Venice Floods
Sep 6th, 2005, 06:07 PM
#1
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Venice Floods
I'll be in Venice in February. Is this a particularly bad time (or good time) for flooding? I don't want to be there if it's going to be impossible to be out and about. Any good (and reasonably priced) hotel recommendations? I'll be there around the 10th...I do not plan to be there during Carnivale. Also, any help on getting from the Milan airport to a train station and on to Venice would be appreciated. THANKS!
Sep 6th, 2005, 06:47 PM
#2
Can't answer your high water question. The problem is a result of the tides, so I suppose if you could search an almanac for tidal info on Venice....?
Are you landing at Malpensa? If so, there is a shuttle bus to Milano Centrale train station. It takes about an hour, and the cost is very reasonable. After you've exited baggage claim and customs, continue to the ground transportation area and look for the Malpensa shuttle ticket office.
Regarding Venice hotels, tell us your budget. "Reasonably priced" is too vague.
Are you landing at Malpensa? If so, there is a shuttle bus to Milano Centrale train station. It takes about an hour, and the cost is very reasonable. After you've exited baggage claim and customs, continue to the ground transportation area and look for the Malpensa shuttle ticket office.
Regarding Venice hotels, tell us your budget. "Reasonably priced" is too vague.
Sep 6th, 2005, 07:01 PM
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Hi jandaan, regarding Venice and the "alta acqua", please don't let that worry stop you from going to Venice.
You could have it but it is mainly in the Piazza San Marco. It happens when there are hightides and lots of rain. But actually everyone should experience this once. The Venitians are prepared for this, wood platforms etc. Actually in a strange way it is almost fun. And I had it once in May, Venice had lots of rain storms for about three days, high tide, and came out of Harry's Bar after some after dinner drinks and "oh, there is a flood!" We somehow managed to work it out that we did get back to our hotel but were in no hurry to as we stood around with lots of Italians discussing the situation.
And if you have fog...that makes Venice very magical.
Jean gave you the answer regarding the Milan airport (assume you are talking about Malpensa and not Linate?) and the shuttle bus.
Hotels, lots of ideas here on Fodors and also TripAdvisors regarding hotels in Venice.
Have fun planning your trip.
You could have it but it is mainly in the Piazza San Marco. It happens when there are hightides and lots of rain. But actually everyone should experience this once. The Venitians are prepared for this, wood platforms etc. Actually in a strange way it is almost fun. And I had it once in May, Venice had lots of rain storms for about three days, high tide, and came out of Harry's Bar after some after dinner drinks and "oh, there is a flood!" We somehow managed to work it out that we did get back to our hotel but were in no hurry to as we stood around with lots of Italians discussing the situation.
And if you have fog...that makes Venice very magical.
Jean gave you the answer regarding the Milan airport (assume you are talking about Malpensa and not Linate?) and the shuttle bus.
Hotels, lots of ideas here on Fodors and also TripAdvisors regarding hotels in Venice.
Have fun planning your trip.
Sep 7th, 2005, 04:40 AM
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I was there in November 2002 and we lost a day of sightseeing due to flooding, however it did receed at night so we could enjoy our evening. We were told that November is the worst month for flooding. Of course, good weather is never a guarantee at any place, any time of year. I would go and not worry about it.
Sep 7th, 2005, 07:07 AM
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My daughters and I were in Venice this past Christmas. We loved acqua alta!
Our hotel was near San Marco's so it flooded, too. Didn't stop a soul. Staff brought breakfast to our room and gave us boots to wear.
The water was gone by noon or a bit later. We didn't miss a single minute of sightseeing. It was one of the highlights of our trip!And the umbrellas all around made for some great photos!
Just take lots of warm socks!
sal
Our hotel was near San Marco's so it flooded, too. Didn't stop a soul. Staff brought breakfast to our room and gave us boots to wear.
The water was gone by noon or a bit later. We didn't miss a single minute of sightseeing. It was one of the highlights of our trip!And the umbrellas all around made for some great photos!
Just take lots of warm socks!
sal
Sep 7th, 2005, 07:14 AM
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I am told that if you have boots you can usually get around, but the day I was there the water was about 5 feet high. That's why we lost a day of sightseeing, and so did everyone else. But having said that, such a level of flooding is not all that common, so I still think you should go.
Sep 7th, 2005, 07:45 AM
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Technically, it's a high tide, not a flood. It may be an inconvenience, but Venetians have been living with that for centuries. There are contingcies plans in place - wooden planks being laid along main thoroughfares, waterbus lines being rerouted, etc. All in all, it should be a minimal inconvenience. But do bring a pair of rubber boots, if you can. And check the Venice City Hall website for up-to-date tide info at: www.comune.venezia.it/maree (click on "previsione di marea"
. Enjoy!
