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JuFin Feb 17th, 2006 02:50 PM

Help with suggestions how to get to Hotel in Venice from Airport
 
Hello,

We will be leaving in two weeks for our trip to Venice (yipee!!) and I am beginning to get nervous about the best option (actually any and all options - taking cost into consideration) on how to get from the airport (VCE) to our hotel in Venice. We are staying at the Residenza Cannaregio.

If anyone has suggestions and any information on this particular hotel, I would SINCERELY appreciate your input! If I have not provided enough information, please let me know and I will be more than happy to provide. :-)

Thanks everyone!

JuFin

mclaurie Feb 17th, 2006 02:59 PM

I wrote this quite a while ago, but the info is still correct although prices may have gone up.

The best way depends somewhat on where your hotel is located, your budget and how much luggage you have. Roughtly there are 3 ways of getting into Venice from Marco Polo airport

1. Alilaguna= this a public water bus that only goes from the airport. Info on alilaguna.com The cost is about 10/euros a person. There are 2 different lines. It makes a number of stops. It takes about an hour and 10 minutes to get to Venice proper. You will have to find your way to your hotel from the stops. Major stops in Venice are near San Marco and also one of the lines goes to the Zattere which is convenient for those staying in Dorsoduro. You can buy tickets either inside the airport terminal or at the boat dock. There is a short free shuttle bus that takes you from the terminal to the dock. It's walkable but easier on the shuttle.

2. Land bus to P Roma/train station. This is the cheapest. You take a land bus for about 2-3/euros/person. It's a 20 minute drive. You would then take a vaparetto (local water bus) to the nearest stop for your hotel. Vaparetto prices are onActv.it website with info on this bus and also the vaparetto stops/schedules. This is best if your hotel is near the train station or along the Grand Canal nearer there than San Marco.

3. Land taxi as above and then vaparetto. The taxi would be about 20e and then the vaparetto (see info on actv.it site about various passes.)

4.water taxi This is the most expensive and also the fastest and easiest. It should cost 80-85e for up to 6 people (so your price quote is a bit high. They always seem to charge more for ordering ahead). If your hotel is on a canal, they will drop you right at your hotel dock

a water taxi usually takes 20-40 minutes so it's much faster than the alilaguna which makes stops at some of the outer islands. The water taxi leaves from the same spot as the alilaguna so you'd still be best taking that free shuttle bus to the dock. Sometimes, people try to find others on their plane who are going to the same area to share a water with. Your 120 price sounds much too high. As I said, I think when you order ahead to be met, it's much more expensive.

tuscanlifeedit Feb 17th, 2006 03:01 PM

The hotel should tell you how to get to them from the Alilaguna stop.

mclaurie Feb 17th, 2006 03:02 PM

Here is the proper URL for the Alilaguna
http://www.alilaguna.it/?lang=en

Your hotel's website should have some info on the best way to get there or at least the nearest vaparetto or alilaguna stop.

enzian Feb 17th, 2006 03:02 PM

The website for the Alilaguna is actually www.alilaguna.it
We favor the Alilaguna; it's nice to approach Venice by boat and see the lagoon on the way.
What time does your plane come in? That might make a difference.

JuFin Feb 17th, 2006 03:08 PM

Our flight gets in around 9:30 a.m. I would think this would be a good time of day for options??? Appreciate all the help!!

RufusTFirefly Feb 17th, 2006 09:00 PM

Water taxi is the most fun. I'll never forget my first time racing across the lagoon as Venice floated on the horizon, gradually getting bigger and clearer. Then powering down as we slide into a secondary canal. Winding through that canal lined with centuries old buildings; laundry hanging; colorful flower boxes. Then finally turning into the Grand Canal--and it is grand.

There is something about having bellhops helping you out of the water taxi at your hotel's private dock.

dina4 Feb 17th, 2006 09:11 PM

We splurged...
land taxi to train station, then a water taxi down the grand canal.
Rufus put it perfectly:
"Winding through that canal lined with centuries old buildings; laundry hanging; colorful flower boxes. Then finally turning into the Grand Canal--and it is grand. There is something about having bellhops helping you out of the water taxi at your hotel's private dock."
Nothing like it in the world...
Have fun!
Dina

enzian Feb 17th, 2006 09:47 PM

Taking cost into consideration, the Ailaguna is your best option. Take the free shuttle from the airport to the docks (buy your tickets at the airport first). Just check the schedule and know where to disembark. You'll have a lovely trip through thte lagoon. A bit slower than the water taxi, yes, but 70 euros less.

SusanP Feb 18th, 2006 07:30 AM

Actually, if you're going to buy a vaporetto pass (I think 1, 3 or 7 days), that is the cheapest option, because it covers the orange ACTV bus that you catch right outside the front door of the airport and takes you to Piazzalle Roma in about 20 mins, then of course also covers the vaporetto from there to the stop closest to your hotel. 3-day pass is 22 Euro. (Note the pass does not cover the blue ATVO bus from the airport).

Also note that if you buy the vaporetto pass at the airport, you need cash, no credit cards accepted.

Ralstonlan Feb 18th, 2006 07:36 AM

If this is your first time in Venice, and if it is in your budget, splurge on the water taxi. It is something you will never forget and never regret! There is a window at the airport where you pay for the water taxi (80 Euro) and can either walk to the dock(which we have done, 5 minutes), or take the shuttle bus.

luv2cthings Feb 18th, 2006 08:07 AM

Options posted on your hotel's web site http://www.veniceby.com/residenzacan...ages/reach.htm

From the Airport Marco Polo Venice:
- Private taxi boat directly to the Hotel in 15-20 minutes.
- Shuttle boat “Alilaguna” to Fondamenta Nuove (30 minutes) and then water bus ACTV number 41 or 51 to San Alvise Stop.
- Taxi car to Piazzale Roma in 15 minutes.
- ACTV bus n. 5 or ATVO direct bus to Piazzale Roma in 25 – 30 minutes.

From Piazzale Roma:
- Private water taxi boat directly to the hotel.
- ACTV water bus lines 42 or 52 to San Alvise stop.


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