inca2000

I made a mistake and signed up for a Venice Walking tour on the same day I was arriving to the Venice airport from Rome. I am finding out that this mistake may cost me at least half the price of the tour if I cancel. I will only be in Venice for 3 days and there aren't any other viable dates. So I'm trying to figure out if I should take the 50% hit or try to make the tour. The Alitalia ticket shows that I should arrive at Marco Polo airport at 9:30. The tour starts at 11:10. From what I have gleaned off this site it sounds like the water taxi is the nicest and quickest way to travel. So my question - is 1.5 hrs enough time to unload from the plane, pickup luggage and water taxi to St Marks square? Assuming no delays in the flights of course. I am originating from JFK in NY.

Holly_uncasdewar

Where is your hotel located? Or are you planning on taking your luggage with you on the tour?

DRJ

Water taxi is your only choice and immigration is the chief variable. A water taxi should take about 30 minutes to San Marco. What, however, will you do with luggage?

inca2000

Wow, amazing fast responses. Thank you! I was hoping to beg the tour company to watch it for me. I am staying at the Hotel Bucintoro and I figured that it would take too much time to get there and back to St. Marks Square. BTW: the tour company is Avventure Bellissime (Tours-Italy) which was booked via Viator.

vincenzo32951

The water taxi is your only option. I think it will cost you about 90 euros. Not sure of the price because when I used it, we had more than one person, and the price may vary for a single.

To be honest, I think even with taking the wt, you're going to be cutting it close. Let's say you clear customs and collect your baggage in 30-45 minutes; that's pretty quick. You'll then have to get a cart and roll your baggage down the path from the airport to the dock, taking about another 15 minutes. Then, assuming the wt is available as soon as you get to the dock, you have another 30 minutes to the nearest dock to San Marco. Assuming you're meeting the tour in the square, figure another 10 minutes to unload and tote your luggage to meet the group.

You're up to a minimum of 1 hour, 15 minutes from the time you land to the time you're in the square, assuming everything goes perfectly and your flight lands on time. Let me know the last time things went perfectly for you. For me, I can't remember. But it could work out -- see below.

A couple of things:
Could you contact the tour company and arrange to pick up the tour at some point after its start? Normally, tours like that don't start moving for several minutes while they take a head count and go over the ground rules, so maybe you wouldn't miss much.

I've only taken the wt from the city to the airport, not vice versa. For the city/airport trip, you can arrange to have the wt meet you at a specified time and place so you're not waiting around. Others may have the answer about whether you can reserve one from the airport to the city, so that you can hop on as soon as you get to the dock.

kappa1

Water taxi costs about €100 and that's the same for from 1 to about 6 persons. What's the cost for the tour? Is it worth paying 100% (do the tour) + €100 water taxi vs 50% penalty + a slower transport to Venice ( like Alilaguna boat for €15 ) ?

Shelly2Camp

I just returned from Venice 3 days ago..an adventure awaits you! If you are coming from Rome I don't think you will have any immigration once you land...it took me 30 minutes to land, get my luggage and purchase my Alilaguna tickets...and I arrived from Paris. You can't miss the Water Taxi Counter. The airport claims it is a 5 minute walk out to the loading docks...it is really more like 10. Venice is not an "easy in-easy out" experience. I think it is doable to get to your tour, but I would have a back-up plan. Unknowns include how many flights will be landing when you do, as most arriving passengers need to book connections to Venice. Most use the public boats...so that gives you a lead. You are looking at a 30-40 minute water taxi ride. Ha! You will love that! Arrive with a great map...many streets are not "on the map" in Venice. It is basically a floating rat maze with water traps...and pick pockets. You are smart to book the walking tour...I wish I would have done that. All points basically lead to 2 places...San Marcos and Rialto Bridge. I also met my family at San Marcos and underestimated how crowded and difficult it is to meet up there. Find out the exact location... ie..near the Clock..If I were you I would have my water taxi take me as close to my hotel as possible...dump my stuff with the concierge and then meet the walking tour at the Rialto Bridge... That would give you time to put your feet up and indulge in some vino before walking! Venetians know the difference between "Campos" and "plazas" but I thought they all looked the same. I found navigating Venice to be a nightmare. I'm sure it was just me! While I never walked on the same street twice...I did manage to find San Marcos and Rialto! Plan to do Murano and Burano while you are there...both lovely..Another great option is to take Line 1(black)on the ACTV line....it is inexpensive and follows the Grand Canal while taking you under most bridges...including Rialto. In 24 hours, I saw all of Venice I needed to. Bon Voyage!

