I' ve been reading all sorts of ways to get from the airport to our Hotel, but they all seem very expensive. What's the best and cheapest way to get to our hotel (San Marco area)?<BR><BR>Thanks

Hi Sharon<BR> The best way is to hire a water taxi. The cheapest way is to take the bus.<BR><BR>From Marco Polo Airport the blue ATVO buses make the 25-minute trip into Venice's Piazzale Roma terminal. From there, a Vaporetto (Boat) makes the hotel and various destination connections along the Grand Canal. <BR> There is a San Marco Motorscafo (Small Boat) that connects the Airport to the Piazza San Marco and Lido and is coordinated with flight departures and arrivals. (very expensive)

You can take the ACTV Bus 5 that plies between the airport and piazzale Roma, leaving from either every half hour from 4:40am to 12:40am. Journey time is 35-40 minutes. Tickets (when I took the bus last in 1999 before the Euro was used) were L1,500 and they can be bought at the ACTV counter inside the arrivals hall and at the tabaccchi/newsstand inside the departure hall or from the ACTV office in piazzale Roma. Once in Piazzale Roma, you can hop on the vaporetto (Number 82 is the fast one) to Vallaresso stop (formerly called 'San Marco' on older maps). That, of course, would be another ticket. San Zaccaria stop is closest to Piazza San Marco. Check out www.actv.itHave a great trip!

Sharon, I just take the vaparetto all the way from the airport to my stop. Once you exit the airport head to your right and you will see a dock for the vaparetto.(bypass the water taxi stand) It think it costs around $8 per person. Ask your hotel ahead of time what is the best stop for you to get off on. Remember to travel light, you have to carry your bags to your hotel which could be quite an exercise in frustration depending on how far your hotel is from the recommended stop.

The vaporetto Debbie mentions costs EURO 10.00 and takes about 70 mins. I think that's your best option. The timetable is onBR><BR>www.alilaguna.com

It is possible staying in the San Marco area your hotel has a shuttle from the airport..if not take the alilaguna.

The cheapest transportation will cost you about 4 Euros: ACTV orange bus no. 5 from the airport to Piazzale Roma(approx.1 Euro, 35 mins.), followed by a local vaporetto to San Marco (3.10 Euros, 40 mins.).<BR><BR>The most efficient transportation will cost you 10 Euros: the hourly Alilaguna motor boat from the airport to San Marco or San Zaccaria landings. 70 minutes trip.<BR>www.alilaguna.it