According to one of our water taxi suppliers, the Venice airport has discontinued the free shuttle service between the main airport and the water taxi stand. They say that this means that passengers will need to walk the half-km from the airport exit to the water taxi stand to catch their taxi, instead of riding the bus. Alternately, they can hail a land-cab to take them and their luggage to the launch. Apparently, our supplier found this out by reading about it in a local paper, and has had to scramble to make adjustments in their rates to cover this last leg of private transfers from Venice to the airport.
I wasn't able to find any article online - do any Venetian locals have any info on this situation? Can anyone advise if it is worth the extra charge to book a private car for the first/last half-km of the trip? Or is the walk no problem? Thanks.
In fact, it's gone...I just found this out myself, and only by calling. They said it wasn't utilized enough to justify the price; I just can't imagine it, but it's going to shove a lot more money in the taxi driver's pocket. Maybe that's the point...
It's not a long walk, it's fairly flat, and much of it covered; but it's another 10-20 minutes of consideration for arriving in time for a flight. Yet another reason to pack light.
A very, very bad decision, if you asked me. Surely somebody will start a private shuttle service, even for a couple of euro per person. Not a bad idea...
Originally posted by Seth Zurer: ... They say that this means that passengers will need to walk the half-km from the airport exit to the water taxi stand to catch their taxi, instead of riding the bus. Alternately, they can hail a land-cab to take them and their luggage to the launch. ...
In that case, travelers might as well just take the land cab all the way to Piazzale Roma in Venice and save €50.
Without the shuttle bus transfer, I think the water taxi business is going to suffer, which could lead to protests from the water taxi drivers/owners.
What about travelers heading to the dock for the Alilaguna boat? Have they discontinued that shuttle bus? (I actually thought the shuttles were one and the same, since the water taxi and Alilaguna docks are side by side. )
Posts: 13715 | Location: The Beautiful San Francisco Bay Area | Registered: 06 August 2001
Personally I am not going to take a bus for a half KM ride.Suitcases roll Most airports require at least that amount of walking and more.why even bother? My first trip to venice we arrived on the alilaguna,I still remember that.I think it is the most picturesque way to arrive without spending a fortune on a taxi. RR
Personally, after traveling 14 hours (minimum) the last thing I'm going to do is haul my bag (yes, it rolls) 1/2 km. to catch a boat.
Colleen, The walk isn't too bad. My mom, who's 76, doesn't have any trouble with the walk. but it would be difficult for someone with a lot of luggage and/or health problems. We always found the shuttle bus to be way too crowded, so we've been walking it for years. I miss coming out of the old terminal and being right by the watertaxi landing. Sharon
Sharon, I'm sure you're right, and under certain circumstances I might be happy for the walk in fresh air. But what if it's raining? What if I'm not feeling well? What if ...
My point was that there are all sorts of differently-abled travelers from all over the world flying into Venice. How wonderful to be able to walk between the airport and the docks. Not all travelers can.
Posts: 13715 | Location: The Beautiful San Francisco Bay Area | Registered: 06 August 2001
It is, unfortunately, the same shuttle for Alilaguna, the water taxis, the parking lots, etc., everything down in the darsena/harbor. On a nice day the walk will be no big deal, but it's certainly going to cause some confusion. When the weather's bad...ugh.
People for whom money is no object will not blink at paying for a two-minute cab ride on their way to the 80 euro water taxi. And I won't mind the walk after begin squashed on a plane for 15 hours...if it's not raining, that is (it's downhill in that direction anyway). I've always avoided the bus/Piazzale Roma/waterbus connection, but that's also because of where I'm located.
It just complicates things, that's all. What a shame... I just can't help but think a private, low-cost shuttle service might not just pop up here shortly. We'll see.
there are all sorts of differently-abled travelers from all over the world flying into Venice. How wonderful to be able to walk between the airport and the docks. Not all travelers can.
Colleen, I absolutely agree with you and I hope the shuttle returns. In times of tight budgets, I can understand not running a free shuttle, but maybe they can start one that has a reasonable fee.
Originally posted by Colleen: Personally, after traveling 14 hours (minimum) the last thing I'm going to do is haul my bag (yes, it rolls) 1/2 km. to catch a boat.
