lmont

We are arriving Marco Polo at 9:30 am on a Monday in May. I have a few things I'm still confused about and appreciate your help.

At the airport: we will be bring some Euro's with us ( still trying to decide how many ). Where is the best place to get more - Airport ATM or are there enough readily available locations elsewhere?

We will have a cell phone a friend purchased in Italy last year - we were told to go to airport kiosk and "buy minutes" . Is there a best location to do this?

We are staying at Hotel Paganelli. Hotel said to take Alilaguana to San Zaccaria stop - about one hour. We haven't been to Venice before and I like the idea of arriving by view of Grand Canal . Is this the "scenic" ( for lack of a better term ) route or not? Any other suggestions?

Our time is relatively short - we will be departing by train on Wednesday midday. Would you recommend vaporetto pass? Our main goal is to see some of the main highlights - Doge's, St. Mark's Basilica, Rialto, and simply "wander".

Thanks for your help

hollywoodsc

As far as the Euros, take enough to get you from the airport to your hotel and thru the next morning, just in case you don't get to an atm until then. Maybe E 100-150?
Make sure you buy them from your bank early. Some branches need as much as a week to get them in.
I was able to wd Euros at the airport in Rome on my New Year's trip. I paid a small fee for using that machine.

Cash is used a lot more in Europe than we do in the US. Most places have a minimum amount to use your card. Don't assume you're going to buy a soda with a debit card.

Check with your bank (you might find the info online) and see if they have a reciprical agreement with an international bank. B of A does, so I didn't get charged any of those "non-BofA-atm" fees.
Take out large amounts of Euros at a time. If you are getting charged a fee it's silly to take out E40 every day and get charged $5 for it.
Also, the European ATMs only have numbers, no letters and take a 4 digit pin. You might have to change your pin before you leave so it will work over there. You don't want to spend your vacation standing in line in a bank!

lmont

Forgot - another quick question. We'd like to go to San Giorgio Campanile. Is there a time that is generally best to go?

kappa1

I have stayed at Hotel Paganelli about 7 years years ago during a (very sunny) Christmas time. A hotel nice enough, except the breakfast was just ok. Maybe it has changed. I climed to their roof top terrasse where I enjoyed a view of the lagoon, venetian roofs, and also a part of Basilica San Marco.

With Alilaguna, you will arrive via lagoon and San Zaccaria stop is still in the lagoon of San Marco ( or Bacino di San Marco ) and not Grand Canal, just for the record. Still not bad. See the routes served by Alilaguna :
http://www.venice-rentals.com/info/route-alilaguna.php
You will take the blue line via Murano and Lido.

kappa1

I don't know when is the best time to take the lift to San Giorgio's campanile but I have been there in the morning and in the afternoon, 3 or 4 times, I did it always when the sky was clear for the best view.

kappa1

https://picasaweb.google.com/kappa34...30363796980978

This a picture I took from the hotel's roof top terrasse, of the lagoon, part of San Zaccaria water bus stop and San Girogio Island really in front.

And you might be able to see this before landing.
https://picasaweb.google.com/kappa34...30632898469730

Andrew

Regarding the cell phone: presumably it is a GSM phone which has a prepaid SIM card in it? Take the SIM card out (or maybe just turn on the phone now) and see what the name of the company is. One big company is called TIM. They had a TIM store in Venice on the Strada Nuova (a main thoroughfare running from the train station) when I was there in 2009 - probably still do. Even so, you can always buy your own prepaid SIM card at a TIM store or elsewhere if you wish and just use the phone and not the same SIM card that was previously in there, unless you wish to keep you friend's old phone number or something.

But you certainly need not buy minutes at the airport. Plenty of retail stores in Venice itself.

bobthenavigator

If you want to enter Venice going down the full length of the Grand Canal then catch the bus from the airport to the vaporetto at Piazzale Roma. The Alilaguna brings you in from the open sea and the lagoon. Do you have a map?

joannyc

Regarding the euros that you are bringing with you, are they from a previous trip or are you going to your bank and buying them?

If from a previous trip, good! If you are going to your bank and buying them, don't! The exchange rate will not be good and it will also include a fee. Better to go to the ATM in Venice airport upon arrival.

And, as a previous poster notes, withdrawal large amounts to avoid additional withdrawal fees on smaller amounts. You can always put what you don't want to carry around in your hotel safe.

joannyc

San Giorgio Campanile - don't be at the top at noon! The bells will make you deaf. Better to go when you won't be up there at the top of the hour.

