Venice - boats on canals
Aug 20th, 2014, 11:54 AM
#22
I don't care if others disagree with me.
Many of the people who post here are older, retirees.
I don't know the fitness level of the OP.
I am young and fit. It is no problem for me to haul luggage across the bridges of Venice.
In fact, it is probably easier to haul your luggage over the Calatrava Bridge and up the Lista di Spagna than to haul it from the LIRR at Penn Station to 7th Ave.
I don't care what the OP does. I am just explaining options.
I don't know why you are so confrontational about it.
I can remember you telling NYTravel Snob to go take a flying leap when she
told you about the apartment in Varenna/Lake Como and she was right on all points
Many of the people who post here are older, retirees.
I don't know the fitness level of the OP.
I am young and fit. It is no problem for me to haul luggage across the bridges of Venice.
In fact, it is probably easier to haul your luggage over the Calatrava Bridge and up the Lista di Spagna than to haul it from the LIRR at Penn Station to 7th Ave.
I don't care what the OP does. I am just explaining options.
I don't know why you are so confrontational about it.
I can remember you telling NYTravel Snob to go take a flying leap when she
told you about the apartment in Varenna/Lake Como and she was right on all points
Aug 20th, 2014, 07:35 PM
#23
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lots of opinions here and i appreciate it. We are not opposed to walking, hauling luggage, etc but we are coming from CA leaving at 7pm Sunday from SFO and arriving in Venice at 4:30 pm the next day so we will want to just get to our hotel. Thanks so much ALL of you for your great explanations. It really helps. We are staying at the Hotel Flora around St. Marks square.
Aug 20th, 2014, 07:52 PM
#24
For my visit in early October -- I'm flying in from London and pre-booked the Alilaguna ( €25 RT from/to the airport) but on the day if it is gorgeous and I want the 'WOW experience' I'll pay the big bucks for a water taxi. In the scheme of things - €100 is a drop in the bucket.
In either case, I'll happily use the return Alilaguna voucher back to the airport 4 days later.
In either case, I'll happily use the return Alilaguna voucher back to the airport 4 days later.
Aug 20th, 2014, 08:12 PM
#25
Oh, the Flora! Aren't you posh! Is your name Getty?
The nearest stop to Flora is Giglio.
You can take Vap. Line #1 or Orange Line Alilaguna.
You are not on a canal, so you will have to haul luggage no matter what.
If you can afford the Flora, you can afford a private taxi.
Good luck.
My sister lived most of her adult life in an apartment behind Salute Church.
She died and left the apartment to her son.
Thin
The nearest stop to Flora is Giglio.
You can take Vap. Line #1 or Orange Line Alilaguna.
You are not on a canal, so you will have to haul luggage no matter what.
If you can afford the Flora, you can afford a private taxi.
Good luck.
My sister lived most of her adult life in an apartment behind Salute Church.
She died and left the apartment to her son.
Thin
Aug 20th, 2014, 08:17 PM
#26
From the breakfast courtyard of the Hotel Flora, you can see a small canal and a place to get on/off a water taxi. We didn't know about it and hauled our luggage over many bridges to get to the Flora feom the Alliguna.Thin, Flora isn't a luxury hotel at all, just very pleasant.
Aug 20th, 2014, 09:42 PM
#27
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Shar, I certainly understand your not wanting to schlep your luggage around Venice after traveling so far to get there. We felt the same way, thus, opted for water taxi, but our hotel had a water door....very convenient! The water taxi pulls up, the driver shouts good afternoon to the hotel proprietor and our then luggage is handed in very quickly and conveniently, followed by a helping hand to the two of us to exit the taxi.
We ended up using another water taxi yesterday morning to go from our hotel to the train station for our trip to Florence. Loved it!
The walk to the boat docks from the Venice Airport was surprisingly longer than I had thought it might be. It's a well marked path so no problem finding it. Water tacis were the first option we noticed when we got to the docks. Glad that's what we picked!
We ended up using another water taxi yesterday morning to go from our hotel to the train station for our trip to Florence. Loved it!
The walk to the boat docks from the Venice Airport was surprisingly longer than I had thought it might be. It's a well marked path so no problem finding it. Water tacis were the first option we noticed when we got to the docks. Glad that's what we picked!
Aug 21st, 2014, 07:16 AM
#29
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I believe this possibility was alluded to up thread, and now that I hear about the dock near the Flora, that isn't their water door but is accessible to taxis, I will suggest it.
Get your luggage and walk straight out of the front door of the airport and on to the #5 bus.
