I need some information on rates for taxis while in Venice...not getting to or from the airport. I will be taking the Alilaguna to the Madonna del Orto stop and planned to walk to the hotel on Fondamenta Sensa, but if it raining hard a taxi from that stop might be best. I know rates are expensive but I don't know how expensive for short trips in the rain. Might want to use one at other times too. Thanks in advance for any information on this as all I have been able to find are rates to and from the airport.

You mean a water taxi, right? I've only riden water taxis between the airport and our hotel, but I think it would be difficult to just catch a water taxi if it's raining, because as far as I know, you can't just hail a water taxi. Especially for what would likely be a very short ride. What hotel are you staying at on the Fondamenta Sensa? If Madonna de l'Orto is the closest stop, then you can't have real far to walk.

The other issue for using water taxis for point to point transportation, as you might in the rain in a "regular" city, is that while there are a lot of canals, you can't get just everywhere; depending on where you were going, you'd likely have some walking anyway.

I think your best plan for Venice in the rain is a raincoat with a hood and an umbrella.

And the regular public vaporetto boats run very frequent routes along all main canals - no place in Venice is too far from a public boat dock - but buy a boat pass - last time i was in Venice it cost about 8 euros or so for one boat ride but only a euro or two more for an unlimited 24-hour boat pass. Boats have covered places for passengers as do boat docks.

Hope for nice weather, get GOOD directions from hotel (map?) and have whatever rain gear works best for you. The good directions are key - places can be hard to find in Venice and you don't want to wander in the rain.

hi dody,

if you check www..viamichelin.com, you will see that your hotel is on a canal, about 0.3km from the Alilaguna stop.

I suggest you ask the hotel if you would be able to find a taxi to take you that short distance, and the cost.

One may assume that like many taxis there is a flat start up fee so even a short ride may be expensive IME

You're really going to take a water taxi to go 300 yards?

The second PDF on this page shows you the fares:
http://www.comune.venezia.it/flex/cm...IDPagina/19521

The drop is 14.80 Euro (more than $20).

I have taken a water taxi twice. Once from San Zacaria to Palazzo Pisani Moretta and once from San Marco to same Palazzo. Both times I was charged 50 Euro.

Forgot to mention that also I took a water taxi from Piazzale Roma to Fondamenta San Severo (close to Campo Santa Maria Formosa) and was also charged 50 Euro. All these trips made a couple of years ago.

I really had no idea that the hotel was so close to the boat stop and that is really wonderful news. Even if it's pouring when I arrive, I'll carry along a garbage bag to put my suitcase in (I travel very light) tighten the hood on my raincoat and venture forthl. Thanks to everyone for all the good comments.