Using Water Taxis in Venice
 

Hello, <BR>Just wondering if anyone can give us an idea of how easy it is to use the local water taxies to get to one's hotel from the airport.<BR><BR>

Hi Ali !<BR><BR>It's very simple, both the water taxis & the search function.<BR><BR>Do a search here using the word "water taxi" & you will get tons of info.<BR><BR>Buon viaggio!

Hi<BR>After you collect your luggage at the airport, you exit the arrivals hall into a smaller area. This area has a tourist information desk, a desk that sells tickets for the Alilaguna boat/bus, and a taxi dispatcher at the far end. The Venice airport has recently expanded so the locations may have changed a bit, but it is still a small airport so you shouldn't have any trouble finding the taxi desk. Be sure you agree on the price before you accept the taxi.<BR><BR>Many hotels have their own water entrances, some do not. Find out in advance if your hotel has one, in which case the taxi should take you right there. If your hotel isn't right on a canal, ask them for the closest place a taxi can let you out. Tell the dispatcher that's where you want to go.

Ali,<BR>I took the water taxi for the first time from the Venice airport 2 weeks ago. It worked out fine. It was a stormy nite, and we arrived around 10 pm. I didn't see a taxi desk, but we walked outside and in 2 minutes we got one. The cost was about 65 Euro (probably can do better if you haggle, but we were wet and tired, so it didn't matter that much). The ride was exhilarating! The rain stopped and we stood outside and saw the glorious night lights of Venice arriving via boat - a sight that I will never forget. Enjoy!

You can go by Alilaguna for much less, but they land you at San Marco. Depends on how far that is from your hotel, and whether you are happy about taking the vaporetto with luggage.

Here's a good idea if you're not traveling with anyone. When you exit the airport, there will be lots of water taxis with drivers vying for your business (asking your hotel, etc.) Before we get out there, since lots of people will be exiting your plane at the same time, we just call out, "Anyone want to share a water taxi?" We've always had one or two couples anxious to share and , like our taxis here, you can share and split the fare. Do get information from your hotel as to which stop to go to. If it's a well-known hotel, the taxi driver will know. Have fun -- we'll be there too in about two and a half weeks. Buon Viaggio!