WWYD? Venice water taxi vs alilaguna

Old Mar 23rd, 2016, 08:30 AM
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WWYD? Venice water taxi vs alilaguna

Since there are 4 of us traveling it seems it might be worth it to splurge on water taxi from Marco Polo to Hotel Flora. I understand that they do not have their own dedicated dock but there is an accessible dock visible from their courtyard.

We have some over 60 travelers, I want ease of travel for everyone.

The hotel website says it is a 3 minute walk from the alilaguna drop off point to hotel, but I do not know how difficult (stairs) and overwhelmingly crowded this walk is at mid day in peak season on a first time visit (don't know our way around) after a long overseas flight. These thoughts give me anxiety at half my in laws age. I am a jet lag sufferer & I don't do well with crowds.

The cost difference works out to 14pp vs 25pp. This will be my in laws first and only trip to Venice and possibly Italy/Europe all together. This is an occasion for a taxi, right?

Any idea how long the taxi transfer might take? One thing holding me back is that if it's very quick we might end up waiting a bit for hotel check in and maybe we might as well spend that time on the 1:15 alilaguna transfer. Plane lands at 13:15.

Thanks.
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Old Mar 23rd, 2016, 08:36 AM
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One thing you don't mention (and perhaps don't know about) is that the amount of water taxi traffic that Venice now experiences has been proven to cause extreemely serious damage to the foundations of Venice, exacerbating is preservation problems. This is more than just an issue of Venice "sinking". It is damage done to the foundtions that allows salt water to begin to creep into higher areas of Venice, corroding precious architecture, in particular marble.

Some people will proudly tell you they simply could not care less about this and they'll take a water taxi, crank up their air con and do anything they please to put thier comfort zone first. But if you ask others "WWYD?", they'll tell you they will help save Venice for future generations.
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Old Mar 23rd, 2016, 08:40 AM
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http://www.italianostra-venezia.org/...id=161&lang=it

http://www.venipedia.org/wiki/index....le=Moto_Ondoso
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Old Mar 23rd, 2016, 08:48 AM
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I think Alliguna is not great if there are 4 of you, quite a bit of luggage to deal with, you don;t like crowds and are not happy about making your way to the hotel. I would definitely take the Water Taxi so the diver can help you with the luggage, arrange with the hotel for you to call them as you approach the hotel and ask them to send a bellman to meet you and deal with the luggage.
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Old Mar 23rd, 2016, 09:15 AM
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The Alliguna takes a very long time -- the difference in cost is not very much really. I'd definitely opt for the water taxi.
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Old Mar 23rd, 2016, 09:16 AM
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I think the water taxi makes sense in this case. I, too, don't do well with jet lag and usually opt for the easiest transport to our first hotel. If the hotel isn't ready for you to check in, you likely can drop off your luggage and go for a stroll.
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Old Mar 23rd, 2016, 09:41 AM
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I would take the water taxi.

Actually, I would take the #5 bus to Piazzale Roma then transfer to the vaporetto, but I know my way around Venice.

Enjoy the magnificent city.


Thin
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Old Mar 23rd, 2016, 09:42 AM
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Ignore the guilt trip and the lecture from a silly troll. Venice is a boating community. It has always been a boating community. Speed limits for motorboats throughout Venice are strictly enforced and have been for many years. Water Taxi captains tend to live there, so it'll be hard to find locals who care more about preservation. Guilting a tourist out of taking a water taxi in Venice for environmental reasons is like guilting a tourist in L.A. for renting a car. Absolutely silly and a complete waste of time.

Hotel Flora is just a little tricky to find. There are small signs indicating the tiny street to turn down, off of Via Marzo 22. The tiny street you turn down is called Calle dei Bergamaschi, but the street name is not listed on most maps. Bergamaschi is between Calle del Pestrin and Calle Pedrocchi.

There are two water docks nearby that offer fairly simple foot access to the hotel's front door, but none can be seen from the hotel. From Rio de l'Alboro (the canal just west of the hotel) there's Fondamenta de le Ostreghe. The more popular dock (right on the Grand Canal) is at Calle del Traghetto. From here, you walk straight to Marzo 22, turn left, and walk three streets and turn left on Calle dei Bergamaschi. Bergamaschi sort of looks like a dead-end street which empties into Hotel Flora, but you can turn right at the hotel entrance and walk to Fondamenta de le Ostreghe.