. Enjoy!
Sep 7th, 2005, 09:55 AM
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wow! You all are great. Thank you for all the responses. I'm new here and did not expect so much help. I would like to ask a few more questions too...as far as a hotel, I would like one near the St. Lucia train station, under about $150.00 per night if possible. We are also going to try to visit Ravenna, Assisi, Orivieto, Siena, Florence, Sorrento. We will have a total of 7 days...is this too much to squeeze in? I've been to Rome many times, so am skipping it on this trip. I am unfamiliar with other areas of Italy...am I missing a city that should be seen? Thanks for any and all help...any hotel suggestions in any of the aforementioned areas would be welcome as well! THANKS.
Sep 7th, 2005, 10:45 AM
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Hi jandaan, do you mean a total of 7 days for Venice and all the other cities? Or Venice plus 7 days for all the other cities? In either case you have to many cities...first of all drop Sorrento, that is south of Rome and February is not the ideal time to visit there.
Do you have a map of Italy? If not please get one and look at the different locations of the cities you have listed. Then figure out the travel time between each location and calculate the time it will take you to pack, check out of your room, get to the train station. The train trip itself. The time it will take to get from the train station at your next destination to your hotel room plus the time to check in at the hotel etc. Then I assume you will need to get back by train to Milan and then take the Malpensa shuttle bus back to the Malpensa airport etc.
Again jandaan do you mean Venice plus 7 days or 7 days total including Venice? And you will lose a good part of your first day getting from Malpensa airport to the Centrale Train Station in Milan to catch the train to Venice (train trip will be around 3 hours) plus the time it will take to get to your hotel, check in, get your room, get orientated etc.
Don't meen to seem discouraging but your intinery needs adjusting. And don't forget, you will be back to Italy after this trip, LOL. Honest! Take care.
Do you have a map of Italy? If not please get one and look at the different locations of the cities you have listed. Then figure out the travel time between each location and calculate the time it will take you to pack, check out of your room, get to the train station. The train trip itself. The time it will take to get from the train station at your next destination to your hotel room plus the time to check in at the hotel etc. Then I assume you will need to get back by train to Milan and then take the Malpensa shuttle bus back to the Malpensa airport etc.
Again jandaan do you mean Venice plus 7 days or 7 days total including Venice? And you will lose a good part of your first day getting from Malpensa airport to the Centrale Train Station in Milan to catch the train to Venice (train trip will be around 3 hours) plus the time it will take to get to your hotel, check in, get your room, get orientated etc.
Don't meen to seem discouraging but your intinery needs adjusting. And don't forget, you will be back to Italy after this trip, LOL. Honest! Take care.
Sep 7th, 2005, 11:09 AM
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jandaan - love your enthusiasm but... that is WAY too much ground to cover in 7 days! I would cut out at least 1/2, but particulary Venice to Sorrento isn't worth it in a week, unless you were ONLY visiting those two spaces.
Many others will respond, but for a guide I'm visiting 6 cities in 15 days (stops are 2 days, 2 days, 2 days, 4 days, 3 days, 2 days) and many people on the board think my trip is too rushed!
Keep asking questions and the wonderful people here will get you all sorted out.
Many others will respond, but for a guide I'm visiting 6 cities in 15 days (stops are 2 days, 2 days, 2 days, 4 days, 3 days, 2 days) and many people on the board think my trip is too rushed!
Keep asking questions and the wonderful people here will get you all sorted out.
Sep 7th, 2005, 12:10 PM
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Hi again! I am talking 7 to 8 days total, including Venice. I will be going to London afterwards, and can book a flight out of any city, so I won't necessarity have to go back out of Malpensa, and for that matter, I am thinking of flying from the US (Atlanta) directly to Venice instead of entering Italy thru Malpensa. That would cut out some train time. If February is not a good time to visit Sorrento/Amalfi Coast then perhaps that could be deleted entirely...why is it not a good time? Thanks for sharing!!!
Sep 9th, 2005, 10:41 PM
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Hi jandaan, if you have 7 to 8 days total in Italy (I prefer to know how many nights so I will assume 7 nights) for sure flying from Atlanta to Venice versus Milan would be good if you want to visit Venice. That would cut down on some travel time for sure.
But jandaan, you will have 7 or 8 days in Italy, you want to see Venice and also also all the other places you mentioned. That is absolutely impossible! And going to Sorrento in Feb. is not the best month to visit there unless you were planning on making your trip to southern Italy. Sorrento is way south of Rome. Venice is in the northeast section of Italy. Again, do you have a map of Italy?
