From everything I have read, it seems that most of the public transportation in Venice shuts down around 12:30am or so. Is this the case? Also, is there a way to get from the airport area to the city around 1am or 2am?

Your hotel should be able to arrange a water taxi at any hour (though this is more expensive, of course). Tehre are "regular" (four-wheeled) taxis from the airport (at any hour?) from the airport to Pzzle Roma. From there, theoretically, you CAN walk anywhere. But I think there are other choices from a location that central, as well.

Though I would never ordinarily recommend it, perhaps this is a valid situation for spending the night at some hotel in Mestre (it WILL save you some money) - - and just move to Venice the following morning.

What gets you into the airport so late?

Best wishes,

Rex

After midnight, some vaporetti continue to run, albeit on a minimal "graveyard" schedule.

The main route from the train station (#1) continues through the night at less frequent intervals.

Rex: In response to your query,I am returning from Verona quite late in the evening via rental car. It would be nice to be able to return the car to the airport that night, and still get back to the hotel, instead of having to park the car overnight in venice, and still need to return it to the airport the next morning.

The last bus from the airport is at 00.10.

Later than that I think your only option will be taxi to Piazzale Roma. (The normal daytime rate is approx. € 30 - but you can expect to pay considerably more at that time of night, of course ...)

Have you thought of dropping the car in Verona and getting a train back?
www.trenitalia.com

Steve

Here's a link to the night schedule:

http://www.actv.it/english/navigazio...=vapo_notturno

Looks like the main canal route runs twice an hour. So, if you can get to the Piazzale Roma, you're home free.

Since you can't return the (rental) car to a person at that hour of the night, I think I would just go park at Piazzale Roma, and deal with it in the morning. Where does this night out fit in the scheme of your overall stay in Venice? (I think you may have answered this on another thread, but it will all read better to tell that again here).

in response to both steve and rex: sorry I am being a little vague, but like rex thought, I did have an earlier thread on the topic of trying to get back from Verona to Venice (where our hotel is) after the opera in late June. Problem is, the opera (at the Arena) does not start until 9:15pm. I was unable to find any trains/buses/etc. that operated after midnight (or after 11pm for that matter), which meant my only option would be renting a car. Which leads to the current dilemma of having a rental car to deal with at 1 or 2 in the morning. Ideally, I would be able to drop the car off (at the airport), using the night deposit for the keys, and then not have to deal with it again. But it looks like I will have to pay to park it overnight in venice, and waste the hour or so returning it to the airport the next day. Or is there another solution....?

Typically, you ought to be able to return it right AT Piazzale Roma.

well unfortunately, the only affordable rental I could find was from the airport. the issue there is I only drive automatics, and the only place I could find an automatic for under $100/day is Thrifty. I believe they only have a shop at the airport.

At the risk of pointing out the obvious --

If you're going to enjoy a cultural event in Verona, you should be planning to stay in Verona overnight.

the hotel in venice was part of a package deal, and therefore there is no way to change the reservation at this point. and I'm not willing to eat the cost of getting a room in verona.

You're traveling in June, right? You can learn to drive a manual transmission car easily in one weekend, if you have a sympathetic friend, and in one afternoon, if you put your mind to it (i.e., four hours, continuously behind the wheel - - no highway driving).

ha! Yes, this seems to be the best solution... Time to swallow my pride.
any tips on which companies have booths at piazzale roma?

I think that Hertz, Avis and National all do - - but a telephone call to Autoeurope will tell you a lot more than my guessing.

Aspalm, did you ask your hotel about charter buses from Venice for the opera? There are a number of companies that sell tickets and organize such excurions and there used to be such trips from Venice for all the Verona operas. (Understatement: there are a lot of opera fans in Venice!)

Have never done this myself but seem to recall was about $40 for ticket and RT bus, maybe 4 or 5 years ago. Worth a shot with all these car rental complications (if I'm reading you correctly that only renting the car to get home from Verona). Good luck!

that would be an ideal situation, coco. I will certainly inquire. thanks for your help!