Hotel Flora may offer a specific map for luggage drop-off. I would write them and ask. If you have further questions, don't hesitate to ask.
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Old Mar 23rd, 2016, 09:50 AM
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I forgot to add:

The Blue Line Alilaguna stops between San Marco Vallaresso and Giardinetti. You have to cross a bridge at Rio del Giardinetti in order to get to Calle Vallaresso. Calle Vallaresso ends at Via Marzo 22. But after you make the left, you have to cross another bridge at Campo San Moise to get to Calle dei Bergamaschi. The walk is more like six minutes. With luggage, a water taxi provides a much easier arrival to Hotel Flora.
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Old Mar 23rd, 2016, 10:05 AM
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It's unlikely that you'd be at the hotel before check in time if your plane lands at 13:30. By the time you get your luggage, make your way to the taxi dock and then get to the hotel, it will probably be between 14:30 and 15:00.
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Old Mar 23rd, 2016, 10:11 AM
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Where did you get that rate for the water taxi? It seems a little low.

NYCFoodSnob - I think the Alilaguna they are thinking of is the one that stops at Santa Maria del Giglio (orange line) which is a bit closer.

From Santa Maria del Giglio there is one bridge to cross that can be a pain due to crowds. But its a pretty straight shot.

The water taxi would be quicker and easier, but I am thinking it would be more like 120 to 130 euros. If you have a quote for 100 euros, go for it.

If you are too early to check in and too tired to walk around, the Hotel Flora has a lovely garden area where you can chill out for a little while.
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Old Mar 23rd, 2016, 10:12 AM
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Taxi.
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Old Mar 23rd, 2016, 10:16 AM
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Sorry, posted too quickly.

I should have added that depending on where we are staying, we take the bus and vaporetto, or the Alilaguna. Usually we take the bus and vap to Venice, and the Alilaguna back to the airport.

However, we have made several trips to Venice.

For a first trip, after flying all night, with older folks, and some inherent discomfort for you, I think a water taxi is the sensible answer.

Asking the hotel to send a bellman to the taxi dock is a good idea.
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Old Mar 23rd, 2016, 10:27 AM
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re: Santa Maria del Giglio (orange line)

Yes, the Arancio works, too. Only one large bridge to cross at Rio l'Alboro.
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Old Mar 23rd, 2016, 10:32 AM
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>>> We have some over 60 travelers, I want ease of travel for everyone.

I presume they can handle stepping into and out of possibly wobbly boats?
Both Alilaguna and watertaxi require climbing into and out of the boats. As others mentioned, Alilaguna is a slow way.

You can test walk using google map street view. Most paths in that area are full of tourists around that time. That would not impede your passage with carry-on size luggage. One thing I had to deal with was when I had to travel with someone with a fear of crowds - having anxiety being in the middle of a sea of people. I had to avoid going through narrow passages even if it was a short cut.
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Old Mar 23rd, 2016, 10:33 AM
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We stayed at Hotel Flora one time and remember going over bridges with stairs to get from Aliguna dock to hotel. It was doable.
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Old Mar 23rd, 2016, 10:48 AM
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If you REALLY want to do it up brown some of the services will actually DRIVE you from the terminal over to the taxi dock area.
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Old Mar 23rd, 2016, 11:11 AM
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Dukey
What services will drive you to the dock?
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Old Mar 23rd, 2016, 11:19 AM
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Wow, you guys are so helpful. Thank you for such detailed info.

To answer some of you-

Rialtogrl - I thought 99E seemed suspiciously low too so I made sure to follow the offer all the way through to almost the very end of the checkout process to confirm and it seems to be legit. They start with a base fare of 59E and tack on 40 for Marco Polo for a total off 99E. This is where I found it http://www.venicelink.com/en/products/watertaxi
And yes we can relax in the garden courtyard-which was a big selling feature when you recommended Hotel Flora to me

Greg - They are healthy and moderately active, loading on/off boats should be fine. The bigger concern is managing general stress of travel and avoiding feeling overwhelmed or anxious. If their son (my husband) is any indication of them then they don't handle wrong turns or missteps very well. And since it's on me to sort this out I want to minimize risk for getting turned around. At least on initial arrival.

Thanks again everyone, water taxi it is. I'll let our hotel know of our arrival with the hotel in advance as suggested.
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Old Mar 23rd, 2016, 11:57 AM
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>>> they don't handle wrong turns or missteps very well.
How does one NOT make wrong turns Venice?
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