Venice
 

We are going to be in Venice for 3 days. Does one need a car in Venice or can we drop off our rental car once we arrive in Venice? Any ideas on how to do a day trip to Verona from Venice? Any suggestions for rental cars?

One cannot use a car in Venice, at all. It's a series of islands connected by water canals. You get around by foot or by boat.

If you have a rental car just drop if off at Piazzale Roma, which is right at the end of the causway from the the mainland.

There are trains from Venice to Verona once to twice an hour all day long. Journey takes 1hr 10min. You can see schedules on www.trenitalia.com.

For rental cars check out autoeurope.com, or their sister co kemwel.com.

You can not drive in Venice, so no you do not need a car.

lol, ranmalie, my italian teacher once worked for a agency renting out apartments in Venice and says that she never ceased to be amazed at the number of people who were upset when she told them that they couldn't drive up to the apartment door.

IMHO, you will not have enough time to do a day trip from Venice if you only have 3 days there. we had a whole week and were quite happy not to go anywhere else.

it would be sensible to check whether it would be cheaper to return your hire car when you get to Venice [the car hire places are at the Piazzale Roma which is where the buses get in and the vaporetti [water buses] start, or just park it in the huge car park and collect it again when you leave.

it would be sensible to see Verona on the way there or on the way back.

Thank you all for your feedback!

Hey guys, There are 4 of us traveling from Rome to Verona and then to Venice by train. Each one of us has a fairly large bag (40 lbs) and was wondering if there is a limit on baggage on the "day trains" and if they allow you to keep it with you in first class?

No limit to luggage - just what you can manage.

There are racks for luggage at the ends of each coach. The train from Verona to Venice makes 3 stops en-route. Vicenza, Padova, and Venice Mestre.

If you are concerned about someone making off with your 40# suitcase you can bring along a cable lock, try to find room near your seat, get up at every stop and watch your bags, or simply stack them in the rack and relax. It's not like roving bands of thieves hop on the trains at each stop looking to snatch heavy suitcases.

You may be able to find room near your seat for one fo the suitcases, but not likely for 4.

My recommendation is to place them on the luggage rack like everybody else and relax. In my experience 2nd class on ES (high speed) trains in Italy is quite comfortable. 1st class buys you more elbow room, but also cost more.

"Does one need a car in Venice or can we drop off our rental car once we arrive in Venice?"

Intentional or not, this is one the funniest things things I've read since Robert Benchley's famous telgram, "Streets flooded please advise."

I would be concerned that a 40 lb suitcase might not fit in the overhead rack. Also - you would have to b able to lift it over your head and ensure it's well-balanced - that is - will not fall off and brain you or someone else.

We have take larger suitcases in First Class trains - and put them under seats - but 4 of us had a cabin for 6 - the other seats were unsold. You can;t count on that.