UsInUk

I'm concerned about this proposed strike for May 19th '06. I fly into Treviso late evening (RyanAir) and plan on using their ATVO bus to arrive in Venice (surely past mid-night). If the strike were to start mid-night, then it is likely that I can't avail of the vaporetto service to transport me to my hotel around the San Marco area. What are my options?
Please advise generously. We are three of us (husband, my 21/2 year old daughter and myself).

LoveItaly

Hi UsInUK, I haven't heard about the strike. What are the details? Do you know if the private water taxis will be on strike also?

If you can post the details maybe we can help you figure out what to do. One first thought is to contact your hotel in Venice to see what they can advice.

UsInUk

Couples of websites that I have checked so far indicate a possible strike. Here are the postings
1) http://www.actv.it/english/home.php (11/05/2006 STRIKE OF BUSES AND WATERBUSES - 24 houres Friday 19, May)
2) www.atvo.it (sciopero nazionale del 19/05/2006)
3)www.summerinitaly.com/planning/strike.asp (Local public transportation personnel will be on strike for 24 hours)

Checked with the hotel. No one there seems to know anything about the strike. Hotel assistant seemed to indicate that the water taxi could be expensive (more than 70 euros) from Santa Lucia to San Marco. He suggested walking the distance. But that is not an option with a young child and that late in the evening. I think the Ryan shuttle arrives in Venice closer to mid-night. Thanks in advance

LoveItaly

Hello UsinUK, I can certainly appreciate you would not want to walk from the Piazzale Roma where your bus from the airport in Treviso would drop you off (I am almost certain) or the Santa Lucia train station at that time of night with a little one.

It is not uncommon for transportation workers to threaten to strike but than the strike is cancelled nearer to the strike date. But of course you can't depend on that.

And in that you are arriving in just a few days I can only think of two different things I would do. I would either reserve a hotel room in Treviso for the first night (or you might have to stay there two nights if the strike starts at midnight and will truly run for 24 hours) or I would utilize the private water taxi (assuming that they will not be on strike too) and just mark up the cost of the taxi as part of one of those unexpected vacation cost. Personally that is what I would do under the circumstances. I seriously do not know what other options you have but maybe someone else will think of something.

Hopefully the strike will be cancelled. I sure send you my best wishes and I am sorry you have this to worry and stress about right before your trip to Venice.

UsInUk

Thanks many for your kind advise. Here are my thoughts about alternate arrangements-
1) Stay the arrival night in Treviso
2) Spend Day 1 sight-seeing (on foot, no Grand Canal trip today
3) Confused about where I should spend this night (San Marco hotel or head back to Treviso or find a hotel near the train station)
4) Spend Day 2 visiting 1-2 islands (Murano &(or) Burano), do the Grand Canal ride (Islands/GCanal ride possible if the strike has been called off). I'm considering renting a room near the train station so as to take the vaporetto ride to the islands first, revisit San Marco and do the Grand Canal ride late in the afternoon on Day 2. I've to head on out to Marco Polo airport there after to pick up a car to drive to Parma. So to summarise...here is the plan for
Day 2-> SanMarcoHotel/TrevisoHotel/SantaLuciaHotel->Island tour->San Marco->Grand Canal ride->Train->MarcoPolo airport

Lady at the ACTV office was unable to provide any more information than posted on their web-site. Her best advise was for me to check the web-site for any updates (or even call). Updates could come as early as Monday or as late as mid-week, which would be too late for me. It is a bit complicated in the sense that I will have to cancel my current accommodation in San Marco (soon) and make fresh bookings. Of course that done once...I'm sure I won't be able to switch it back. Hotel bookings are hard to get at this point and very pricey too
Pleeeeease write back. I'm trying to be as creative as I can with my itinerary. Ah! What if they call off the strike!!!

LoveItaly

Hi UsInUk,I don't know if this post of mine will take or not as it is strange, when I click on Talk and than the Europe Board I cannot access the Europe Board. But when I click on my name I can access any post that I have previously posted on. It it really is strange..

But anyway, and hopefully this post to you will post. I am assuming that the bus from the Treviso airport will be operating..that they are not involved with the strike. I am also assuming that the private water taxis will be working, that they are not involved in the strike.

Please tell me if I am wrong in either of these assumptions.

If I am correct I would take the bus from the Treviso airport to where they deliver you..am I correct that this will be the Piazzale Roma? I would have your hotel make arrangements for a private water taxi to take you from the Piazzale Roma,or from whereever the bus from Treviso delivers you, to your hotel. I know that you will be spending more money then you originally planned to but under the circumstances I think this is the only way that you can be relaxed about your trip to Venice and the only way you can be assured of arriving at your hotel in Venice as you originally planned.

I don't know what else to suggest at this point. I am going to click on "post my reply" and hopefully that will post my reply. Fodor's seems to be having a problem tonight. I will try to check back here on your thread tomorrow morning my time. I truly hope that somehow this all works out for you.

UsInUk

Thanks a lot for your concern and suggestion.
Arrival@Treviso=10ish (PM)
ATVO bus (catered by RyanAir)=70 mins to Piazzale Roma
Possible arrive time=Before mid-night of May 18th (Strike starts May 19th)

I'm also operating with the assumption that those shuttles will continue to run!

