Venice hotel needed before leaviing for a cruise
Nov 13th, 2012, 07:54 PM
#21
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A small piece of advice. The walk from the air terminal to the Alilaguna dock is ten minutes or so. Even if you have wheeled bags, it is easier to use an airport baggage trolley, as they are easier to push than a wheeled bag. It’s OK to leave the trolley at the Alilaguna dock.
First time we came to Venice we did not realise this, and dragging our suitcases was not a lot of fun.
You need a one euro coin for a trolley.
I believe that there is no cost saving obtained by ordering your vap. pass on line, but you can buy a pass at the airport.
First time we came to Venice we did not realise this, and dragging our suitcases was not a lot of fun.
You need a one euro coin for a trolley.
I believe that there is no cost saving obtained by ordering your vap. pass on line, but you can buy a pass at the airport.
Nov 13th, 2012, 09:40 PM
#23
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> Get a pass from home, if your credit card works on-line, you will get a discount.
Dayenu, there is no more discount offered ( on veniceconnected site I suppose you mean) for vapotetto passes since a year or a bit less. Now there is only disadvantage IMHO because buying/pre-paying beforehand, you limit the validity of the pass to the pre-determined dates. You can buy it at any manned vap counters in Venice or at airport just before you need to use vaporettos.
Dayenu, there is no more discount offered ( on veniceconnected site I suppose you mean) for vapotetto passes since a year or a bit less. Now there is only disadvantage IMHO because buying/pre-paying beforehand, you limit the validity of the pass to the pre-determined dates. You can buy it at any manned vap counters in Venice or at airport just before you need to use vaporettos.
Nov 13th, 2012, 09:48 PM
#24
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> I second Peter's suggestion regarding the trolley. Best 1 euro you'll ever spend ..
I suppose that depends on how much luggage you have. OP is likely to have a lot of them for cruise trip, so trolley is a good advice. Other(inter-european) travellers that tend to have smaller luggage would be fine without trolley. I have carried a middles sized wheeler and a carry-on without trolley between airport and dock with no problem. That of course depends on your mobility as well.
I suppose that depends on how much luggage you have. OP is likely to have a lot of them for cruise trip, so trolley is a good advice. Other(inter-european) travellers that tend to have smaller luggage would be fine without trolley. I have carried a middles sized wheeler and a carry-on without trolley between airport and dock with no problem. That of course depends on your mobility as well.
Nov 14th, 2012, 02:57 AM
#25
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<i><font color=#555555>"You need a one euro coin for a trolley."</font></i>
Actually, you have three coin choices: 50-cent, 1 Euro, 2 Euro
The carts are FREE. You don't need the coin to pay for their use, you need the coin to release the latch that locks the cart to the other carts. The coin will be released the second you re-latch your cart.
A lot of tourists are not aware of this process, which is similar to the grocery carts in Venice grocery stores. They are free, too. But in grocery stores, the carts take just one coin: 1 Euro.
Many tourists leave their coins in their abandoned airport carts because they failed to re-latch them in the designated cart-holding areas. It's easy to see a coin in the handle because it sticks out slightly. If you see an abandoned cart with a coin still stuck, that means the cart was never re-locked into place, and that coin will be yours if you re-lock the cart to other carts yourself.
Actually, you have three coin choices: 50-cent, 1 Euro, 2 Euro
The carts are FREE. You don't need the coin to pay for their use, you need the coin to release the latch that locks the cart to the other carts. The coin will be released the second you re-latch your cart.
A lot of tourists are not aware of this process, which is similar to the grocery carts in Venice grocery stores. They are free, too. But in grocery stores, the carts take just one coin: 1 Euro.
Many tourists leave their coins in their abandoned airport carts because they failed to re-latch them in the designated cart-holding areas. It's easy to see a coin in the handle because it sticks out slightly. If you see an abandoned cart with a coin still stuck, that means the cart was never re-locked into place, and that coin will be yours if you re-lock the cart to other carts yourself.
Nov 14th, 2012, 05:40 AM
#26
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Glad you are fixed up with a hotel, Carol!
It sounds like you are flying back from Venice. So if you want to take the Alilaguna boat back to the airport, buy an Alilaguna return ticket at the Alilaguna kiosk by the dock - a return is a wee bit cheaper than 2 singles at E27 instead of 2 x E15. I see you can book them online for an additional saving too, at E25 for which you get a voucher to exchange for tickets at the Alilaguna kiosk. (I wasn't previously aware of these as we get different cut-price tickets anyway
)
There are no combined Alilaguna & vaporetto tickets although if you were thinking of getting Venice cards (rarely worth it, IMO), there is an option to include Alilaguna. As someone else said, there are no more online discounts for pre-booked vaporetto passes. There are desks inside the airport where I think you can get both Alilaguna & vaporetto tickets but there are usually huge queues - IMO it's easier to get Alilaguna tickets at the Alilaguna kiosk down by the dock as I mentioned above, then get vaporetto passes in Venice when you need them. As well as manned kisoks, the major vaporetto stops all have machines which have an English option & are easy to use. You may find you don't need a 48 hour one and that 36 or even fewer hours will do it - when we used to come here on holiday, we often didn't use a vaporetto at all for the first 2/3 days. So just make sure your first trip is from a stop with a machine, and get them then.
Peter gave you good advice about the trolley - unless I travelled with just a wheeled carry-on, I always found it that bit easier with a trolley. Especially with 2 of you. And especially going back, if you are going to be in a long queue to check bags in.
NYCFS, some supermarket trolleys also take 50c, 1E or 2 - the read-tagged ones at Billa do, but not the white-tagged ones.