Holly_uncasdewar

I would not assume there's an office in or near San Marco where you could store your luggage. While I don't know for certain, it is more likely that the tour operator has one of their local guides meet the group in front of the basilica. You'd probably want to drop your luggage off at the hotel before the tour, which is at about a 10-15 minute walk to San Marco. Perhaps you should email the tour operator and see if they'll let you switch dates. It never hurts to ask if they'll do that.

Lexma90

I agree, you won't have to go through immigration, as you will be arriving from Rome (same is true when arriving in Venice from other EU locations, like Frankfurt).

When we've taken the water taxi, there's never been a line, so you might be in luck there.

Your hotel is right on the Riva degli Schiavoni, so you could take the taxi directly to your hotel, then walk to Piazza San Marco from there. Though also find out what the route of the tour would be, so you could meet them further on if you miss the beginning.

inca2000

Thank you all. I'm beginning to worry about immigration in Rome now. I am supposed be arriving Rome at 7:10am and departing Rome to Venice at 8:25am. Sounds a little tight now. As for Avventure Bellissime (Tours-Italy), their office is at 1063 San Marco which is right next to the Devils Forest Pub according to google maps. It doesn't look too far from a dock. I'll ask them if I can meet up with them during the tour if they can't store my luggage and we have to go to the hotel first. I hope they respond to my email this weekend.

My wife and I came to Venice 22 years ago and loved it. We wanted our daughter to experience Italy and international travel. We thought about an all Italy tour but since we are Amazing Race fans we wanted to be a little more adventurous. I guess we'll have to hit the road running

nytraveler

Sorry -

Your problem is not Venice. It's likely you will not get on the plane to Venice - unless your flight arrives early. You have only 1:15 to

1) get plane to the gate
2) deplane (how far back are your seats - that can take an extra 10 or 15 minutes)
3) get through immigration (how many international flights will land at once)
4) get through security again
5) get to your flight to Venice by boarding time - usually 30 minutes in advance

I think your chances of being on the plane to Venice are quite small

And if you are - you still won;t make the tour - unless you abandon your luggage and helicopter to St Mark's

Don't want to be discouraging, but you really need to look into other options for getting from Rome to Venice if you - or your luggage - don;t make that early flight.

inca2000

Thanks for the heads up nytraveler. I didn't realize how many activities I would have in Rome. I even asked Alitalia when they made the reservations whether I would have enough time in Rome to make my connecting flight and they said I would. I think I need to call them again about this.

nytraveler

What you have may be a legal connection - but that doesn't mean you will make it - after missing on in Sweden (they told me if I RAN to the next gate I might make it) I just don;t trust airlines any longer.

I would check -

How often your incoming flight is on time
Confirm you will need to go through security again for the Venice flight
Find out what time the Venice flight doors close (NOT the same as take off)

vincenzo32951

One note on catching the Rome-Venice flight:

I assume you're taking Alitalia all the way. If so, will they hold the Rome-Venice flight for you? Otherwise, I agree with nyt: the odds are against making that connection.

I ask about holding because we had a similar situation with Lufthansa, and they held the flight for us. Not only that, but they buzzed us through VIP security to get us to plane quickly.

nytraveler

Airlines may hold a flight if they have a large number of people making a connection. The chance of them holding is for 1 or 2 people is slim to none.

inca2000

Well Avventure Bellissime has been really good at responding and they have given me some alternatives. The best option for us is to switch to a Doges Palace tour on the next day so that I don't have to worry about making all transportation options line up perfectly. Given that there are always cancellations and such we will stop by their office at St Marks Sq and see if we can make an afternoon tour.

Thank you all for your advice. I will report back how long it actually took from San Marco airport to our hotel.

maxima

There are several options for getting to your hotel from the airport, water taxi which is the fastest and most expensive, the allilunga, and the airport bus which runs
frequently with no stops to p. roma, where you can take the public water bus..as there are 3 in your party you can determine which works the best for you and your budget.

stevewith

inca2000,

If you are fit, you have enough time in Rome to make that connecting flight if your plane lands on time, and they usually do coming from the US. If your plane arrives late, Alitalia will put you on the next flight to Venice. I wouldn't let one person's ability to get over a trauma in Sweden affect your travel plans.

If you are not fit and cannot move quickly, arrange for wheelchair assistance.

mamcalice

I think your best bet is to work with the tour complany to see if they can arrange your tour for a different day or schedule an alternate tour later in your arrival day. Even if everything goes perfectly and you make it by the skin of your teeth, you will be frazzled. Why start a trip to Venice that way?

inca2000

I am not as fit as I used to be but I can still jog pretty good. I will try to get in as much as possible in Venice since there is so much to see. I already started to stress over making the tour on time that it was starting to take some of the joy from the trip and I haven't gotten there yet. Mamcalice you are right on target. Why start a vacation in Italy that way. I will still have Florence, Sorrento and Rome to navigate. We will be making use of Trentalia and an auto rental as as well.