We are being offered Private Water Taxi service from the airport to our apartment in Venice for 90E each way.

It seems like this would be well worth the $$, rather than trying to find one's way when tired and jet-lagged.

Am I being foolish - is this an outrageous price - or does this seem reasonable?

Depending on the time of day you arrive, finding your way in Venice is not really difficult. (moreso at night than during the day) We arrived Marco Polo at mid-day and paid 20 euros for a private boat to the Lido. Had I known that we could have purchased vaporetto tickets, (which we did anyway for transportation during the week we were in Venice)boarded the free bus to Venice and taken a vaporetto to the Lido, we would not have even spent the 20 euros. So, 90 seems pretty extravagant.

It's a bit more than I'm willing to pay. I took the Alilaguna boat from the airport to St. Mark's. It also goes to other places such as Fondamente Nuove. If your apartment is near either of these places you could walk from the boat dock. Or, take a vaporetto for 3.50Euro. The Alilaguna is 10E I think. Check their web site for destinations and prices.

http://www.alilaguna.it/

I don't know anything about the free bus. I know there is a public bus from the airport into Venice but I'm sure you have to pay for it. You would then, again, take a vaporetto to the stop closest to your apartment. Hopefully you have a map of Venice.

One thought...you probably won't still be jet lagged on your way back to the airport for the return trip home. If you feel you can't manage the public transport you could take the water taxi when you arrive and check out other transport for the way home.

The going rate is about 80-85e so 90e is within range. It really depends on where the apartment is, how much luggage you have and what time of day you arrive. As I recall the apt you've chosen is not near an alilaguna stop so you'd have to either take a bus to p roma and then take a vaparetto down the Grand Canal or take the alilaguna to probably S Marco & then a vaparetto from there. I think the issue is do you just get a taxi on your own when you arrive or do you accept this arrangement ahead of time. What happens if you're delayed? Will they wait? Will this pre-arranged taxi walk you to the apt from the nearest canal? If yes, it might be worth it. I'm not sure I'd commit to a return though. Certainly you could arrange that yourselves.

Sounds high to me and someone's getting a cut.

A water taxi should come through Canal Cannaregio and then cut across the Grande Canal to Rio di San Zan Degola and drop you off at Campo Orio. This is a piece of cake and much less distance than San Marco or any destination in Dorsoduro. No more than 80 euro, plus tip. If you've got nice legs and can dump the husband, you can probably get it for less.

I think it will be more difficult to find an apartment than a hotel, and as so many people here have described the joys of getting lost in Venice, it obviously is not uncommon, so I think the water taxi would be prudent. You can get lost some more convenient time.

Is it reasonable? I don't think so. But we paid 80 Euros each way and, IMHO, the rides were worth every cent since we were dropped off at the closest canal to our destination.

With luggage and bridges with steps and not knowing your way around, it is very helpful having someone bring you as close to your door as possible.

We always prefer to spend the money on a water taxi on arrival. It is a glorious way to arrive and personally I'd prefer to cook one more meal in the apartment than deal with the Alilangua after a long flight when you're hauling bags and not sure how easy it is to get somewhere.

To each his own. I prefer to enter Venice by the Alilaguna (the Zattere stop is a stone's throw from my apartment and the longer I can stretch that day the better). But, if you don't know your way around, convenience beats exhaustion and frustration.

Frankly, the most cost-effective way (and timely, too) for wanderer to reach the Campo Dell' Orio apartment would be to take the Piazzale Roma bus from the Airport to Piazzale Roma and then take the #1 Vaporetto to Riva di Biasio stop (aprox. 10 euro). The apartment is just a three minute (easy) walk from there.

These sort of decisions really depend on finances, amount of luggage, weight of luggage, wheels on luggage, and how tired and how physically fit are the travelers. There's no question, water taxi is usually the easiest and most glamorous way to enter and exit Venice but it's also the most expensive.

We love the water taxi--what a great way to enter Venice. But 90E is slightly higher than the going rate for up to 6 people going to one destination--unless you have a lot of luggage. Who is offering you this? You can get a taxi after you arrive at the airport.

