I posted a question about the train leaving from Venice Santa Lucia station a few months ago - but our circumstances have (happily) changed since then, and my question is a bit different. We have tickets for the 5:17 a.m. train out. Initially we had planned on staying at a hotel in close proximity to the station, but we have been offered the use of an apartment near San Marco - free! - and obviously (duh), that is where we will stay.

We are to meet up with the owners (friends of our daughter's in-laws) at a shop they own when we arrive in Venice, so at this point I am not exactly sure of the apartment's exact location, although we have been told it is not far from a vaporetto stop.

Of course, the problem is in getting to the train station so early in the morning. My understanding is that the regular vaporetti do not run often before 7 a.m. - wondering if we would do well to arrange for and pay for a water taxi in advance?

Anyone know how to get around Venice in the early morning hours? ... We will each be dragging along a wheeled bag.

This link tells about night service: http://tinyurl.com/29o734.

Get to Piazzale Roma to take the bus--much easier than the water route.

Buses are of no use for getting from Piazza San Marco to Santa Lucia station. Vaporetti run 24 hours a day from San Marco to the station.

Oops ! Sorry, I read airport into this.

Thank you for the info - and thanks for the bus "correction" - I was all ready to figure out just how that worked ... guess we'll just have to be out at the vapporetto stop VERY early, but that will be part of the adventure. I am definitely packing extra batteries for my travel alarm clock.