I'll call my hotel right away and check how they can help me with a water taxi (and how much it will cost me). I recall the assistant telling me roughly 70 euros. Don't know if this includes charges for a late ride, luggage, any tips. I suppose these little things might add up.

Of course, if the ATVO and the water taxi personnel become sympathetic (read in some postings that this is possible),then I'll find ourselves stranded in Piazzale Roma or be left to hike to San Marco area at that hour. This is our first vist, so unclear of the walking distances and routes. Walking was a suggestion given by the hotel front desk, but he also said the place could be difficult to find

Firstly, let me call them again...

Will post back soon. TAL

UsInUk

Called the San Marco hotel. Front desk indicated that water taxi charges could be 50-70-75 euros. He didn't know if there will be additional charges. He was unware of any strike and suggested to use the inexpensive vaporetto (Oh! How I wish I say to myself, only 5 euros).

WillTravel

UsInUK, remember you can purchase 24-hour or 72-hour ACTV passes that will cover all of your vaporetto trips. I think with your young daughter, there will be times during your Venice stay you want to take the vaporetto. I think for the 72-hour pass, you only need take the vaporetto five times over the course of your stay for it to pay off.

(That said, I'm not sure how easy it is to buy these passes late at night in Venice.)

lynclarke

We were in Venice the last week of April with a transportation strike. Fortunately, it was not one of our travel days so we were not affected except the loss of one day on our 3 day vaporetto pass. I felt REALLY badly for all the elderly and handicapped in the city. We saw old locals toting large bags and stopping to rest every few feet and people in wheelchairs being carried up and down bridge stairs. I would say the strike affects the weakest members in society the most. I know there were no vaporettos but I can't remember if the private taxis were running. I am due to pick up photos today. I know I took a picture of the grand canal because it was so odd to see no vaporettos. I will try to look and see if the boats on the canals that day were private or taxis. lynclarke

beanweb24

When I was in Venice during a transportation strike, ACTV was not running but Alilaguna was.

UsInUk

Strike is still on for May 19th Friday 2006. Ho-hum! There will be no Water and Land buses from May 19 until midnight May 20. This will include Vaporetto and other land buses. ATVO buses will operate for a small window in the morning and evening of May 19 Fri.

With a toddler and a stroller, this trip is scheduled to be a tough one for us. We'll try to do the best we can and enjoy what the place has to offer even if it means going up and down a million steps.

I hope when they say 24hrs, they mean 24hrs. I'm hoping to use the Vaporetto at least during the day on May 20, past midnight. Is it worth staying up late and doing the Grand Canal ride (up and down) past midnight when the strike gets called off. Will the lights still be on all the palazzi? Is it as grand past midnight as it is said to be past sunset?
(Won't be staying the night of Sat, so Fri night is my only chance)

Thanks

Sue_xx_yy

Why not try contacting Ryanair? They'll have an entire planeload of people in the same situation - which they have no doubt faced before.

By the way, when the strike info says 24 hours, yes, they do mean 24 hours. We were hit with a 24 hour train strike last time in Italy and this was the case.

You will need to check the actv.it website to see what vaporetto service is offered after-hours (i.e., the night-time service.) I'm sorry, I don't know if the lights will still be turned on (my guess is most of them will be turned off, given the cost of electricity in Italy.)

rosexmke

Can someone clarify what the 24 hours really means? Is that beginning 12:01 am on may 19 and ending midnight may 19? Or does that go into the day of the 20th? Thanks.

lynclarke

USinUK- I looked at the pictures last night and the little boats were private taxis. I have no idea what a taxi costs but if one has to get somewhere, there is a choice. lynclarke

bellman

I was in Venice last year when there was a strike. I had to get to the train station early that morning so myself and about 8 other travelers took a water taxi. It was early in the morning (about 5 am) so I'm sure there are water taxis available throughout the day.

I'm thinking we paid about 20-30 euros per person so the taxi guy made quite a payday, but we were just grateful for a ride.

UsInUk

Thanks for all kind words and suggestions.
My assumption is that the strike will begin early morning of May 19th (12:01)and continue until early morning May 20th (hopefully not into the day). Keeping my fingers crossed for no further extension of the strike. I would like to experience the Grand Canal on the water bus at least once (Sat)

One agency I checked with for a private ride from the train station to San Zaccaria quoted 70 Euros + 55 Euros (something called Hostess Assistance that I MUST pay). Not an option I'm keen on pursuing anymore. Have booked my hotel closer to the train station.

Further suggestions are greatly welcome. Thanks

Carolina

Two possible suggestions:
1. Stay in Treviso for the first 2 nights of your trip. Explore Treviso itself if the strike is still on.
2. Stay in Mestre on the mainland so you can take a normal taxi from the airport.
Also, I think it is a very good idea to contact ryanair and see what they say.
Good luck,
Carolena

Carolina

Just another thought, is it possible to change your ryanair flight so that you arrive earlier in the day before the strike begins? Even if you have to pay extra, it would probably be cheaper than all the extra costs of being there while a strike is on.
Carolena