If the alilaguna is 13, times 6 = 80. If the water taxi is 3-8 euro extra, then that would be 95-125 euro - does that sound about right? Do the water taxis charge extra for suitcases? Between the 6 of us, there will be at least 6 suitcases, and 6 smaller bags. Might still be worth the convenience.

The hotel is not right on a canal, but google shows it is between 2 canals, each perhaps a block or so away. But that is certainly closer than the vaporetto stop just East of San Marco.

So I think transportation is figured out.

I've heard a lot about the "Secret Itinerary Tour" of the Doge's Palace. Can these be, or do these need to be pre-arranged online before we leave, or can they be arranged and purchased the day before when we arrive?

Jdan, the Alilaguna is 12 euros per person. so that would be 72 euros. the water taxi should be either 90 or 100 euros for up to 10 people and luggage. The price is supposed to be fixed but there is some wiggle room in there depending on your boat operator and you may want to tip (or not).

If you want to go as cheaply as possible and given you time frame, you can purchase a 72 hour pass for ACTV at the airport (or the 72 hour Venice card if you want that). The pass or card covers the ACTV land buses as well as the ACTV vaporettos in Venice. You walk straight out of the arrivals ground floor at the airport. Wait for the orange ACTV bus, get on and ride to Piazzole Roma. (about 20 minutes). Walk over to the vaporetto stop on the Grand Canal a few steps from P Roma and using your pass again ride the vaporetto to San Marco and walk to your hotel.

All your arrival transport would be covered by the pass which you are going to buy anyway. Since you are leaving at before the 72 hours will be up, your travel to the train station will also be covered.

Check with your hotel about which stop to get off and which vaporetto to ride. With the way the Grand Canal snakes around in Venice, although they say close to Piazza San Marco, another earlier stop may be quite closer and an easier walk.
Most usually post good directions on their websites.

Hi jdan,

like notbob says, you can check with your hotel as to the best place for the water taxi to drop you. we were 4 people and all our luggage and we managed to get into one with no problems. when you have collected your luggage at the reclaim section at the airport, as you exit, the water-taxi desk is right in front of you. you go up and ask for a taxi. they hand you a chit with a name on it, and you walk left out of the building, then left again down a walkway that takes you to the dock where you'l be met by someone who directs you to your driver. you pay him directly the €90, no need for a tip unless you really want to.

you can buy your vaportetti passes from the right hand part of the same desk I think - that's where we bought our Venenzia carta from.

as for the secret tours, i think I already posted this, but here it is again:

www.museiciviciveneziani.com.

go to english - home.

scroll down to the bookings section.

once in the bookings area, scroll down to the doge's palace. select english tours.

this opens up a calandar with the no. of available tickets for each tour.

the reduced prices are for students so, i assume, you want the full price €16 ones. make sure you pick a tour time with at least 6 tickets left before you actually pay for anything!

have a great trip,

regards, ann

Great info.

Looks like I've some some reading to do to sort all of this out.