Venice - boats on canals

Old Aug 19th, 2014, 07:56 PM
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Venice - boats on canals

I am totally confused on the various boats that run the canals in Venice. What is what? we more than likely "bite the bullet" and take the Water taxi from Marco Polo to our hotel as it will have been a long flight from CA and we will want to just get to the hotel! that being said, what about regular trips on the canals, how about going to Burano and Murano. I Have read so so much about them my head is spinning. The only thing I know for sure is that we will buy a transportation card (or whatever it is called) for the 3 days we are in Venice. That I understand.... Other than that, I am totally confused on what type of boat to take. Do not need to do the Gondola as we did that before about 12 years ago and it is quite expensive although we lucked out and split it with another couple. HELP!!!! we leave in 18 days.....
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Old Aug 19th, 2014, 08:03 PM
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With a transportation card, you ride the water bus called a vaporetto. There are various evaporator routes along the Grand Canal, around the main island, and to the outer islands such as Burano and Murano. Check the ACTV site for a map of routes.
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Old Aug 19th, 2014, 08:23 PM
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The Alilaguna lines run from the docks at Marco Polo to various stops in Venice.

If you tell me where your hotel is located I could help you with Alilaguna.

You can also take the #5 bus from Marco Polo to Piazzale Roma in Venice and transfer to a vaporetto.

Water taxis run about 100€.

The #5 bus is about 6€.

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Old Aug 19th, 2014, 08:27 PM
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Yes, but the water taxi is like taking a helicopter in Hawaii, an excursion in itself. You go through the lagoon and at one point there is a turn and the whole city lights up before you. One of my best travel memories ever (first time was near sunset in December, totally stunning). In our opinion, well worth the money.
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Old Aug 19th, 2014, 08:29 PM
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p.s. We like Torcello (lunch, soft greens after days of water, stone and light, church with mosaics) followed by a walk in Burano much better than the Murano/Burano combination.
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Old Aug 19th, 2014, 08:35 PM
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You can take the #1 Vaporetto from Piazzale Roma to Piazza San Marco for a few € and get just as good a WOW moment as taking a water taxi from Marco Polo.

There are places that are completely free that you can experience a WOW moment in Venice.

No need to spend 100€.


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Old Aug 19th, 2014, 11:11 PM
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Take the water taxi from the airport. You will feel like you've ARRIVED! Does your hotel have a water door? That's the next questions. Ours does. The cost is 110 euros to a normal dock, or 120 euros to you hotel's water door. We thought it was worth every penny!
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Old Aug 19th, 2014, 11:19 PM
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You splash out on the water taxi once and you use the vaporetti to get around town like a bus. The map you need is http://www.venice.nu/maps/vaporetto-map/#.U_RLhaOCXK4 click in as the website says

There is also a road bus that can take you to or from the airport but only to the last hard land before the road vehicles are banned
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Old Aug 20th, 2014, 04:23 AM
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Instead of a private water taxi from VCE, a good compromise is a shared water taxi to any of the vaporetto stops on the Grand Canal. Depending on how close your hotel is to one of the stops, this is a convenient, affordable way to go directly from the VCE dock to central Venice, including the excitement of crossing the lagoon in a small, wave-bouncing speed boat! More info here: http://www.venicelink.com/index.php?...3&lang=english
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Old Aug 20th, 2014, 04:32 AM
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>>You can take the #1 Vaporetto from Piazzale Roma to Piazza San Marco for a few € and get just as good a WOW moment as taking a water taxi from Marco Polo.
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Old Aug 20th, 2014, 05:58 AM
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Old Aug 20th, 2014, 06:05 AM
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A water taxi is great, but that is an expensive ride into Venice at $150.

If you have the means, go for it.

However, I have been posting here for 14 years and I take notice of the hotels people stay in and MOST Fodorites don't stay at the Danieli or Bauer.

I don't know why anyone would spend time and effort looking for budget hotel room for $200 a night then blow $150 on a water taxi.

But, hey, whatever makes you happy.

If you take the #5 bus to Piazzale Roma you do not have to cross any bridge with luggage. The #1 stop is at Piazzale Roma.

If you take a water taxi into Venice and your hotel does not have a dock then you still have to drag your luggage to the hotel from the nearest dock.

If you take the Alilaguna, you have a 10-minute walk from Marco Polo to the docks.
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Old Aug 20th, 2014, 06:47 AM
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Before going to Venice I was really concerned about various "boats" and lines.
Once in Venice, it was easy to follow the maps.
I was glad we travel light. Not only that you have to roll your luggage to the hotel,
but also in and out of , often crowded, vaporettos.
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Old Aug 20th, 2014, 06:58 AM
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You get the boat to Murano-Burano at the Fondamente Nova. The stop is near the Gesuiti Church.

There is a manned ticket kiosk at the boat launch. They will help you.

You will see that you can go to any transportation kiosk in Venice and you will be directed to where you want to go. No Problem.

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Old Aug 20th, 2014, 07:03 AM
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second the suggestion to see Torcello as well as or instead of Murano and Burano. It's a good place to get out of the crowds in the rest of Venice.
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Old Aug 20th, 2014, 07:25 AM
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We stay at the Pensione Accademia--less expensive than the Bauer or Daniele, more than 200 euro. And we still think the water taxi is worth it. Our lunch suggestion for Torcello is also expensive--the Locanda Cipriani. In summer you can often eat outside, it is almost like a Fellini movie and the food is delicious. The first time I went there was with a friend. We just had pastas and the staff was fine with that.

Burano, aas I said before, is a wonderful place to stop and take an hour's stroll after your lunch on Torcello. Walk away from the first few touristy blocks into the heart of the island...
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Old Aug 20th, 2014, 07:45 AM
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To get away from the crowds we stopped at Lido for a couple of hours.
It has a completely
different feel than the city: less touristy, more relaxed, like a summer resort for the locals.
We enjoyed it .
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Old Aug 20th, 2014, 07:55 AM
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But the Lido has car traffic. That's not so relaxing. But, I agree, it's not so crowded.

It's been a few years since I've been to Venice, but when we went, you could get away from the crowds on the back "streets" of Venice.
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Old Aug 20th, 2014, 08:44 AM
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>>I don't know why anyone would spend time and effort looking for budget hotel room for $200 a night then blow $150 on a water taxi.
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Old Aug 20th, 2014, 09:28 AM
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But, in order to take a water taxi at Marco Polo you would have to walk to the docks where the Alilaguna is.

So, sir, I don't understand as to how a shared water taxi would be that different from taking the much cheaper Alilaguna.

I visit Venice all the time and I would either take the #5 bus or Alilaguna depending on where the hotel is situated.

The #5 bus picks you up and drops you off right in front of Marco Polo.

And I agree with my old friend Danon that travelling light is BEST when
visiting Venice.
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