But, do go when it is clear.

ellenem

On my recent trip to Venice, I found that the only ATMs at Marco Polo Airport are on the Departure level. After you leave baggage claim, you will have to go to the Departure (upper) level if you want an ATM. (Not sure if there were ATMs inside baggage claim. I was traveling carryon and scooted out quickly to beat the crowds.)

sharich

For travel in Europe you should purchase a Master Card debit card or similar bank card, load it with Euros before you go then use it at any ATM, you can also use it instead of a credit card and as they are chip protected they are very secure. If you run out of money you can go online and top them up and if you have any money left when you get home either save it for next time or withdraw it.
The benefit is also that you lock in the exchange rate so you know what you are spending.

joannyc

ATM in Arrival area of Marco Polo:

http://www.veniceairport.it/save/aer...false&m=010303

tarquin

I agree with Bob on the best way to get to your hotel. The Alilaguna can be convenient but I find it's hard to see much from the smeary windows and it takes a long time. So...

Go straight out the terminal exit doors to the bus area in front of you and buy a ticket from the machine on the pavement, 5 euro last time I was there. Ride the bus to Piazzale Roma, the last place in Venice for motor traffic. Then ride any vaporetto no.1 or a vaporetto no.2 going to your LEFT to the San Zaccharia stop. That way you will see the whole of the Grand Canal.

If you have decided to buy a vaporetto pass, and I always do as I love riding them, there is a desk selling them in front of you just as you exit the baggage area.

kappa1

> The Alilaguna can be convenient but I find it's hard to see much from the smeary windows and it takes a long time ..

Pros and cons

Conventinece-wise, Alilaguna is (much) better. Only one ride and no change of transport. So you pay only once and you need to handle your luggage only at San Zaccaria when you get off the boat and your hotel is right there. It takes about 1,5hrs.

Bus and Vaportetto combo. I have done it more than a few times and that's fine but for the first timer, it can be a hassle. A change at Piazzale Roma with luggage. And note the boat down the Grand Canal can (quite often) be CROWDED. When you are luggage free, it's easier to move and find a spot to enjoy view. With luggage, not so. Ideal would be you do it when a free of luggage. Time to take 30 minutes (maybe slighly less) Airport - P.Roma. P.Roma - San Zaccaria 45 minutes with No.1 : total either 1hr15 or (about the same as Alilaguna) or 30 minutes with No.2: total 1 hr. After all, not much longer than Alilaguna boat. For the first timer arriving at airport, I would tend to recommend the stress free and easier Alilaguna. If the hotel is not located at San Zaccaria(where Alilaguna goes direct), I might recommend otherwise. That's true, sitting inside Alilaguna boat, you don't see much. The first time I took it to arrive in Venice, I was able to stand on the deck and fully enjoy my first time gorgeous view of Piazza San Marco from the lagoon (was getting off at San Marco - Giardinetti past Zaccaria) but that was 15 years ago and today they seem more strict and would not let you.

kappa1

> I agree with Bob on the best way to get to your hotel.

I guess Bob's post is simply about how to take the route going down the Grand Canal (as OP menioned it) and not necessarily the "best route" for OP's whole route to get to the hotel when considering other elements.

tarquin

The most stunning way to experience arrival in Venice (especially for a first-timer) is by train.

The second most stunning is by bus and vaporetto.

Alilaguna is not so good although I agree it can be convenient depending on the location of your hotel. A shame for first sight to be the crowded San Marco area however.

SeeDee

With luggage to contend with, I would definitely go with Alilaguna, deposit your bags and the city is yours to explore.
You can return to the San Zaccaria stop, sans luggage, and proceed up the Grand Canal on the vaporetto if you wish.

Single journey tickets on the vaporetto are quite expensive, €6.50 if I remember correctly. The cheapest multiple use ticket will pay for itself in three trips if done within the time limit.

Wandering however is the best way to discover the different corners of the city (and some of the small wine bars with their tasty €3 snacks.....). I would organise to devote one day using the vaporetto and the other to exploring on foot.

ellenem

"Then ride any vaporetto no.1 or a vaporetto no.2 going to your LEFT to the San Zaccharia stop. That way you will see the whole of the Grand Canal."

This is totally incorrect. At Piazzale Roma, the a boat along the Grand Canal to San Marco would head to your RIGHT.

The No. 1 boat begins at Piazzale Roma and can't go to the left.

The No. 2 can go to the left and would eventually reach San Zaccaria, but it would follow the Giudecca Canal rather than the Grand Canal.

http://www.actv.it/pdf/navigazione/Mappa_linee_2nov.pdf

tarquin

Are you saying that if you exit the station and go down to the vap stop, you should go right? That's not the way I do it.