The 6 in our family group are going to Venice & Florence in mid May. Our agent proposes we fly Delta from JFK into Marco Polo arriving about 10:30 AM. The express train, first class is scheduled to leave at 12:30 from Venice station non-stop to Florence. This is only 2 hours between flight arrival @ 10:30 and train departure @ 12:30. IS THIS ENOUGH TIME TO EXIT VENICE AIR PORT, TRAVEL BY BOAT OR CAB OR BUS TO VENICE TRAIN STATION???? Our alternative is to catch later train 2-3 hours later which may be too much of a layover and giving of less time in Florence that afternoon/evening. Any suggestions on reserving this train connection????

I think you will make the 12:30 flight, even though I have never specifically done this cab ride (no need to go by boat, I don't think - - the time required to do one versus another about the same, but I think a cab will be cheaper).<BR><BR>But I wouldn't reserve before you arrive there. A seat reservation is not transferable in any way to a later train - - the fare is fully transferable to any later train, but the seat reservation is not.<BR><BR>But the bottom line is that it just doesn't take much time to show up at the train station, buy both the tickets and reserve the seats and get on the train. If you can't make it in time (which will indeed be unfortunate, since you'll be tired and not feel like waiting around), I think you'll just have to find some place to sit down and have lunch.<BR><BR>And go on the next train.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

Whoops! In the first sentence above, I mean "I think you will make the 12:30 TRAIN", (of course!)<BR>

Marty<BR>Have you investigated flying on to Florence?<BR>Is it significantly more expensive than the train?<BR>This past fall I did a one-way from Rome to Venice for about $100. It might also be less wear and tear. Even a van and driver might not be out of the question.<BR><BR>I think you will make the train conncection too. With six of you, take a water taxi, to the train station, it is certainly cost effective.<BR><BR>Since you mention that you will be visiting both Venice and Florence, I assume you'll be returning to Venice to finish your trip and then fly home from there?<BR><BR>Have you considered staying in Venice when you flight arrives, and then going on to Florence a few days later.<BR>You might also be able to fly home from Rome on Delta with no additional air costs--I did once.<BR><BR>Just wanted to make sure all the options have been considered.

I agree with Rex. If your plane is not late, you shouldn't have a problem. Marco Polo is tiny, and you are practically on the tracks when you walk into the train station.

Certainly, since you have to take a boat into central Venice from the Airport to the Train Station SPEND SOME TIME in Venice while you are there. But maybe you plan to spend time when you return from Florence. Also coping with 6 people/luggage may also be detering you from visiting Venice the day you arrive. The train almost always leaves on time at 12:30. You will want to be there at least 10-15 minutes ahead (unlike like plane travel) in order to get situated and grab luggage space. <BR>There is another train at 2:30 and luggage service at the train station if you somehow miss your train. Planes arriving from Heathrow frequently arrive without their luggage but Delta will be direct from the U.S. and should not be a problem. Waiting for luggage can take a while but the immigration part is a piece of cake. The train will take you to central Florence while the Florence airport is far from the city center. With the exchange rate now your 1st Class Eurostar tickets will run you about $35 per adult with no other fees if you buy them in Venice ($16 for kids I think) but your agent will want to book them for you since RailEurope and all the gang will make some nice mark-ups on all those train tickets. (Do I sound bitter)<BR>Be sure to compare Water Taxi vs. Water Bus since the bus charges for 6 people and sometimes each piece of large luggage so a fast Taxi will probably be a better option.<BR>A better option is to spend some time in Venice since it will take 3 hours to get to Florence anyway and your afternoon will be pretty well shot. That way, depending on which season you are traveling, you can secure on your own Eurostar tickets the next available early morning train to Florence from central Venice. Sounds like since you are in such a hurry to get to Florence that this is not an option but I love starting Italy in Venice. Others like to end in Venice.

Hello Marty,<BR><BR>Time-wise there's a big difference. <BR>From the airport there's a direct bus to Mestre station, which takes only 17 minutes. This is your quickest and cheapest option.<BR><BR>Buses leave the airport at:<BR>10.51<BR>11.29<BR>11.51<BR><BR>If you can catch one of those you will make the 12.30 train.<BR><BR>Hope this helps ...<BR><BR>Steve

P.S. That train leaves Mestre at 12.44.

