I'm spending 4 days in Venice in mid September, and have a couple questions about getting to and from the airport.<BR><BR>1. I'm staying near Saint Maria del Giglio, at the Hotel Bel Sito. What's the best way to get there from Marco Polo airport? I was planning on taking a water Taxi, but that is a little expensive. We get in at around 7 pm. Would it be best to take the bus to Piazzale Roma, and the #1 Vaporetto to Giglio? Is there a more direct rout? We'd be willing to walk a little, if we could get to San Marco or somewhere else near by.<BR><BR>2. We're taking a 7 am flight back to Roma. How early do we need to leave our Hotel? I'd like to take public trans back to the airport as well, but am wondering how early the Vaporettos run. How early will the water Taxis run?<BR><BR>Thanks in advance for your help. BTW, for all the fodorites, I've found this site invaluable for planning my latest trip to Italy, so thanks for all the indirect advice as well.<BR><BR>Jerry

<BR>From ACTV.It,and Alilaguna.com both sites for the info & timetable of waterbus and airport direct bus.<BR><BR>1.It will be quite convenient to buy a 3 days (72 hours)pass in the booth inside the terminal,walk out,turn right to the bus stop, then take bus to Piazza Roma,change to waterbus.Or you could turn left by the entrance,then take airport waterbus to S.Marco<BR><BR>2.Return to airport,you could take the airport waterbus from S.Marco.The travel pass doesn't cover this route.

I would take the Alilaguna waterbus to the San Marco stop, it's just a wonderful way to come into Venice and stops on the way at Murano, giving a lovely mini tour of the lagoon to orientate you.<BR><BR>Then hop on the vaporetti from there to Giglio, which is not very far.<BR><BR>In fact, you could even walk to your hotel from San Marco if you don't have too much luggage, I think it would be about 10 minutes, depending on the exact location of the hotel.<BR><BR>Alternatively you could get the bus into Venice and then get onto the vaporetti, which would allow you to go down the Grand Canal as your first sight of Venice.<BR><BR>Both are equally wonderful first sights.<BR><BR><BR>I would recommend, if you haven't already, to email Elaine, a regular Fodorite poster, and ask for a copy of her Venice information file, a really useful source for anyone visiting Venice.<BR><BR>If you'd like a copy of my trip journal from my 6 day trip over Easter this year, please feel free to email. I also have lots of photos posted online which I'd be happy to share.<BR><BR>

Jerry---I've been trying to find out if the Hotel Bel Sito is still in business. I stayed there many years ago and thought it was a good hotel, though rooms were small and it had no A/C back then. It's in a very convenient location. It could have been renovated by now. If the hotel has a web address, would you be so kind as to give it?<BR><BR>Overall the best and lower cost way to go is by bus to Piazzale Roma, then by vaporetto #1 to the Santa Maria del Giglio stop. But the airport water bus (Alialunga) is also good, as already noted; however, it doesn't stop at Santa Maria, only San Marco, so your walk to the hotel will be longer. Either of these choices will be a much slower route to downtown Venice than a water taxi, but if you aren't in a hurry, they are OK.<BR><BR>As for where to stop on the vaporetto (if you go that way) line number 1 goes to the Santa Maria del Giglio stop, which is closest to the hotel, much closer than the San Marco stop, and one stop earlier if you are coming from Piazzale Roma. From there, you will be looking directly down a long, narrow alleyway that will lead straight to the piazza and the hotel. The alleyway, which might or might not have a sign on it, is Calle Gritti o.d. Campanile. Enjoy your trip.

Forgot to mention---better take a water taxi back to the airport. You can get the hotel to call and arrange for one to pick you up at a predetermined spot (the hotel will know where is best). As early as you will need to get out, the water taxi is the only way to go.

I also had a 7am flight from Marco Polo when I was in Venice this past March. I spent my last night in a hotel close to the Piazzale Roma so that I could get the bus at 5am. The bus was very prompt and only takes about 20 minutes to get to the airport. I would imagine that the Alilaguna water buses also start running fairly early. That would be much closer to your hotel but the trip to the airport by water takes about 40 minutes. If you opt to use a different method on your way back to the airport, definitely use the water bus when arriving in Venice. It is very dramatic to approach the city from the water!

<BR>Thanks all for the replies.<BR><BR>Kavey, <BR>Do you have and email address for Elaine? Any info would be helpful.<BR><BR>Wayne,<BR>Yes, the Bel Sito is still open. I think it does have Air these days. However, since we'll be there in mid September, I'm not too worried about it. My in-laws stayed there a couple years ago, and loved the place.<BR><BR>Thanks again,<BR><BR>Jerry

Wayne,<BR>Here's the link to the only site I've found for Bel Sito. I didn't use it to make reservations. I called them and reserved over the phone.<BR><BR>http://216.239.35.120/translate_c?hl=en&u=http://www.venere.com/cgi/hotels/pgweb.php%3Fref%3D607%26tp%3Dt61%26htid%3D684%26we bserver%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.venere.com%26html %3D0%26lg%3Den%26tf%3Dindex.php&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dhotel%2Bbel%2Bsito%2Bvenice%2Bitaly%2 6hl%3Den<BR><BR>jp

I think Elaine's address is [email protected]