mama_mia

I looked at Booking.com (a reliable site, in my opinion) and there are some nicely reviewed hotels/B&Bs still available for what I assume are your dates (Aug 31-Sept 2 in Venice?)in a 100-150 Euro/night price range. I saw some listings for Cannaregio, Dorsoduro and Santa Croce--nice areas for lodging.

You could begin your search on Booking.com and come back for opinions here.

gidlaurie

Hi Me Again,
Here's the update:
I changed our booking - found a B and B in Cannaregio (recommended by family member) for 3 nights, so we're staying in Venice!
This will be the last 3 days of our trip. That means either we keep the car in one of the less expensive lots outside of Venice and then use it to return to Milano, or we turn in the car upon arrival to Venice area and train back to the airport.
Here are today's questions.
1. Train from Venice to Milan Malpensa - is it complicated, on the Milan end?
2. Where are the less expensive places to park a car near Venice.
After I figure out these details (with your help) I'll start to work on the Milan-Verona-arrival to Venice part of the trip!
THANKS!

MonicaRichards

I think it's pretty crazy to park a rental car in a parking lot outside of Venice for three days. Definitely drop the car in Venice (I'm still not convinced you need it at all really) and take the train to the airport.

Mimar

Yes, you'll pay to rent the car those days (including insurance -- required in Italy) as well as pay for parking. Doesn't make sense.

You should be in Milan the night before your departure. If your flight leaves early, stay at an airport hotel. Otherwise spend the night in Milan and go to the airport the day of your flight. Train directions depend on which option.

RonZ

Given the short length of this trip, I would use trains only. Also, arriving at MXP I'd take the train to Milano Centrale and get one there for Venice if that's the furthest destination.

If you plan on staying in town the night before flying home, pull up a google map of MC and locate a hotel within close walking distance.

kawh

it's super easy to take the train to milan, and then to the airport. from milan central station, you hop on the malpensa express and are at the airport in under an hour. super easy.

or, you can spend the night in milan and hop on the express the next day. (in that case, you have to take the metro or taxi to malpenso express... both easy... just get a place near a metro stop that goes directly to central station or cadorna metro station.)

here is the malpensa express website...
http://www.malpensaexpress.it/en/

sandralist

Where are you going when you arrive in Milan that you will need a car? If you are going to Verona, you don't need a car and it can be quite a hassle to have one there.

There are two very simple ways to go to Verona upon arrival in Milan

Take a train from the airport to Milano Centrale train station and switch to a train to Verona

or

Take the bus to Milano Centrale train station and get on a train to Verona

gidlaurie

Hi, just thought I'd post an update on our plans so far. We have decided to take the car from Milan - Verona - leave it before entering Venice.
Day 1: Arrive Milan around 10am, get rental car, drive toward Verona, with optional stops at Bergamo and/or Sirmione and/or Peschiera. Arrive in Verona before dinner, park car at hotel (parking included), take shuttle into old city Verona for dinner.
Day 2: Shuttle into old city Verona, spend day walking and touring in Verona.
Day 3: Leave Verona. Depending on mood may opt to go straight to Venice, may choose some sight seeing on the way. Options for sight seeing include Vicenza, Padua, or maybe if we have time, Bassano and/or Asolo. Arrive in Venice, return rental car. Water bus to hotel. Happy to be staying in Venice! B&B in Cannaregio neighborhood.Evening vaporetto ride on the Grand Canal.
Day 4-5: Venice! Many ideas for walks and touring. Maybe Murano if we feel like it.
Day 6: Morning in Venice. Train around 3pm to Milan, Malpensa Express around 6:30pm to airport, flight out at 10:30pm.

Interested to hear any feedback on our "transition days", and the places we think we might see on the way to Verona and then to Venice.
Also, on the idea to take the train same day from Venice to Milan for the late flight.

Thanks!

Jean

I wouldn't be comfortable taking the train from Venice to Malpensa so late in the day. I'd depart Venice in the morning, store the luggage at Milano Centrale for a few hours while exploring the city, and then head to Malpensa in the early evening.

Mimar

Ditto what Jean said. Things happen in Italy: strikes, train breakdowns, traffic jams. And once they happen, it may take a while for things return to normal. It's safest to be in your departure city the night before. With a 10:30 departure, maybe I'd chance a (fairly early) morning departure from Venice.

What happens if you miss your flight?

annhig

personally i would turn this trip round - get the train straight to Venice at the beginning, spend my time in Venice, [at least 3 nights] and then pick up the car and drive back towards Milan, with a night [or two in Verona].

you would then have the whole day to drive back to Milan and no worries about train delays etc.

Jean

The OP leaves on Friday, so I'm guessing the car and hotels have been booked. But I agree with you, annhig. This trip would probably be easier in the reverse order.

annhig

I'd forgotten that, jean.

I really hope that they have a lovely time and then come back here and tell us about it.