The land taxi between the airport and Piazzale Roma is only about €30.
I agree with you. I also do not want to make the walk to or from the terminal bildings in 80 degree weather or in 20 degree weather. We have never had a land taxi cost as much as 30 Euro - usually it is about 23-27. For 50-55 Euro you can then take a water taxi from Piazzale Roma to your hotel or do what we do and hop on a vaporetto for a leisurely ride up the Grand Canal. Want to save money? Take the bus. The airport bus is about 2 Euro and the public bus even less. Personally I hate the Alilaguna. I think it is the worst of all options. We did enjoy being dropped at our private dock by a water taxi, but not enough to make the hike to the water after 8-10 hours on a plane. Ruth
The ACTV Bus #5 is perhaps less than 100 feet outside the airport, and will take you right to Piazzale Roma. It might not be ideal with lots of luggage, though. You'll be on the bus with all the local people. If you get the ACTV 3-day pass (25 Euros) for buses and vaporettos, there's no extra charge for this ride.
Venexiananan, No. If you really want to know;I suppose I will walk to the Aliluguna,then transfer to another vaporetto,stop near our hotel,then walk to our hotel,unpack,shower,watch my wife chash out in bed,then go for a 2 hour walk as she sleeps.That's the usual routine. RR
The first thing everyone learns in Italy is your going to have to walk. I walked from the airport to the water taxi area in about 10 minutes. The only thing bad about the walk is the heat/Humidity. I feel after sitting on a Jet with my knees up to my chin for 12 hours I needed to walk. I feel there is only one way to enter Venice and thats by Boat/water. It just makes the long journey to this great city more exciting........Bill
Posts: 121 | Location: WASHINGTON STATE | Registered: 21 November 2005
The walk doesn't bother me too much, but I can see how it could be a pain for those with mobility problems. It's one thing to walk, but it's another to walk with all your luggage. Plus, sometimes you are just exhausted. When I last flew into Venice, I got in too late for the shuttle bus, and after many hours of flying (inter-Europe, but still many hours) it did seem rather a far walk, even without luggage (that got lost.) I was relieved to get to the Alilaguna and sit down. And I am a walker.
The bottom line is, not everyone can just bounce out of a plane and have the energy to move everything to another place. Also, after your third or so trip, arriving on the water doesn't really matter so much anymore. You start to choose the best option to get to your destination at that point, whether it be by land or sea.
Thankfully, there are other options available besides the trek to the water for those who are too exhausted, have too much stuff (like me once with sixty copies of my book in a suitcase) or have mobility problems, or don't really care whether they get on a boat or into a car.
On our last trip we didn't get our bag until 1am or so and had to take a private taxi(shared).The last bus would not take cash,and my wife was in tears after our 20 hour ordeal of delayed flights,missing bags etc.Despite this it was nice to arrive by water.She was fine once we were at our stop.I think I dragged all our remaining bags to our hotel so she just had to sleep walk.Of course I could not sleep,as above time for a walk! Rr
Yes, I can think of a number of reasons after that ordeal, like your wife, why I would be in tears. It must be nice to have your stamina (especially after pacing on the plane across the Atlantic).
Though I find myself empathetic towards those who are at a disadvantage by the loss of the shuttle, as already mentioned, people with limited mobility, those dragging heavy luggage and those carrying small children, etc. What people should try to remember is that while some can easily handle a half a kilometer walk after overseas travel and getting through Customs, immigration, etc., others for a myriad of reasons may not be able to but it shouldn't preclude them from bothering to travel.
I my first state that I am not intending to bilittle or ridicule anybody with mobility difficulties, and I understand that many people want to use the shuttle.
My thought was, that if you do have the sort of problems that preclude you from walking the 10 minutes to the water taxi or Alilaguna, how are you going to cope with Venice ?
I don't mean this is a sarcastic way, but my recollection is that apart from San Marco, I seemed to spend my entire week in Venice climbing up and down the stairs of hundreds of bridges, or in and out of vaporetti.
Posts: 803 | Location: Hampshire, UK | Registered: 28 March 2005
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