Carlita729

OK, this is definitely the best place to get travel advice! 8 of us will be arriving in Venice Saturday--March 25th. What's the best/most economical way from the airport to our hotel for 8 people? Thanks!

Neopolitan

First I think you have to make up your mind. Do you want the best way or the most economical way? That slash between the two confuses me.

MissPrism

Have a look at http://tinyurl.com/r7jzt
It lets you know the different options

Carlita729

ok the best way...please!

nytraveler

The best way is to take a water taxi to your hotel - hopefully it has it's own dock. If not - they they should tell you where the closest dock is and have a bellman waiting there with a cart for your luggage - so you don;t have to drag it through the streets.

And for 8 people - I dont know that this would cost much more than the "less expensive" options.

ellenem

"Best" often depends on where you are staying in Venice. If you are staying a short walk from one of the Aliguna stops, this might be the best at about 10 euros per person, although with 8 people a private water taxi might cost the same.

Or the cheapest might be the best to you. Last week we took the express bus (3 euros) from the airport to Piazzale Roma. We were staying in a part of Venice that is not close to the Aliguna stops--we would have had a long walk or a vaporetto ride as well. The bus was much faster and then we took a vaporetto--our stops was only 4 stops away. We purchased the 3-day vaporetto pass (25 euros) so that ride was covered, otherwise a one-time ride on the Grand Canal is 5 euros.

There is also a local bus from the airport, which is covered by the vaporetto pass, so it could have been even cheaper, but we wanted the speedier express bus.

We were off our plane at about 9:30AM and were at our hotel by 10:15AM--realy quick!

Carlita729

We are staying at the Hotel Tivoli in Dorsoduro. The website says its a 10-15 minute walk from the Piazzale Roma or Vaporetto stop 1 or 82. Hmm...what to do...?

Neopolitan

With that location and with 8 of you, I'd strongly recommend a water taxi as nytraveler suggests. It certainly is the easiest and the quickest, and will not be much more expensive that any other method, possibly less so than some methods.

kelliebellie

Take a private water taxi. I believe the whole boat costs $80. So if there are one or two of you, it is pricey, but since there are 8 of you, that is the same price as taking the public boat ($10 a head). We took the public boat since there were only 3 of us and it did take us over an hour to get there and then we still had to wind our way through the city. The private boat will drop you near your hotel.

Both options are available right next to each other, so you can wait and see. Definitly take the private boat if you just missed the public because you might have to wait quite awhile before the public one runs again. There is an information booth inside the airport giving you the times of the public taxi.

suze

How much luggage is everyone carrying? The vaporetto is not easy if you have big bags.

yk

Just out of curiosity - is there a limit of how many people a water taxi can transport?

The OP says her group has 8 people, plus luggage. Will they all fit into one water taxi? Or will they need to split up to 2 taxis?

enzian

I think they will need 2 boats. My impression is the taxis will take up to 6 people; 8 people with luggage will probably require 2 taxis.

Neopolitan

Here's one site that allows you to prebook water taxis for 1 to 6 persons or for 7 to 10 person. I'm not recommending this source, just showing that they do water taxis for 10, and I've seen them stow a lot of luggage where people don't fit.
http://www.venicewelcome.com/servizi/taxi/watertaxi.htm

Carlita729

Thanks so much for all your help! So needed it! On my way tomorrow night!! And then hopefully I will have some helpful tips for all of you! Take care!