them to pay the rent, and help you to really feel like a local in Venice, as well as saving you money.
This room in Venice with a terrace, for example, is a short walk from the train station and walking distance from the main sights in Venice. Alternatively, try Homestay.com which has some options for private rooms in apartments in Venice, Mestre and surrounding areas.
If you do want a whole apartment, you can rent full homes on Vrbo like this lovely historic apartment that is close to the centre of Venice, or this apartment which has its own garden! Booking.com also has a large selection of vacation rentals available too, browse available apartments here.
Want More Venice Posts?
Check out these blog posts to learn more about the best things to do in Venice and more Venice travel tips, or click here to read all of my Italy posts.
Where is the wombat’s VENICE Mestre
The clue here is in the name. wombat’s VENICE Mestre is on the mainland in Mestre, just across the water from Venice Island. Mestre is actually where two-thirds of the population of Venice live, so you will be with the locals instead of Tourist Central. However, don’t think you’ll be miles away from the action either – wombat’s VENICE Mestre is right next to Mestre train station and is a mere 15 minutes away from beautiful Venice by train or bus. The hostel will have an entrance leading directly to platform 1 of the station, so you can walk off the train and into your hostel dorm within minutes.
Mestre is also perfectly located to explore the rest of the Veneto region and the rest of Italy too; a short train ride will take you to beautiful Padua, Verona and Lake Garda, among other gorgeous Italian destinations.
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What’s wombat’s VENICE Mestre Going to be Like?
Well, I got a fairly good idea of how it will be, but after seeing some of the artist’s impressions of how it will look when it’s finished it will blow you away! I put together this video to show you what it looks like at the moment, then you can scroll down for more photos.
Going into the hostel from the train platform, you’ll see the wombat’s reception right in front of you.
To the right-hand side will be a chill-out and social area, leading through to the kitchen and laundry.
To the left of the reception, is the most important room in the hostel – the famous womBar, where staff will be serving up drinks in the evenings, and the space will double as a dining area for the breakfast buffet in the morning.
Upstairs, 112 rooms with 578 beds are where you and your fellow travellers will sleep – each in your own private room or shared dorm room.
Each floor has its own colour scheme, and each dorm will have a maximum of eight beds.
The rooms I saw were generous in size, and some already had the bunk beds in place, with secure lockers too.
Every dorm will have a toilet and shower room, as well as some funky design touches, inspired by Venice and Italy.
The dorm bunk beds are on sturdy metal frames, and each bed has its own personal charging point and light. The private rooms will be a mixture of doubles and twins, each with an ensuite bathroom.
I loved exploring some of the rooms and social areas, and although it is still a work in progress, I could see it coming together. In the next couple of months, all the finishing touches like light fittings, door numbers, electronic key locks, wifi connection, soft furnishings and a good old clean will transform the hostel into an awesome place to stay.
Why Stay at wombat’s VENICE Mestre?
I’ve already had the pleasure of staying at the wombat’s CITY HOSTELS in Budapest, Vienna and London, and love the friendly sociable vibe. The dorms and private rooms (I’ve stayed in both) are kept spotlessly clean, and you won’t hear the noise from the bar. Speaking of the bar, you’ll get a free drink on arrival, and there is always something going on in the womBars, from drinks offers to pub quizzes, movie nights and even karaoke. If the womBars at other hostels are anything to go by, the womBar in wombat’s VENICE Mestre will be a great place to hang out and meet fellow travellers.
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The other major reason I can’t wait to stay here is the fact that wombat’s CITY HOSTELS take their responsibilities very seriously. I spent a week at the head office to get to know the team, and they are only too aware of some of the problems caused by over-tourism in Venice. Choosing Mestre as a location was no coincidence. They wanted to be outside the tourist centre of Venice, giving visitors the chance to save money by staying in a hostel in Venice away from the crowds, and by showing that there is far more to Venice than canals and gondolas. With plans to help budget travellers enjoy responsible tourism in Venice, they want to encourage visitors to spend several days in Venice, wandering off the beaten path to find authentic experiences, and exploring the Veneto region beyond Venice Island.
When Can You Stay?
With an opening scheduled for July, you can already book online for a bed or room at wombat’s VENICE Mestre from August onwards. As soon as I’ve got the official opening date, I’ll let you know, as I’ll be there to “help” with the launch party and christen the wombat’s VENICE Mestre in style!
Would you stay here? I’ll keep you updated with the progress and opening date as soon as I know it!