I suppose I’m nitpicking but, perhaps, some clarity on part of the OP would’ve have prevented the various assumptions.

Arriving in Venice. Three modes of arrival, being

Air, to Marco Polo, and then bus or water transport to Venice.

Train, to Venezia Santa Lucia / Venezia SL. This is the station in Venice, on the Grand Canal.

Land, bus or car, arriving at Piazle Roma, the furthest point that land vehicles can get to in Venice.



A bit of preparation. Print out at least a portion of the map showing the location of your hotel. Make sure you have the full address, like Calle Lunga San Barnaba 3212 Dorsoduro, or Campo San Pantalon 3456 Santa Croce, not just San Marco 2123. Buy a paper map of Venice at the first available opportunity; news stands and tabacs sell maps, about 3 euro.



Download the app Che Bateo (which boat). The app links to the vaporetto timetables, so plug in departure and arrival and the app gives you times and durations.



Marco Polo to Venice.

1. Alilaguna ferry. Not recommended, queue can be long, the boat is slow, not much of a view from the salt encrusted windows. Limited number of stops in Venice.

2. Water taxi. About 110 euro, can take you just about anywhere in Venice. If your hotel has a water gate, you can be dropped there, otherwise as close as they can get beside a canal.

3. Shared water taxi, 25 euro per passenger, you have to book for two. Will drop you at any hotel on the Grand Canal or any water bus (vaporetto stop) on the Grand Canal.

4. ACTV bus. Costs 8 euro, runs from Marco Polo to P. Roma. This is a commuter bus, makes a few stops, takes 25 minutes, your luggage is on board. Runs every 20 minutes. There are not infrequent reports of pick pockets on this bus.

5. ATVO bus, 8 euro, takes 25 minutes, is like a tour coach, nice seats, luggage is underneath, also goes to P. Roma. I have used this the last five visits, so recommend. Vending machine for tickets just outside arrivals.



Arriving by train.

The station is right on the Grand Canal, platforms at ground level, a ramp for wheeled bags both left and righto as you exit. To your left as you exit is the Keep Calm baggage store if you want to leave heavy luggage. “Downtown” is to your left, P. Roma to your right across the Calatrave bridge. The vaporetto ticket office is right in front. A single ride costs 7.50 euro, there are passes for 24, 48 and 72 hours and these are good value. No point buying these online, just get the pass at the ticket point. The validity starts when you first use it, not when you buy it. You must swipe the pass over the reader EVERY time you use it.

From the station to your hotel, either walk or vaporetto. Even with luggage, vaps are not hard to board, as the deck is level or maybe a foot below the pontoon. Wearing a back pack on board is frowned on. As you pass down the Grand Canal, the stops will (mostly) be announced. “Prossima fermata Ca’ Rezzonico. Nexta stoppa Ca’Rezzonico.” There are vap maps and timetables at every stop. If you walk from the station to your hotel, the bridges on the station side (Cannaregio, San Marco and Castello) are not too hard along the main drag, the Strada Nova / Lista Terre di Spagna. If your hotel is near P. Roma, cross the Calatrava bridge. The Calatrava is most elegant, otherwise a crap design as many people have tripped and fallen on the bridge. I have not so fond memories of carting half a dozen Billy bookcases across the bridge, helping a friend.



Arriving by car. You can drive as far as P. Roma, where there is expensive parking, also car hire places. From there, you are on foot or vap.



We almost always stay in Dorsoduro. Less crowded than San Marco, and more lively than the northern parts of Cannaregio. Also more accessible by vaps on both the Grand and Giudecca canals, hence fewer bridges.

KJA wrote at Post #32,

• Knowledge of a city isn't the same thing as knowing about the issues faced by travelers with disabilities, whether permanent or temporary, nor is it knowledge about the other physical or psychological health problems that could make transportation in Venice problematic (issues that could involve the cardiovascular system, for example). That many elder people live in a city is irrelevant, and mentioning it is potentially insulting to all sorts of people. In case any of you hadn't heard, age is not a disability, nor does it necessarily imply limited mobility.

it is probably fair to point out that as of now, I have spent some 390 nights in Venice over eleven visits, from 2006 to 2019. I think I have a pretty fair idea as to how easy it is to get around for able bodied people, and how it can be pretty difficult for the elderly and/or frail. That’s why the first couple of rows of seats on the flat deck vaps are reserved for the elderly/pregnant/disabled/nursing passengers.

This is not to say that being elderly is a disability, it does mean that extra care will be evident. An extra hand helping an older woman with her shopping trolley onto the Mercato traghetto, a normally impatient marinaro on a vap being just a bit less hurried.

Rome2rio is one site that might give you the info.

That app does ACTV, but not Alilaguna. Different services, different operators.