(I don't like dragging my luggage down to the water taxi stand at the airport, anymore than I like taking it to the Alilaguna stop when I'm emerging from cross oceanic tin cans).
Take the bus to Piazzale Roma. Get in a water taxi. Approach Venice from the top of the Grand Canal and see it as it is meant to be seen. The real advantage here is that the Hotel Flora can tell where the landing is that can be seen from their courtyard and you can get the taxi to drop you there.
If you ask me, it's speedier than dragging down to the dock from the airport, faster than bouncing across the lagoon, which basically isn't the "wow" view of Venice anyway, and cheaper to take the water taxi from Ple. Roma to your hotel than taking it from the airport.
A word about the Giglio vaporetto stop: I believe that only the #1 stops there, and it can be crowded (very). Perhaps better to use the San Marco stops on other trips when you don't have your luggage.
Surely The Flora will help you with this.
If and when you do get off at Giglio, look straight up to see the loveliest apartment and window that hover above the dock. One night, someone was sitting up there with candles and wine. A perfect picture.
Get your luggage and walk straight out of the front door of the airport and on to the #5 bus.
(I don't like dragging my luggage down to the water taxi stand at the airport, anymore than I like taking it to the Alilaguna stop when I'm emerging from cross oceanic tin cans).
Take the bus to Piazzale Roma. Get in a water taxi. Approach Venice from the top of the Grand Canal and see it as it is meant to be seen. The real advantage here is that the Hotel Flora can tell where the landing is that can be seen from their courtyard and you can get the taxi to drop you there.
If you ask me, it's speedier than dragging down to the dock from the airport, faster than bouncing across the lagoon, which basically isn't the "wow" view of Venice anyway, and cheaper to take the water taxi from Ple. Roma to your hotel than taking it from the airport.
A word about the Giglio vaporetto stop: I believe that only the #1 stops there, and it can be crowded (very). Perhaps better to use the San Marco stops on other trips when you don't have your luggage.
Surely The Flora will help you with this.
If and when you do get off at Giglio, look straight up to see the loveliest apartment and window that hover above the dock. One night, someone was sitting up there with candles and wine. A perfect picture.
Aug 21st, 2014, 07:02 PM
#31
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I believe the fare from Piazzale Roma to San Marco is about 65 euros and they may not even go on the Grand Canal. You have to pay extra for that.
I think it is only one bridge from the Giglio stop to the Flora. Not "many bridges." If you are going to walk all the way to to where the water taxis are, just take the Alilaguna and save 90 euros or whatever. If you want to take the #5 bus and then a water taxi, it is still going to set you back 75 or 80 euros but at last you won't have to walk from the airport to the lagoon.
I am fond of the Alilaguna - it is not glamorous, but the staff is always efficient and generally pleasant (some water taxi guys? Not so much.)
I think it is only one bridge from the Giglio stop to the Flora. Not "many bridges." If you are going to walk all the way to to where the water taxis are, just take the Alilaguna and save 90 euros or whatever. If you want to take the #5 bus and then a water taxi, it is still going to set you back 75 or 80 euros but at last you won't have to walk from the airport to the lagoon.
I am fond of the Alilaguna - it is not glamorous, but the staff is always efficient and generally pleasant (some water taxi guys? Not so much.)
Aug 21st, 2014, 07:11 PM
#32
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Nothing against the Alilaguna, especially as the Orange line stops at Giglio.
I was offering the water taxi as an alternative. I take the Alilaguna, but it's not always that approach to Venice that people dream about.
rialtogirl: this is the first that I've heard that a ride down the Grand Canal may cost more than another (?) route. I guess one would have to ask, or prearrange.
I was offering the water taxi as an alternative. I take the Alilaguna, but it's not always that approach to Venice that people dream about.
rialtogirl: this is the first that I've heard that a ride down the Grand Canal may cost more than another (?) route. I guess one would have to ask, or prearrange.
Aug 21st, 2014, 07:32 PM
#33
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I think your idea was a good one tuscanlifeedit - it is a good meet in the middle for folks who don't want to make a trek to the docks.
I booked a water taxi in advance last month, we were going to a location on the very southern tip of the Giudecca Canal but I was told it would be extra to go on the Grand Canal. This was from the train station. I would imagine going to San Marco would also be down the Giudecca canal unless you paid extra. But as you say, just ask!
I booked a water taxi in advance last month, we were going to a location on the very southern tip of the Giudecca Canal but I was told it would be extra to go on the Grand Canal. This was from the train station. I would imagine going to San Marco would also be down the Giudecca canal unless you paid extra. But as you say, just ask!
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