I don't know what to say really. With say 7 nights in Italy I would suggest that you fly into Venice, stay at least 3 nights there and then ... not sure what to suggest but guess I would recommend that you go to Florence, stay 4 nights there and if the weather is appropriate take a day trip to Siena and fly home from Florence. There are other options of course.
To take the train from Venice to Florence will be about a 3 hour train trip. Plus don't forget the time of checking out of your hotel, the station, checking into the hotel in Florence etc. Figure a good half a day.
Personally with the number of days you have I would stay the entire time at a hotel in Venice and do a couple of day trips. Padua and Bologna perhaps. I would fly into Venice and fly home from Venice. That would cut down on a lot of time from moving from one hotel to another.
Please think this trip out and figure out your travel time jandaan. You can have a beautiful trip but you really need to know the limitations of it. Best wishes.
But jandaan, you will have 7 or 8 days in Italy, you want to see Venice and also also all the other places you mentioned. That is absolutely impossible! And going to Sorrento in Feb. is not the best month to visit there unless you were planning on making your trip to southern Italy. Sorrento is way south of Rome. Venice is in the northeast section of Italy. Again, do you have a map of Italy?
I don't know what to say really. With say 7 nights in Italy I would suggest that you fly into Venice, stay at least 3 nights there and then ... not sure what to suggest but guess I would recommend that you go to Florence, stay 4 nights there and if the weather is appropriate take a day trip to Siena and fly home from Florence. There are other options of course.
To take the train from Venice to Florence will be about a 3 hour train trip. Plus don't forget the time of checking out of your hotel, the station, checking into the hotel in Florence etc. Figure a good half a day.
Personally with the number of days you have I would stay the entire time at a hotel in Venice and do a couple of day trips. Padua and Bologna perhaps. I would fly into Venice and fly home from Venice. That would cut down on a lot of time from moving from one hotel to another.
Please think this trip out and figure out your travel time jandaan. You can have a beautiful trip but you really need to know the limitations of it. Best wishes.
Sep 10th, 2005, 05:38 AM
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"'ll be in Venice in February. Is this a particularly bad time (or good time) for flooding? I don't want to be there if it's going to be impossible to be out and about."
You have it exactly backwards. Acqua alta is the best time to be there. It has no effect on sight seeing because they are so used rto it there they they simply bring out the boardwalks and you go around on those.
Best of all, the place turns into a huge party. Everone gets in the spirit and its huge fun. You haven't really seen Venice unless you've been there for acqua alta.
You have it exactly backwards. Acqua alta is the best time to be there. It has no effect on sight seeing because they are so used rto it there they they simply bring out the boardwalks and you go around on those.
Best of all, the place turns into a huge party. Everone gets in the spirit and its huge fun. You haven't really seen Venice unless you've been there for acqua alta.
Sep 10th, 2005, 03:03 PM
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Thank you all once again! I'm getting the distinct feeling that I should narrow my scope for this trip, since it is only 8 days, 7 ngihts. I do have a map of Italy, but I wanted to see as much of it as possible...too ambitious on my part I suppose. Stay in Venice...would you recommend mestre, lido, or the historic center of Venice Island? THANKS.
Sep 10th, 2005, 03:27 PM
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Hi jandaan, not mestre,that is the semi industrial suburb of Venice outside of Venice proper. Not the Lido, you want to be IN Venice proper. San Marco district or one of the others if you want to get away from the crowds of tourist that are there during the day. Which won't be the case in February like it is during the main travel months. I like the San Palo area, it is across the Rialto Bridge. Check out all the recommendations for hotels in Venice proper here and on TripAdvisor to get good advice. Best wishes to you in your trip planning.
Sep 11th, 2005, 07:42 PM
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NOthing at all wrong with Sorrento(we were there end of Feb. and it was wonderful) and Amalfi, in fact one of the most beautiful areas in the world, HOWEVER it is just too far to include it in your 7 day itinery. Much better on another trip.
You might fly into Venice, spend two or three days (really plenty in my humble opinion) and then go on to Sienna and take day trips from there to Florence, (just a big city), Assisi, Orvieto etc. OR rent a car in Sienna and drive around to the beautiful hill towns of Tuscany.. such as Greve-in-Chianti, Carona, Montelcino, etc....or the other towns you have mentioned. The flooding in Venice should not be a problem..and may not even occur in Feb at all. Sounds like a great trip.
You might fly into Venice, spend two or three days (really plenty in my humble opinion) and then go on to Sienna and take day trips from there to Florence, (just a big city), Assisi, Orvieto etc. OR rent a car in Sienna and drive around to the beautiful hill towns of Tuscany.. such as Greve-in-Chianti, Carona, Montelcino, etc....or the other towns you have mentioned. The flooding in Venice should not be a problem..and may not even occur in Feb at all. Sounds like a great trip.