The 90E price for up to 4 is being offered by the apartment rental agency - venitian apartments - www.venice-rentals.com.

They deliver you to the canal nearest your apartment.

Since we are near Piazzale Roma, maybe NYCFoodSnob's suggestion makes the most sense and is certainly the most economical.

NYCFoodSnob - Do you know where I can locate schedules for the Vaparetto?

The agency is charging you a small handling fee and since they have to make the arrangements, they deserve one.

The actv website is: http://www.actv.it/eng/home.php#

Unfortunately, the site isn't designed well or user-friendly. Personally, I can't stand the "plan" map (downloads as a Word doc). I think it's very difficult to figure out who's going where or what anything is at any time of the day.

Frankly, the #1 Vaporetto runs all the time, every 10 minutes (except after 11 pm). Riva di Biasio is only two stops from Piazzale Roma and the #1 is the only boat that stops there. It's a very short ride. The boat men will have no problem keeping your luggage near an exit with such a short ride (although, you may have to tell them, depending on how busy). Once you do this trip and see how easy it is, you'll understand why most people don't spend $200 on water taxis.

ps There are numerous threads here with detailed info on the various bus choices from the airport to P. Roma. Be sure and read them for clarification. There are several choices.

Bottom line is you can decide when you arrive and see how tired you are and what the weather is like. If you can't manage the hassle, take a taxi (no need to book ahead), otherwise take the bus to P Roma and then the vaparetto. You'll find the schedule here

http://www.atvo.it/eng/airport.php?l....ihtm&id=0

You would do well to listen closely to those who consider the value of the private taxi, not just the price of it.

My first trip to Venice had me arriving on a water taxi, as I was tired and didn't know (or want to investigate) other options. I was absolutely astounded by the magnificent sight of Venice slowly unfolding from the water, the city growing larger and more distinct as the boat drew closer and closer.

The memory is etched indelibly, a memory that I recollect and cherish often.

I have no idea what that water taxi cost back then, and, because I was traveling on a budget, I don't know what nice meal or hotel room I missed by spending the money on the water taxi, but I doubt strongly that that missed meal or hotel room would have brought me such wonderful memories 30 years later.

rizzuto, what a lovely post. And how true. Sometimes you get what you pay for. If the amount isn't going to cut into your travel budget too deeply, go for it.

While I agree with Rizzuto's point, I entered Venice on the Alilaguna and had the same feeling. Others enter by train and describe the "awesomeness" of walking out of the station. Actually, I think that would be more amazing, seeing it all at once, up close, without having "gotten used the idea." Any way you enter, it's an astounding place.

We had every intention of taking the Alilaguna but after our drive from Tuscany and dropping the car off at the airport and then finding our way to the dock, we decided to save our energies to enjoy Venice and took the water taxi.

Arranging for a water taxis isn't necessarily something you have to do beforehand. You can do this when you arrive at the airport. At that point, you will know how heavy your luggage is and how tired you are.

Depending on the time of day, the #1 can be very crowded and with luggage, the ride may not be all that pleasant even for a short time.

Entering Venice by water is certainly my preferred way and I've done them all. For a first time visitor, it is worth the extravagance, for sure.

I'm glad rizzuto has a cherished entry memory but Venice has changed dramatically in 30 years and so has the experience of entering by boat. Lagoon restrictions of traffic patterns and speed are at an all-time high. Given the location of wanderer's apartment, the entry to Venice will not resemble anything remotely glamorous. The north side of Venice (the side facing the airport) is not Venice's best side. If you're looking for glamour, there's nothing like approaching San Marco by boat, which you can easily do on a Vaporetto or the Cipriani launch.

I guess I've been to Venice too many times, it's hard for me to wax poetic about entry visuals. Frankly, once you hit the mouth of the Grand Canal, all sense of reality as you know it disappears. I prefer to spend that extra $100 on a quay-side meal at Riviera.