We are a family of 5 and it would be easier for us to go by minivan than a train. I would like to know how long will it take from florence to Venice. Once I am in Venice where do I park the car and how do I get to Metropole Hotel. I have heard from many friends that the view coming out of the train station is so overwhelming so will I miss the view? From where will I be coming into Venice?

Hi Rod,<BR> The drive should take 3.5 to 4.5 hours depending on your choice of road, driving conditions and the speed you choose to drive.<BR> <BR> When you get to Mestre/Venice you will find directions across a causeway that takes you to the &quot;Venice.&quot; When you come off the Venice side of the bridge you will be funneled to the parking square--Piazzale Roma and beyond to the Troncheeto parking island (cheaper, less crowded, easier to get in and out).<BR><BR> There is a visitors booth and a vaproetto stop right there at the parking where you can catch a boat that lets you off a couple of &quot;blocks&quot; from the Metropole. You will not need to miss any of the view as the next or the next/next stop on your boat will be the train station and then you will go on from there.

I would not park the car in venice I would drive it to the rental agency and turn it in as it would make no sense to keep a car there.Piazza roma would be the place as it is closer and easier to get from there to your vaperetto stop RR

It all depends on what use you have for the minivan AFTER Venice.<BR><BR>As far as that initial impact view, you COULD park (for a few hours or a day or whatever) at Mestre, and ride the train in. You could leave the vehicle there, or go back and move it over to Tronchetto later (Tronchetto might be more secure if you are not confident about the facility you have to use in Mestre). Either way it will probably NOT be enclosed (due to the height of the van, and the open lot at Tronchetto is relatively more secure.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

Tronchetto. I was wondering aout the name of the parking garage we used. <BR><BR>Yes, go there!!! It's safe and inexpensive. BUT, when you approach the garage, don't let wny guy, dressed LIKE an &quot;official&quot; stop you to &quot;guide&quot; you... Just get into the garage, anddrive as FAR as you can from the entrance, 'cause the further you drive, the CLOSER you take yourself to the &quot;water bus&quot; that you need to take into Venice.<BR><BR>ALSO, when driving: Be careful, NEVER drive on the left lane UNLESS you are passing another car. Those Italians are CRAZY drivers, very fast, and they HATE someone who drives too slow for them - on the left lane! Italians are the sweetest people, but on their Autostrada, they are vicious animals...

ALSO: Don't leave anything valuable in the car. Someone actually taught me to leave a LOCAL newpaper on the dash board, so you're not a tourist anymore...<BR><BR>ALSO: Check about insurance. Italian car rental companies do NOT accept the CDW waver Visa / MC offers. You have to pay for it yourself.

&lt;&lt;NEVER drive on the left lane UNLESS you are passing another car. Those Italians are CRAZY drivers, very fast, and they HATE someone who drives too slow for them - on the left lane!&gt;&gt;<BR><BR>No matter what country you are in, isn't that what the left lane is for?<BR><BR>Crazy would be the word that applies to someone who gets into the left lane and just dawdles there.<BR><BR>Italian drivers are great. American drivers should learn to drive so well!<BR>

Tom:<BR><BR>I am with you 100%.<BR><BR>BUT, if you have ever DRIVEN in Italy, you MUST agree they are taking this &quot;law&quot; differently than us, here in the US.<BR><BR>Here, especially after returning from Italy, I find myself talking to myself too many times on our roads, saying &quot;if only they learned something from the Italians&quot;...

So, why did you say &quot;Those Italians are CRAZY drivers&quot;? and &quot;vicious animals&quot;?<BR><BR>Maybe I wouldn't have posted if you had said something like &quot;don't get in the left lane and dawdle like an American IDIOT&quot;.<BR><BR>&lt;&lt;taking this &quot;law&quot; differently than us&gt;&gt;<BR><BR>An amazing number of American idiots seem to be unaware of, or don't give a damn about this simple and universal rule of driving.<BR>

In america it is not possible to travel in the right lane at 100mph(160kph).In Italy anything slower in the left lane and you will be rear ended.traffic flows at 120mph + in left lane mostly mercedes and bmw's.<BR>In can be ok but not what most people are comfortable with.In three trips I do not recall seeing people on the side of the road that had been pulled over by the police.RR

No, they just stand on the side of the road, take a picture, and mail you a $300 ticket.

I don't know how many of you have seen the calibre of accident that such speeds produce. Almost always a death or 2 and often dozen or more cars in the pile-up. In June the north-south autostrada by Florence was backed up for miles in both directions (cars had actually gone airborne) for an entire afternoon, I never heard a final body count but something like 40 cars, mostly burned beyond recognition. We were in line at the entrance ramp when we realized what was going on and did a u-turn and got out of there. Went up on the overpass and were horrified at the devastation.<BR> I love Italy and visit several times a year, I drive more often than not but do try to stay off the autostrada as much as possible. When needed for a long haul, I'm perfectly happy to poke along in the right lane at 80-90 mph. As someone said above...for an otherwise benign people, the Italians ARE maniacs when they hit the highway! I for one would never miake light of their really bad driving: too much speed and no concept of lane control.

1. Take a water taxi to the Metropole. It has it's own dock. Make sure to go up the grand canal (a few dollars more). For 5 people, cost will be about $50-70, not cheap, but well worth it. Very convenient and you feel like a movie star - everyone stares at you like you're a billionaire. <BR><BR>2. Driving in Europe is a lot saner than US. Drivers almost never pass on the right, and the left is used as a passing lane, so unless you're going 200KM, expect people to push you over. If you are going to drive that fast, rent a bigger car. It's much safer.<BR><BR>CoachBoy

Have driven perhaps 1200 miles,(2000 kilometers) in Italy mostly on autostrada.<BR>Never recieved a ticket even though never drove at suggested speed.Agree it can be safe if 100% aware, dry road and yielding to the maniacs that go 200kph and don't even think of slowing down as they approach with their flashing lights at ramming speed

very good thread<BR>