I considered mentioning to just take the cab to Mestre instead of onward to Venice (Santa Lucia) - - after all, the cab has to drive through Mestre to get to Venice itself.<BR><BR>But the train pulls in - - and then pulls out in Mestre - - in just a few minutes. Whereas at Santa Lucia, the train is just sitting there - - for 30 minutes or so. Much less stressful to load up a family from Santa Lucia than the same loading up at Mestre. If you have time for one, you probably have time for the other.<BR><BR>The bus tip does sound good - - I wonder if it continues onward to Santa Lucia?<BR>

Rex - There is no road access to Santa Lucia (- the drop-off point in Venice proper is Piazzale Roma). <BR>The best solution is Mestre.<BR><BR>Steve

What Steve James correctly points out is that you do NOT need to go into Venice proper to take the fast train to Florence. With six people and luggage, you will need TWO taxis OR a minivan taxi! When the train pulls in at Mestre (stopping a mere two minutes), it will already be half full from the armies of people who board at Venice. So a seat reservation is highly desirable, and should be considered a requirement if traveling in second class. Many people will be boarding at Mestre as well. Also, the train is NOT "non-stop" to Florence. It stops at Mestre, Padova, Rovigo, Ferrara and Bologna. But the Eurostar is the best and fastest train available. If you buy the ticket in advance with the seat reservation, and miss the 12:33 departure, you will need to go to the ticket window and exchange it for a ticket on the 14:33 departure. I don't know whether there will be a small exchange fee imposed. Otherwise, you will have no seats reserved on the later train (not a good idea).

Thanks for the clarification/correction, Steve. I don't think of that as much of a walk - - but technically you are right.<BR>

I've not flown into Venice, so don't have personal experience on logistics of getting from Marco Polo to the Santa Lucia train station. However I am a train traveller. And would suggest that you go into the website (http://www.trenitalia.com/) and print out your options; should you not arrive in time for the 12:30 pm Eurostar, then you can take the next one leaving 2 hours later. OR, if you don't want to hang out in Venice for that much time, there's an InterCity train, leaving at 1:29 pm. It takes 15 minutes longer (3 hrs, 6 min vs. 2 hrs, 49 min) and is not as nice as the ES trains. But if you really want to continue on your journey to Florence, it'll work.

Marty,<BR><BR>Get a new travel agent!<BR><BR>Delta codeshares with Alitalia and can fly you from JFK to Florence via Rome or Milan(just check www.delta.com site). The transatlantic flights are still operated by Delta, which I guess is less bad than Alitalia...<BR><BR>I assume that you were intending to go back from Florence to Venice, spend some time there and fly back on Delta to JFK. IMO, the price for an open-jaw ticket JFK-Florence and Venice-JFK should be about the same as a roundtrip JFK-Venice. I guess I should mention that the 1 hr Rome/Milan to Florence flights are on turboprop aircraft however.<BR><BR>Also, contrary to another posting further up, Florence's Amerigo Vespucci airport is a 15min cab ride or 20min bus ride from the city center!<BR><BR>If the extra feeder flight to Florence is making the trip more expensive, get off the plane in Rome. There's a train station right in the airport - you can buy or pick up your tickets right there. Airport trains connect with express intercity service at either Termini or Tiburtina stations. Check www.trenitalia.com for schedules (enter Roma Aeroporto as departure station).<BR><BR>Have a great trip!<BR>Andre<BR><BR>

Hi Marty! I took that same Delta flight non-stop from JFK to Venice last year (March '01). We went to the Santa Lucia train station afterwards using public transportation and were at Santa Lucia before noon. You will definitely be able to make the 12:30 PM train, unless there's a delay in the flight.<BR><BR>I wouldn't risk flying Alitalia or switching to an Alitalia connection when the train connection is so fast, easy and inexpensive. And if you miss the 12:33, you can always get on the 1: 29 PM IC train. Good luck!

I still think you're better off flying into Rome (the flight is operated by DELTA)! <BR><BR>Taking a feeder flight to Florence is much easier than changing to a train when you are a large party as you can check your luggage through to Florence. Alitalia is absolutely OK for short haul.<BR><BR>If for whatever reason you decide to take the train, it's much more convenient and faster to catch it at Rome airport than to land in Venice, make your way to Mestre or Santa Lucia and then take the train.<BR>Connections are more frequent from Rome as well (Eurostar service at least once an hour).<BR><BR>What's the downside?<BR><BR>Andre

I agree with Andre. In mid-May there is very little to no risk of fog delaying aircraft departures and arrivals.

topping for Marie (Marty's wife)