Venice passes....confusing as heck!
Dec 11th, 2013, 04:06 AM
#21
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"Obviously, Venice is a work in progress, and all these internet portals are subject to change."
Absolutely. One change we noticed were the crowds remaining after 7:00 in the evening. Generally, Venice emptied when the day trippers departed. Now, since there are cruise ship have nearby berths the crowds remain.
Walking in Venice is is definitely the best method, but sometimes a vaporetto ride is necessary. If you want to visit Isole San Georgio or Burano or Murano you will need some sort of water transport.
Absolutely. One change we noticed were the crowds remaining after 7:00 in the evening. Generally, Venice emptied when the day trippers departed. Now, since there are cruise ship have nearby berths the crowds remain.
Walking in Venice is is definitely the best method, but sometimes a vaporetto ride is necessary. If you want to visit Isole San Georgio or Burano or Murano you will need some sort of water transport.
Mar 18th, 2016, 09:40 AM
#23
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Bringing up this old thread as it has some useful information.
I am interested in buying the transport pass for the vaporettos. We will be arriving by plane into Marco Polo and then getting to our apt by shuttle boat or water taxi (if children are a disaster after overnight flight we'll treat ourselves to the much more expensive water taxi).
Would you recommend we buy the passes when we get there or buy them online and retrieve them when we arrive? It looks like you buy them from a self serve machine. On the venice unico website it says that if you buy them online (doesn't appear to be a discount in doing so - just one less thing to worry about on that first jet lagged day) you can pick them up at the Airport or San Marco vaporetto stop, among other places. Is the place where you get them at the airport a long walk away from baggage claim and the boat launch?
We are staying reasonably near San Marco so could grab them there. I am sure the kids will want to take a vaporetto ride as one of our first activities when we get there. But we don't need to pass to get from the airport to our accommodations.
I am interested in buying the transport pass for the vaporettos. We will be arriving by plane into Marco Polo and then getting to our apt by shuttle boat or water taxi (if children are a disaster after overnight flight we'll treat ourselves to the much more expensive water taxi).
Would you recommend we buy the passes when we get there or buy them online and retrieve them when we arrive? It looks like you buy them from a self serve machine. On the venice unico website it says that if you buy them online (doesn't appear to be a discount in doing so - just one less thing to worry about on that first jet lagged day) you can pick them up at the Airport or San Marco vaporetto stop, among other places. Is the place where you get them at the airport a long walk away from baggage claim and the boat launch?
We are staying reasonably near San Marco so could grab them there. I am sure the kids will want to take a vaporetto ride as one of our first activities when we get there. But we don't need to pass to get from the airport to our accommodations.
Mar 18th, 2016, 11:02 AM
#24
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Sally30,
There is no Vaporetto stop at Marco Polo. You buy the pass at huge consolidated transport counter just outside the luggage retrieval area. I bought three-day passes at Marco Polo last year. I saw no reason to pre-purchase. You have to line up to pickup your pass anyway at Marco Polo (recommended) or elsewhere, but not at Piazzale Roma or Ferrovia (not recommended, huge lines).
The card is a proximity RFID card, by the way. Even though you see bar codes on the card, that has nothing to do with riding Vaporetti. There are proximity card readers at every Vaporetto stop, some operates a turnstyle, some without. But be sure the card reader beeps, I think green. Ticket inspectors do come around on board to make sure your card was correctly checked-in for that ride.
From airport, the options are:
1. ACTV/ATVO land bus right outside arrival to Piazzale Roma, then Vaporetto (#2 going the correct direction) or water taxi (not recommended, nearly as expensive as taking water taxi from the airport in the first place.)
2. Land taxi from right outside arrival to Piazzale Roma, then Vaporetto. The taxi was €40 fixed price last fall. The bus is €8 per adult.
3. Alilaguna boat. Walk .3 miles to Marco Polo dock, then to San Marco.
4. Water taxi: walk .3 miles to Marco Polo dock.
The water taxi is not totally a treat. First be sure to inquire apt how much it is supposed to cost. You need to inquire price before getting on to make sure it is in line. Then inquire how close to the apt you can actually get to under the best condition. Be prepared to walk if water level or temporary obstruction prevents you from getting closer if the hotel is in the back alley part requiring clearing low bridges. You can arrange a water taxi from a counter at the airport also.
And finally, any boat option directly from the airport requires walking about .3 miles from the arrival area to the dock. Look at the Google map. You can clearly see where the docks for water taxi and Alilaguna are located.
There is no Vaporetto stop at Marco Polo. You buy the pass at huge consolidated transport counter just outside the luggage retrieval area. I bought three-day passes at Marco Polo last year. I saw no reason to pre-purchase. You have to line up to pickup your pass anyway at Marco Polo (recommended) or elsewhere, but not at Piazzale Roma or Ferrovia (not recommended, huge lines).
The card is a proximity RFID card, by the way. Even though you see bar codes on the card, that has nothing to do with riding Vaporetti. There are proximity card readers at every Vaporetto stop, some operates a turnstyle, some without. But be sure the card reader beeps, I think green. Ticket inspectors do come around on board to make sure your card was correctly checked-in for that ride.
From airport, the options are:
1. ACTV/ATVO land bus right outside arrival to Piazzale Roma, then Vaporetto (#2 going the correct direction) or water taxi (not recommended, nearly as expensive as taking water taxi from the airport in the first place.)
2. Land taxi from right outside arrival to Piazzale Roma, then Vaporetto. The taxi was €40 fixed price last fall. The bus is €8 per adult.
3. Alilaguna boat. Walk .3 miles to Marco Polo dock, then to San Marco.
4. Water taxi: walk .3 miles to Marco Polo dock.
The water taxi is not totally a treat. First be sure to inquire apt how much it is supposed to cost. You need to inquire price before getting on to make sure it is in line. Then inquire how close to the apt you can actually get to under the best condition. Be prepared to walk if water level or temporary obstruction prevents you from getting closer if the hotel is in the back alley part requiring clearing low bridges. You can arrange a water taxi from a counter at the airport also.
And finally, any boat option directly from the airport requires walking about .3 miles from the arrival area to the dock. Look at the Google map. You can clearly see where the docks for water taxi and Alilaguna are located.
