Girlspytravel

It is a bit confusing-but that is the case. The ATVO shuttle? What do you mean? The Alilaguna boat line is separate, and you have to pay separately for it. Yes, you will be able to use your card on all land bus transport.

scrb

From Frommers.com:


"There are two bus alternatives: The special ATVO airport shuttle bus (tel. 041-541-5180 or 041-520-5530; www.atvo.it) connects with Piazzale Roma not far from Venice's Santa Lucia train station (and the closest point to Venice's attractions accessible by land). Buses leave for/from the airport about every hour, cost 3€ ($3.75), and make the trip in about 20 minutes. The slightly less expensive, twice-hourly local public ACTV bus no. 5 (tel. 041-541-5180) costs 1.50€ ($1.95) and takes 30 to 45 minutes. Buy tickets for either at the newsstand just inside the terminal from the signposted bus stop. "

Girlspytravel

Oh okay, you mean the airport shuttle. By the way, very interesting thing I read yesterday in the Venice paper-the front page showed a picture of the vaporettos bursting to capacity with tourists, and Venetians are complaining mightily. Now the city is talking about reserving certain vaporettos only for Venetians, and the rest for tourists. That sounds like something they need to do-the City wants to do everything it can to keep the residents happy-they can't afford to lose more of their population to the mainland.

ANOTHER thing that is being discussed the city and other urban planning experts is "Venice, by reservation only?" It is no secret that the fragile ecosystem, not to mention the ancient structures simply cannot support the millions of tourists who tromp through the city-the so called "morde e fugge" (bite and run) tourists, particularly. There is now talk that in order to limit the tourist hordes, you might well in the future

Girlspytravel

have some sort of advance reservation system, and after the number of reservations gets to a certain number-no more reservations would be issued for a certain period. This sounds hugely far-fetched to me, and the Venetian hotel owners association, a very powerful group, would never allow something like that to occur. They already struck down the tourist tax to give added revenue to the city-the tax was almost a go, but the tourist association banded together and got the measure defeated at the last minute.

scrb

OK, I picked up my Venice Card at the Vela office.

Didn't have any problem getting my luggage on the No. 82, just rolled it in and stood to the side of the center of the boat.

I validated the first use by inserting it in the machine by the entrace to the ramp.

But nobody checked it and nobody has in the couple of other rides I've taken.

These things are so full, there is no way for them to check it and keep meeting the schedules. Seriously, the Venice Card has remained in my pocket all the time.

That's okay, I don't mind paying (although it is the most expensive transport system I've encountered).

Took one of the last No. 1 on Sunday night from Vallaroso, a bit after 11 PM. Was exhausted after a long day (straight off the flight, walked all over for about 8 hours).

So I'm near one of the side railings in the center of the boat and I feel a slight tug on my messenger bag which is on my right. There is a pony-tailed guy, which now that I think about it, he did look Eastern-European -- and part of my bag is over his left leg.

I pulled it back, not abruptly but slowly. I didn't confront him. Didn't really have anything real valuable in the bag, other than a $100 tripod, my Michelin guide, a printout itinerary I made, my apartment keys. Don't get me wrong, I didn't want to lose any of that but more for the hassle than anything else.

I searched through and I had two checkbooks which were in a little compartment. One of the checkbooks had been moved to another compartment, which is zippered. I never stash it there.

So the guy felt around probably and couldn't detect any currency or credit cards or anything like that and put it back in the wrong place.