We're flying into Venice -- landing in the evening. The next day we'll take the train to Florence to join a group. Any recommendations on a hotel for overnight with good access from airport to hotel and then to train station the next day?

Pick a hotel near the train station, which means it will also be near the bus station. That way you can take the very quick bus (or a taxi) from the airport to Piazzale Roma in Venice and when departing you'll be quite close to the train station as well. Youhaven't mentioned your budget, but I've heard good reports about

http://www.hotelantichefigure.it/eng/index.asp

For a simple single overnight you might want to consider a hotel in Mestre, close to the Mestre train station, right on the mainland. The bus from the airport to there is easy, there are shuttle trains into Venice train station every 10min.

You can leave your bags at the hotel during the day, travel into Venice unencumbered, then pick them up as you hop on a train to Florence.

The evening of your arrival you could hop into Venice, explore a little bit, then return the next day.

I agree with ellenem- stay near the Venice train station. I wouldn't be happy staying in Mestre. You can take the airport bus directly to P. Roma and then walk to your hotel near the Venice train station.

Hi rb,

Another vote for taking the bus or cab to Mestre and staying at a hotel near the train station. If you are flying in from the US, you won't enjoy much of Venice on your transit.

Don't know about your budget but there is a nice Sofitel within a 5-minute walk to bus/taxi stop at Piazzale Roma. Train station about 10 minutes across the canal.

Also don't know about your travelling plans but is flying to some place closer to Florence out of the question?

If you stay in Mestre, you probably won't see anything of Venice. Even if you stay in Venice, you won't see much of it. Which would be a shame. Venice is one of the wonders of the world. I consider it the most beautiful urban sight I've seen.

Thx for the input -- I'll try to clarify some of the questions. I'm looking at RT Venice air (from USA) for best connections but would prefer US-Florence & Venice-USA. We will be returning to Venice for 3 nights at the end of our Italy time, so not looking to see much on arrival.

Look into Pisa as an alternate arrival airport.

Agree with rbmomm. Unless you have a particular reason for going to Venice first, you can get closer to Florence. Fly into Pisa (is there a Florence airport???) and out from Venice.

I chk'd the flights for Pisa and that will work well for us. Thx for the input. We were looking at BA & they don't fly into Florence.

If you are sticking with flying into Venice and want to walk around a little in Venice (not the mainland, Mestre), then stick near the train station in Venice. There are several hotels near there, including the Hotel Principe (restored Palace) http://www.hotelprincipevenice.it/en/index.htm.

I have stayed there and it is gorgeous, and very close to the train station.

There is another hotel right near there, The Continental Hotel http://www.hotelcontinentalvenice.com/en/index.htm

The Continental is an old restored monestary and not nearly as "grand" as the Principe, but they both back up to the Grand Canal. I have stayed there as well.

More of a tourist level hotel not too far from the Train Station and Piazzale Roma (where tour busses turn around - a few hundred feet from there) is Arlecchino Hotel http://www.hotelarlecchino.com/

I have not stayed there, but it has decent reviews in TripAdvisor.