This may seem like a silly question, but...I keep seeing 70-80 euros quoted as the cost of a water taxi from the airport into Venice - first of all, is this still accurate? secondly, I assume this is the total (not per person) cost?

Hi hadley,

The price is for the taxi, not per person. You should be able to fit 4 people w/luggage onto the taxi.

They just changed the rules. Taxis will have meters, but the price will still be about 80E.

Thanks for the info.

I'm trying to figure out the simplest way to get into Venice without spending a fortune. But, as I will have two kids along, who are likely to be cranky after an overnight flight, I'm willing to spend a bit more to avoid too many connections and hassle. Any thoughts?

The water taxi mentioned above is so nice because it's much quicker, half an hour instead of an hour and a half on the much less expensive ALILAGUNA. If you can afford it, the taxi will be much more fun and your kids will probably enjoy it, it's fast.

Hi Hadley,

Try the Transit Service site at http://www.actv.it/eng/home.php.

The water taxi is the most convenient and most expensive.

Then there is a water bus, Alilaguna, that goes to San Marco and one or to other places for 10Epp.

Then there is the bus to Piazzale Romana.

With your two kids, I would suggest the Alilaguna boat if money is important. I think that they would like the ride.

See also
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34421855

We made that trip with our kids (9 & 12 at the time). I too feared cranky children but as that boat cruised down the Grand Canal, those cranky children had their cameras out, snapping photos, oohing and aahing. Better than any ride Disney has to offer. It was well worth the price, after a long night on a plane. Have fun!

Thanks all.

I wonder (will check on the site mentioned above) if the Alilaguna boat stops at the train station - which isn't far from our hotel. That could be an argument for not splurging on a water taxi, I guess.

We took the water taxi last week from our hotel to Marco Polo. We had the hotel make a reservation for us and they got us a fixed price of E 85.
IT was fast, scenic and very civilized.

Hadley, find out from your hotel how close the water taxi can get to the hotel. I know of some poeple that found that had to schlep their bags a distance because their hotel wasn't on a canal with adjhacent water taxi service.

Does anyone know if the water taxis accept credit cards? I've always paid cash and thought nothing of it but a friend has asked me this question and I'm stumped! Thanks for any info.

a cheaper way to do the same thing is to take the water bus (not the official name). it is larger than a taxi, but smaller than a vaporetto. you basically take the same route as the taxi except you make more stops. it will let you off at san marco and you can then take a vaporetto from there. i guess this is more of a hassle, but venice is so beautiful when you are approaching by boat this way that you will just admire the view and won't mind.

have fun. venice is wonderful.