bardo1

Alilaguna is the water bus that runs between the airport to Venice.

http://www.alilaguna.it/

The boats are located at the same docks by the airport that have the water taxis. Three are clear signs that show you the path to take from the airport terminal. It's about a 5 minute walk. Cost is 12€ per person one-way, you buy the ticket inside the airport.

ezflier

Siena is gorgeous and Fiesole is wonderful. On the road to fiesole, sit on the left side of the bus (facing forward!)

ezflier

3 nights in Venice is too much. Two nights is plenty. If you see some glass you like, buy it! You may never find that store again!

bardo1

Also, have a good map or two in hand with your hotel location clearly marked (a city map plus a Google map showing your hotel and the Alilaguna stop you plan to get off at). It is easy to get lost and having something marked with your hotel to show a local if you need help is a great idea.

Steve_James

Becky - Marostica is a 15 mins bus ride from Bassano. The bus is the Bassano-Vicenza service.

Alternatively Asolo too is a bus ride from Bassano - about 45 mins.

Hope this helps ...

Steve

annhig

hi, becky -

i got a bit confused half-way throguh this thread - aren't you getting the train to Venice - so why do you need to know about transport from the airport?

to go to the airport from Venice, the easiest way is usually to get the vaporetto to the piazzale Roma, and catch the Blue ATVO bus which runs every 20 minutes or so. It's E3 each, E5.50 return.

if you are staying near an alilaguna stop [www.alilaguna.com]that might be easier/nicer, but it's E12 each way.

For how to get to your Venice hotel from the train station [known as santa lucia or Venezia SL], the first thing is to ask them. it is not easy to walk with luggage around Venice, as the bridges are not very easy to negotiate, even with suitcases on wheels. There is a motor-taxi and vaporetto stop by the station - it might be easier to get one to the nearest stop to your hotel. the hotel should know!

My suggestion would be to try to extend at least your Florence stay by a night, and do the trip to Venice in the morning. that will give you an extra halfday in Florence, and give you a better arrival time in Venice.

with the amount of time you have there at the moment, I'd concentrate on Florence, with perhaps a bus trip up to Fiesole [timed so you can watch the sun set over florence from the terrace of the bar by the bus-stop] rather than the longer trip to siena which is at least an hour each way, with a 15 minute walk up into siena town centre.

hope this helps rather than hinders,

regards, ann

JeanneB

I would re-think the 8pm departure from Florence. The timing makes it too early for dinner in Florence and too late for Venice. Also keep in mind, it will be dark by 5pm. Venice is one city I wouldn't want to arrive in so late at night (dark deserted streets, few boats, closed shops, etc.). Getting lost in Venice is one of its charms...but I wouldn't want to do it late at night, dragging suitcases behind me.

There are trains leaving Florence around 4pm that would put you in Venice by 7. The little streets will be lively, boats will still be running and the shops/restaurants will all be open. You'll be checked in your hotel in time for a little stroll before dinner. A much nicer intro to Venice, in my mind.

I also agree with staying in Venice at the end. You can choose day trips from there (but I think you'll want to stay in Venice).

Steve_James

P.S. Marostica bus timetables from Bassano are on:

http://www.ftv.vi.it/a_24_IT_23_2.as...005A#tabellaR1

ira

>3 nights in Venice is too much.

Nonsense.

Over the years, we have spent at least 3 weeks in Venice and still have a "to do" list.

becky_w

Thanks so much for the outpouring of tips and advice. Much appreciated. And now, it's only 3 days away!! We ended up being able to exchange our train tix for the next day in Florence, so we have an extra night there (and now 3 in Venice instead of 4). Many of you mentioned this, but I will echo that gotoday.com is a fab organization.

Yes, we are taking train to Venice, but we need to get from city to airport to head back home. That's why I asked the best way to do that.

Will also print out google maps before we leave.

Thanks so much everyone. Can't wait to wine and dine and ooo and ahh for 10 days straight!