I hope to have a 2 day stop in Venice late October before picking up cruise. So many hotels are booked already. I really need something that will have a "water taxi stop??" so that we will NOT have to drag luggage over cobblestones (we will by flying from US to Venice). We are not up to that (years ago would have been fun, not today!). I am also looking for moderate price (under 200 Euro if possible). As this is two single ladies, other than accessibility for luggage, we look for clean and safe, so again, location is probably important since we only have two days. Doesn't have to be Taj Mahal. I have read almost every post on this, but seldom see anything about the access. If I can't do something reasonable, we'll have to stopover somewhere else, but we'd really like to see some of Venice. Appreciate any advice. Thanks.

It's probably fully booked, but I took my aunt and mother to Venice and we stayed at La Calcina. Took a water taxi from the train station to the hotel, and from the hotel to the airport. The "ladies" didn't have to carry anything anywhere inconvenient, if I recall correctly.

If I were you, my first priority would be locating hotels with vacancy, and then figuring out if I can boat right up or not. Which hotels have you contacted that are booked already?

Also, in my experience, Venice is quite safe so I wouldn't worry about that too much.

Hi ld,

www.rialtohotel.com is right at the vaporetto stop on the Grand Canal at the Rialto bridge.

www.hotelmarconi.it is directly opposite.

They both have easy access by water taxi. Both about 250E for a double in late Oct.

Is something close to a vaporetto stop acceptable?

We are booked at Locanda San Barnaba in Dorsoduro for Sept. It is about 50 meters walking from the Ca' Rezzonico vaporetto stop. The hotel says a water taxi can also drop off at an entry on the back side of the hotel. We haven't been here yet, so I can't comment on the hotel.
Our Twin room (there is no elevator, but staff will help with bags) for Sept is 170E.

http://www.locanda-sanbarnaba.com/

http://tinyurl.com/2gurmp

http://tinyurl.com/yuqsdo

http://www.iht.com/articles/2001/03/16/trvhot.2.php
"Hotel Locanda San Barnaba - This immensely attractive, unpretentious inn — so newly remodeled (2001) that the greenery is still establishing itself on the trellises surrounding the charming walled garden where guests have breakfast — actually manages to combine the advantages of a hotel (privacy, comfort, anonymity) with the appeal of staying in someone's home (warmth, hospitality, utter absence of any chilling reminders of corporate endeavor). As a matter of fact, this 16th-century palazzo once belonged to the maternal grandfather of its personable owner, Silvia Okolicsanyi. .
A hotel since 1939, the San Barnaba closed nine years ago (1992)for an extensive restoration, during which the family worked in close partnership with the architect; renovations were finally completed last spring. Among the lovingly preserved features of the original structure is the elegant piano nobile on the second floor — a huge frescoed salon, surrounded by stained-glass windows, in which the palace's aristocratic former residents held gala parties and dances. The first thoughtful favor the San Barnaba does for its guests is to spare them the confusion and humiliation of lugging their suitcases through Dorsoduro's mazelike alleys, asking directions of Venetians who turn out to be fellow tourists. Get off at the Ca' Rezzonico vaporetto stop and there's no other direction to take but up the Calle del Traghetto, for a walk of less than two minutes to the San Barnaba's front door.."

Thank you all for some great info. I will check them all out in next day or so. This is a great site and it's so nice of you to help out!

Hotel Novecento is lovely and a water taxi can stop just down the street from them - not more than 50-100 yds of smooth sidewalk from dock to hotel. This is water taxi only - vaperotto stop is further and across bridge.....

I did look at La Calcina and I can't remember why we didn't get that one - oh, yes. I check two sites and it was not available. Guess that tells you it's in demand! I did find a hotel with a lift and a stop for the water taxi, at reasonable (220E) rate - the Hotel Ca' d'Oro. Has anyone heard of this one or used it? I booked direct internet with them after ready a zillion reviews, most all were very good. Appreciate any input. Thanks.