Hotel Olimpia Venice and walking tour
 

Has anyone stayed at Hotel Olimpia in Venice next to the Piazza de Roma. I am choosing this because it is closest to the bus stop where th bus drops you in Venice because I will need to take a bus back to the Airport to take a shuttle to Cortina. How long is the bus ride from the airport to the hotel? Also, how about a 1 day walking tour of Venice because we only have one day and night in Venice arriving in Venice at 9:30 Am on Saturday and leaving Sunday by 11:00AM to get the bus from the airport. I will be with my wife and 2 boys age 14 and 8. Also a good moderate priced lunch/dinner recommendation will be very helpful. Thanks,

I forgot to mention that I am looking for a good breakfast place as well.

FD - The bus ride to Piazzale Roma normally takes about 20-30 mins. ... but it depends on traffic.

Hopefully others can help with your other questions.
Buon viaggio :)

Steve

How far is it on the Vaporetto to Saint Marks square from the Piazza Roma?Also, would you recommend a tour of any of the sites or just walk around. We only have a day and night and want to get as much as we can in but not miss something we absolutely should not miss. What do you think? Any suggestions on any walking tours or sites one over the other as a must do or see?

If it's same Hotel Olimpia the one in San Croce then yes I stayed here in July 2001 and would stay here again. Loved the rooms, the waiter and bellhop too ;)

They had a lovely lawn outside of the breakfast room that no one but my friend and I chose to take advantage of, lucky us...

Venice is so easy to wander and get lost in and that's part of the joy for me. I did not take a formal tour but I think if you only have a day then yes take the day tour, soak up as much information as you can from a walking tour so the next time you go some things may have sunk in from the tour.

Best, Eileen

The vaporetto ride...hmm, I don't remember it being very long from Piazzale Roma (sp?) to San Marco. I think 15-20 minutes; I believe there's an express and one that makes more stops. Beautiful ride--take the long one.

Then you'll be in Piazza San Marco. Visit the church. See the Doge's Palace if you like. Personally, if I just had one day I'd hit those two and then go to lunch and wander around.

I like Dorsoduro. I'm also fond of the Jewish ghetto and its surrounds. The Rialto area is nice very early but I have to say it's one of the few areas where I've understood why people complain about suffocating crowds in Venice.

Can't help you with restos in Venice; unfortunately I've never had much luck there.

Even in one day, if you try to hit a sestiere or two that are a little less touristy/crowded, you will really enjoy Venice. Actually, you'll probably enjoy Venice no matter what: it's so beautiful. Lucky family!

Yes Ecat it is the one near San Croce. I picked that one because we need to get back to the airport to catch a transfer to Cortina and felt the closest to the bus staion works the best. How far is the walk from the bus station? Any places near there to see? How about restaurants? Any suggestions as well. How was the breakfast? Was the location noisy because of the busses near the Piazza Rome?

Frank,

If I remeber it was about a 15 min walk not bad at all - we had just come off an overnight train from Paris and were very out of it. The guy at the ticket window for the Vaperetto (sp) was trying to tell us it was just across the canal but we were so dazed that we actually took the Vaperetto when we could have walked so easily - it's all hindsight now...

The breakfast was good enough, coffee yogurt , pastry I don't remeber anything awful about it at all but really I think I was too busy looking at the waiter with the fabulous blue eyes.

Restaurants are not my fortay in Venice but if you need any suggestions for Rome please ask.

Ciao, Eileen

Frank,

The location was not noisy. Also did you see the following on their Hotel Website re: timetables?

Hotel Olimpia is centrally located in the romantic city of Venice, within two minutes walking distance from the railway station and the "Canal Grande".
Arriving by PLANE : VENICE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT MARCO POLO
Arrivando in AEREO : AEREOPORTO INTERNAZIONALE MARCO POLO

Venice International Airport is located about 10 Km from Venice center.Getting out of the arrivals area of VENICE airport you may catch the Blue colored ATVO leaving in connection with major flights' arrivals that will take you right to Piazzale Roma from where you easily see the Hotel. (30 mins.) Or you may take a water taxi that will comfortably let you cross the lagoon and leave you just in front of the Hotel water entrance.(40 mins.) You may also take a Car taxi and arrive to Piazzale Roma. (20 mins.).

Leely must have been dreaming--easy to do in Venice. The vaporetto ride to San Marco takes almost an hour on the #1 milk run and about :40 on the #82 express run along the Grand Canal. Time well spent.

Whoops, bobthenavigator, you caught me asleep at the wheel as usual. Such a lovely ride on the vaporetto--time must've really flown by. It always does in Venice.

Sorry, frankdaddy.

Thank you for all your replys. What a great bunch of people. Too bad we cannot all travel together. What a blast that would be.

I already contacted the Hotel and got a price of 180 Eur for 4 people. It might be a little high but it is very convenient since we need to go back to the airport before noon the next day. One other question about travel insurance and exchanging money. Should I go to the cash machines in Venice and get cash from the ATM and I was thinking about travel insurance mostly for cancellation insurance. I have health insurance on my own but what about cancellation insurance. I got a quote of 160.00 for the trip totalling 5500.00 for the trip. I only need cancellation insurance. Is it worth it?
What should I be loking at?

Frank - I think 180 for four people in Veince is an outstanding price!

Yes get your cash at ATM's. So far as cancellation insurance goes, everyone has their opiniona but when my airline ticket was printed wrong yada, yada, yada I am still 4 months later trying to get reimbursed for many expenses I'm all for purchasing this...