I may drive my mother-in-law to Venice from Paris in October. We would make it a slow trip stopping in Aix-les-Bains to see family and may only drive 3-4 hours per day. But what do you do with a car once you get to Venice? We would probably stay 2 nights, 3 days. Since this is a personal car, not a rental, dropping it off isn't an option and of course, we want to make sure it is safe. We may consider flying but since she is afraid of flying-driving is a better option for us-I don't think we want to go by train either, so really want to find out more about taking vehicles to Venice.

thanks for any suggestions!

Jpie

We parked in Mestre, within 100 yards of the train station which takes you into Venice in 20 minutes. It is much chepaer than using the parking areas closer to Venice.

Hi Michael:

Can you elaborate just a bit-was it just the train station parking-covered, open etc. And also, since it has been years since I have been to Venice-I don't remember at all really the connections-where in Venice does the train from Mestre take you. My mother-in-lsw is not disabled, but she has had a hip replacement, so long distance walks are a bit too much for her-what I would love of course is to have a place we can leave the car-catch a vaperetto and get off at our hotel So if any one knows if that is possible I would love to hear from you!

jpie

There's an enormous multi-story car park at Piazzale Roma (end of the causeway into Venice). Don;t know about varopretto stop - since we took a water taxi - but I assume there's also a vaporetto stop immediately adjacent.

That parking you referred to, nytraveler, is Tronchetto. Piazzale Roma is an open parking space, not a building, although closer, in Venice island proper.

The No. 82 vaporetto line connects the island of Tronchetto with other parts of Venice.

Read more about it at:

http://europeforvisitors.com/venice/...ing_garage.htm

Sorry, correction: Piazzale Roma has, indeed, a multi-story car park.

Hi jp,

The least expensive way is to park at the train station in Mestre and take the train to Venice San Lucia station. The vaporetto stops are in front of the station.

The parking in Venice will be about 20E/day. You will have a walk to the vaporetto stop from Pzza Roma or Tronchetto.

Parking in Mestre will actually involve LESS walking than parking "in" Venice. There are several guarded, multi story parking garages directly across the street from the Mestre train station. Two years ago they were only 5€ a day (24 hours). Very safe and less than a half block walk. Trains run every 15 minutes and take about 15 minutes and cost about 1€ per person. There is a vaparetto stop directly in front of the train station once in Venice. I've never parked "in" Venice but I did walk over there to check it out and was amazed at how huge it was - it looked like it would be a lot of walking unless you got really lucky.

Thanks to all-you are the best! It sounds like the parking at the train station is the way to go-also I don't think I care whether it is vaperetto or water taxi-what I want is to minimize walking/luggage schlepping for my mother-in-law. We will only stay 2-3 nights max-so I will take all our stuff in a little rolly case so she doesn't need to haul anything. Now that I understand parking a lot better thanks to you all-can you help me with the second part of my question-logistics around a hotel?

My friend in London suggested Leon Bianco or Galleria........again what I am most concerned about is getting there and walking afterwards. Do water taxis take you "right to your door" as opposed to vaperettos which I assume have stops? Also, does anyone have suggestions for nice hotels where we can minimize the walking-in the sense that it is centralized to see the main tourist attractions. I realize Venice by its very nature must require a fair amount of walking-but what I am after is an arrival/hotel/neighborhood strategy to make it as nice an experience for my mom-in-law as possible. She can manage stairs, etc. and since this is a first (and surprise) trip for her-I really want to make sure she doesn't feel exhausted-but has good memories of the trip Even though we only have 2-3 days-I would like to make the pace slow enough for her really enjoy it-so I figure being in the right neighborhood is important. Any other things that you guys think I should think about in planning this would be greatly appreciated. The last time I was in Venice I was 18-so very much in the low budget, walk everywhere mode. And this definitely won't be that kind of a trip.

Just curious - how long would it take to drive from Paris to Venice if you only drove 3-4 hours per day?

degas-from talking with friends and looking at websites-it looks like you can easily do it in 2 nights 3 days-we will probably go Paris to Aix-les-bains (which is a detour but we have family there) and that is about 5-5 1/2 hours depending on traffic and then it is around the same distance from Aix to Venice. So we may only take 2 days-but could decide the break the second day somewhere in Italy along the way. Also, it will depend on weather-it could be rainy since it will be late Oct. early November........

I would still love input about neighborhoods or hotels I should target that would minimize walking-so if there are folks out there who are venice experts I would love to hear from you

Well I am by no means a Venice expert but I've been there twice in the last few years. Once we stayed near the train station and once I was very close to San Marco. For what you describe I'd go with that option. On the one hand Venice is quite small - you can walk from the train station to San Marco in under an hour. But on the other hand there really isn't a "central" point. Piazza San Marco is what most people think of as the "main" place.

This summer I stayed at the Hotel Violino D'Oro and could recommend that. It's a 3 star, about a five minute walk from San Marco, also less than 5 minute walk from the vaparetto stop.

Hi jpie,

What's your hotel budget?

PS

A water taxi will take you as close to your hotel as possible.

Some hotels front on canals, others don't.

..As a general rule, I would avoid most of the hotels near the Venice train station. They tend to be noisy and not very nice. Agree with the suggestion of a hotel near ..but not too near (again a little noisy) San Marco. You would need only one "tax" ride from train to hotel and then one on return..

Hi guys-thanks again for all the thoughtful replies-it sounds like staying near Piazza San Marco would be the right choice. In terms of budget, I am thinking somewhere between 80-120 euros since it will be shoulder or off season at most of the places...but I would pay more if it really improved the logistics as described. Getting your replies has helped a lot because it has given me a much more realistic look at how much walking is necessary versus "optional". So thanks all!

You may not even need a water taxi. You say you will only have a small wheeled bag and that your mother in law has had a hip replacement but does OK with short distance walking and stairs. If, for example you stayed at the Hotel Violino D'Oro that would involve a very short walk and one small bridge from the vaparetto stop. If you and she can't do that (but it really sounds like you can) then you will probably not have much in Venice. To see much of anything in Venice requires some walking. But most of the hip replacement patients I know (I'm an RN who has worked in orthopedics) could easily handle it. By all means take a water taxi if you want, just know that it may not be necessary, even for your mother-in-law.

Re the Hotel Violino - I was there in July and had booked a single room for €60 but it had a king size bed in it. But the sign on the back of the door said the room rate was €300! If you google the hotel it will show up on several booking sites, and the prices are not all the same even for the same dates so try several till you get the best price. I'm very glad I stayed there for €60 but I certainly would not have paid €300 for it.

To JPIE. How fortunate your mother in law is to have you in her family. You sound like a wonderful man. May you all have a beautiful time in Venice

Thanks LoveItaly-but just to give all daughter-in-laws out there the good praise-I am taking my husband's mom-and hopefully it won't turn into a Thelma and Louise adventure!

jpie, I am so sorry, do not know why I thought you were male. Stupid me! How lucky your mother-in-law is. Thelma and Louise, too funny!!! Do have a beautiful time, and seriously, I think that your mother-in-law is a fortunate woman. As most of us, I love Venice and look forward to a trip report when you return home. Enjoy!