It sounds like you are flying back from Venice. So if you want to take the Alilaguna boat back to the airport, buy an Alilaguna return ticket at the Alilaguna kiosk by the dock - a return is a wee bit cheaper than 2 singles at E27 instead of 2 x E15. I see you can book them online for an additional saving too, at E25 for which you get a voucher to exchange for tickets at the Alilaguna kiosk. (I wasn't previously aware of these as we get different cut-price tickets anyway
)There are no combined Alilaguna & vaporetto tickets although if you were thinking of getting Venice cards (rarely worth it, IMO), there is an option to include Alilaguna. As someone else said, there are no more online discounts for pre-booked vaporetto passes. There are desks inside the airport where I think you can get both Alilaguna & vaporetto tickets but there are usually huge queues - IMO it's easier to get Alilaguna tickets at the Alilaguna kiosk down by the dock as I mentioned above, then get vaporetto passes in Venice when you need them. As well as manned kisoks, the major vaporetto stops all have machines which have an English option & are easy to use. You may find you don't need a 48 hour one and that 36 or even fewer hours will do it - when we used to come here on holiday, we often didn't use a vaporetto at all for the first 2/3 days. So just make sure your first trip is from a stop with a machine, and get them then.
Peter gave you good advice about the trolley - unless I travelled with just a wheeled carry-on, I always found it that bit easier with a trolley. Especially with 2 of you. And especially going back, if you are going to be in a long queue to check bags in.
NYCFS, some supermarket trolleys also take 50c, 1E or 2 - the read-tagged ones at Billa do, but not the white-tagged ones.
Nov 15th, 2012, 03:03 PM
#28
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Thank you all for your helpful suggestions. We will definitely get the trolley. We usually both travel with a 22" carry-on and a small, personal bag. Not bringing laptop although husband will be carrying his camera bag. I wish he would get a small, pocket one but no, he has to have his toys! Well at least I know we will get excellent pictures. I am glad NCL has freestyle cruising. I think we might get away with a few less clothes thereby less luggage. I definitely will buy the vaporetto passes when we are ready to use them. Maybe I could get away with a 24 hour and save a few euros. Our first trip to Venice we noticed we were the only ones buying tickets and then we stopped too. I guess now it is mandatory buying your pass. I wouldn't want to get a ticket or whatever. I wish it was next May already. Everyone have a wonderful Thanksgiving (if you are American).
Nov 15th, 2012, 10:59 PM
#29
Our first trip to Venice we noticed we were the only ones buying tickets and then we stopped too. I guess now it is mandatory buying your pass.>>
now that vaporetto tickets are €7+ each, buying individual tickets hardly makes sense, and you only have to make a journey out to the islands of the lagoon for it to pay for itself. Also, it frees you up to see more of the corners of Venice than you might otherwise manage - one day, we went down the grand canal to San Marco, then over to Santa Maria della Salute, from there we walked along the Zattere and got a boat over to the Guidecca, then hopped to the Isola di San Giorgio and climbed the tower [cheaper and less crowded than the campanile in San Marco and just as good a view] and finally back to san Marco. That's over €35.
now that vaporetto tickets are €7+ each, buying individual tickets hardly makes sense, and you only have to make a journey out to the islands of the lagoon for it to pay for itself. Also, it frees you up to see more of the corners of Venice than you might otherwise manage - one day, we went down the grand canal to San Marco, then over to Santa Maria della Salute, from there we walked along the Zattere and got a boat over to the Guidecca, then hopped to the Isola di San Giorgio and climbed the tower [cheaper and less crowded than the campanile in San Marco and just as good a view] and finally back to san Marco. That's over €35.
Nov 16th, 2012, 10:19 AM
#30
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And if you get caught without a ticket, the fine is E52 - and I do see inspectors reasonably regularly. And be aware that the E7 single tickets are the only ones you can buy on board - you can't get on (even at a stop without a machine or kiosk) & then ask the conductor for a 24 hour pass or whatever.
Nov 16th, 2012, 12:37 PM
#31
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We definitely got our money's worth and more on our 7 day pass. Plus it allowed us to feel free to hop on a vaporetto even just to cross the canal by one stop.
On one instance we (and all the other passengers sitting up on the bow) were asked to show our tickets - so, it does happen. This was on the trip between Giudecca or San Giorgio around to Piazzale Roma. Maybe it's on the longer hauls when the attendant has time to cruise amongst the passengers. But for me, taking Murphy's law into consideration, I wouldn't chance it.
On one instance we (and all the other passengers sitting up on the bow) were asked to show our tickets - so, it does happen. This was on the trip between Giudecca or San Giorgio around to Piazzale Roma. Maybe it's on the longer hauls when the attendant has time to cruise amongst the passengers. But for me, taking Murphy's law into consideration, I wouldn't chance it.
May 6th, 2013, 05:43 PM
#34
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Thank you all for your help. We leave next week and thoroughly look forward to our trip. I feel confident with all the information I received to know what we are doing, where we are going and how we are going that it's going to be an excellent time.
Ciao!
Ciao!
May 6th, 2013, 11:27 PM
#35
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Hello Carole
I have enjoyed the benefit of all the responses on your thread; we too are cruising out of Venice on Norwegian Jade, but not until September this year.
So hopefully we'll be able to benefit from your trip report when you return!
Happy travels, Di
I have enjoyed the benefit of all the responses on your thread; we too are cruising out of Venice on Norwegian Jade, but not until September this year.
So hopefully we'll be able to benefit from your trip report when you return!
Happy travels, Di
May 7th, 2013, 02:23 PM
#36
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Caroline_Edinburgh- you live in Venice, that's awesome!! I was going through Venice posts to find an answer about transportation from the airport during a festival (July) with no luck. I posted but no replies, Would you happen to know how difficult it will be to get a water taxi and when the regattas begin on Sunday? Any help is appreciated! Carole, we are staying at the Bisanzio. Enjoy!
