espinach1

When we land in Marco Polo airport how do we get into Venice? I know that no cars are allowed in the city. How difficult will it be to get to our hotel (which we don't have yet either). We are four adults. Any suggestions for hotels are welcome as well.

ellenem

The best option truly depends on where your hotel is located in proximity to the different options. Once you have a hotel, their webiste will list the options and actual boat stop names.

Options are:

- Land taxi or land bus to Piazzle Roma. Then walk, water bus (vaporetto), or water taxi (motoscafo) to your hotel.

- Express boat (Alilaguna) to the stop nearest your hotel. Then walk or water bus to your hotel.

- Water taxi to your hotel. Depending on your hotel location and whether or not it has a dock, you may be dropped right at the hotel or have to walk a bit from the drop-off location.

Mimar

And Ellenem's option are in increasing order of expense. The water taxi is quite expensive.

nytraveler

You misunderstand. There are no CARS in Venice because there are no roads - only canals. There are water taxis if you want to pay for one (in excess of $100) - and your hotel either has a private dock or is a short distance from a dock. Otherwise you will end up hauling your luggage all over the city (and there are bridges over each of the canals you have to cross).

Alternatively you can take a bus to Piazzele Roma and get a vaporetto (water bus) from there - if you want to manage your luggage on that.

The key question is the location of your hotel. You should go to their web site - or contact them - to find out where the closest docks are - and if those docks are served by vaporettos - or just by water taxis.

Another option is the Alliguna (a large tourist boat) which will take you from the dock by the airport to one of a couple central places in venice - and then you walk or take a vaporetto from there.

We prefer not to deal with luggage and always book a hotel with a private dock and take a water taxi from either the airport or Piazzele Roma (where you leave your car before entering the city).

suec1

If you pack light / moderately you should be able to do the Alliguna or water bus (vaporetto) option. When you book your hotel you may want to see if it is not far from a stop of one of these. But sometimes the walk may include pesky bridges with a series of steps up and down and you don't want to have to drag large or multiple bags on these. Also get good directions from your hotel ahead of time so you don't wander needlessly with your luggage.

LoveItaly

Hello espinach, if everyones budget can afford it taking the water taxi would sure be a relaxing and beautiful way to arrive in Venice. You would want a hotel that has a water taxi dock however. Please note the cost of the water taxi is charged by the trip, not per person.

ellenem

Typical recent rates for airport-to-Venice water taxi trips are 95 euros for one taxi which can take 6-8 people.

Current Alilaguna rates are 13 euros per person. So for 4 people, 52 euros.

Combination of land bus and vaporetto will be 7-10 euros per person.

espinach1

Thanks for all the help! Does anyone have a hotel suggestion, one that has a water taxi dock? You guys have been great.

rolohof_duvall

Espinich1,

It is realy quite easy by bus from the Airport to Piazale Roma and onto a vaparetto to a stop near your hotel. I recommend Albergo Guerrato www.pensioneguerrato.it very close to the Rialto bridge and vapareto stops. From MP Airport buy ATVO ticket from a Kiosk machine in arrivals. YOu will need "coin" euros. E3 each. Take bus to PIAZZALE ROMA, apx 10 to 15 minutes. From there, take the water boat #1 (vaporetto line 1. The Vaparetto ticket office is in a row of buildings at Piazzale Roma.

ellenem

I believe there is also a widow with a person from whom you can buy tickets if you don't have coins.

TravisandVanessa

Hotel American was a nice hotel and has a water dock. It is about a 10 min walk to most major points of interest

ellenem

I believe there is also a wiNdow (funny typo!)

LoveItaly

Hello espinach, the last few times I stayed at the Hotel S. Cassiano which is in San Polo. It does have a water taxi dock. It is a few minutes walk to the Rialto Bridge and about 10 to 15 minutes to Piazza San Marco.

Here is their website:http://www.sancassiano.it/san_cassiano-en.htm

They do not show their rates so you have to inquire. I checked some of the comments on Trip Advisor. Many loved this hotel, and few didn't. I believe the ones that didn't like it stayed in the smaller rooms. We always stayed in the Superior rooms that overlooked the Grand Canal and the Ca d'Oro which is across the Grand Canal from the hotel. The hotel does not have an elevator if I remember correctly. The unhappy ones commented on the rude hotel staff. That sure hasn't been my experience.

SUMMAGOLD

you should definitely do the water taxi from the airport.

we stayed at HOTEL LOCANDA OVIDIUS. its by the rialto bridge and the water taxi drop off is a just a few steps away. there's an elevator too!

RobertR

Yes I have a suggestion for a hotel right on the grand canal, right by a vaporetto stop and reasonable, great location.

www.hotelgalleria.it