The information contained in Slow Travel Talk about public transportation in Venice was very helpful. I read the information about getting from the Venice airport to Venice but I would like advice on getting back to the airport. Our KLM flight leaves at 6:40am and so that means getting a very early start from hour hotel on the Grand Canal. What would be the best way to get to the airport by at least 5:30am? We were on a cruise and so will have 2 large suitcases and that may complicate things. Thanks,
Dennis Rose
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Posts: 2 | Location: Fort Myers, FL | Registered: 07 April 2005
The 4:20 Alilaguna WATER bus from the Zattere landing (or 4:35 from San Marco landing) will get you to the airport around 5:35 a.m. Fare is 10 Euros.
If your hotel is close to Piazzale Roma or the Santa Lucia train station, you should take the ATVO blue BUS from Piazzale Roma direct to the airport at 5:00 a.m. (arrival at airport at 5:20 a.m.). BUS fare is 3 Euros.
My favorite way to get to and from the airport is by private water taxi. This is the most expensive option, but we consider it a real treat. Since your hotel is on the Grand Canal, the taxi should be able to pull right up to the hotel, or close to it. Ask the hotel to reserve one for you the night before.
Someone who has been in Venice more recently than I can comment on the cost.
Posts: 348 | Location: San Francisco, CA | Registered: 22 April 2003
The private water taxi is a fast and efficient and expensive way to get to hte airport. We used to love it, but now, for an early morning flight, it is a pain because the new terminals are not near the water. The shuttle buses do not run as early as 5:00 or 5:30 AM so you have to walk to the terminals. It is not a terribly long walk but if you have a lot of luggage, and if there are no luggage carts that have been left on the docks, you really have to schlep your own stuff. The Alilaguna is reasonably priced but very slow, and you will have the same problem on arrival of getting to the terminal from the water not mention possibly getting from your hotel to one of the Alilaguna stops..\ I woudl recommend a vaporetto to Piazzale Roma and then a land taxi which will drop you off right in front of the departure terminal. The vaporettos start running between 4:00 and 4:30 AM. A land taxi will be about 25 E and take about 20-25 minutes. You could also take a water taxi to the Piazzale Roma and then a land taxi from there. A waer taxi within Venice will cost around 50 E instead of the 85 or 90 it takes to go to Marco Polo. There are also buses leaving from Piazzale Roma for the airport, but I am less sure what time they start running. On our last few trips we have enjoyed an early morning glide down the Grand Canal and then a quick land taxi to the airport; it has been quick and not too terribly expensive. Ruth
I thank both Susie L and GAC for information about getting from Venice to Marco Pool Airport. Does anyone know of the approximate cost for a private water taxi from Ca' d'Oro to the airport and about 4:30am? I don't know if it is more expensive at this time of the day Thanks... Dennis Rose
Posts: 2 | Location: Fort Myers, FL | Registered: 07 April 2005
ruth mentioned €85-90 from the city to the airport; i think that's the standard fare.
one point about early morning water taxis - sometimes the lagoon fog is too thick for them to run. if that's the case, they'll deliver you to either the alilaguna stop or piazzale roma - your choice.
Dennis, have a look at Boleskine's reply, just above your last post. She's a regular traveller to Venice, and sets out the cost, as well as the disadvantages of a water taxi. Up until about 3 years ago, the water taxi dock was right next to the passenger terminal - but this is no longer the case.
Jonathan
Posts: 2975 | Location: Stroud, UK | Registered: 18 November 2001
Our hotel in Venice arranged for a private taxi , then a shuttle to the airport terminal for us. Expensive, yes, but worth it because we had 2 large bags plus carry-ons. The best thing was that the hotel porter helped to load our bags into the water taxi, which can be a difficult feat if your bags are heavy.
Originally posted by Nancy L: Our hotel in Venice arranged for a private taxi , then a shuttle to the airport terminal for us. Expensive, yes, but worth it because we had 2 large bags plus carry-ons. The best thing was that the hotel porter helped to load our bags into the water taxi, which can be a difficult feat if your bags are heavy.
That is exactly what I would recommend, Nancy -- if money is not a problem, the quality hotels will make all the arrangements so you don't have to worry. For example, Cipriani's charges 120 euro for this service, which includes everything, being met by a representative, porter, shuttle, private boat taxi, etc. They raise their price for the early and late hours, however, to 170 euro (for up to four people). Since your hotel is much closer, I would imagine the price would be less. Why don't you call or email your hotel and ask them? Or, if they have a website, the information could be right there.
I just reserved a water taxi for clients by going direct to the Consorizio Motoscafi Venezia web site.
You know, Jim, I saw something in the window of the travel agency in San Lucca that I keep meaning to check. It says they have airport transportation by water taxi for 25 euro a person. I don't think I'll have time to check on this for awhile, probably not for a month or so. Do you know anything about it? Anyone? I am wondering if it's a kind of Super Shuttle, where they make several stops... that's just a guess, though. But it would be an interesting idea, n'est pas?
I've taken that early KLM flight. We were picked up by water taxi at 5:00am and we got to the airport by 5:25am. We did not realize that it is about a 5 minute walk from the watertaxi dock at the airport to the check-in counters. There is a regular airport shuttle that runs from the dock to arrivals but as Ruth mentions about, the shuttle does not start running until 5:45. Fortunately we travel light so it was not too bad of a walk but if you have heavy luggage it might be a little difficult. We didn't see any luggage carts.
A couple of people have mentioned that their hotels arranged shuttles. Did that include a private shuttle that met you at the watertaxi dock and transported you to the airport departure area? Or was the regular shuttle running when you arrived at the airport?
If your luggage is heavy, I would consider Ruth's recommendations of getting to Piazzale Roma by waterbus or water taxi and then taking a land taxi.
We will arrive in Venice with 3 small children and lots of luggage. I was going to take a private water taxi to our hotel but the hotel does have a service (180E) that they will arrange the taxi. It is just so expensive to have them arrange it, worth it?
Originally posted by cyndy: We will arrive in Venice with 3 small children and lots of luggage. I was going to take a private water taxi to our hotel but the hotel does have a service (180E) that they will arrange the taxi. It is just so expensive to have them arrange it, worth it?
A water taxi you get at the airport should only cost you 85-90 Euro; that is half of what the hotel is charging. There is a free shuttle bus from the terminals to the water. It is not very convenient because there is no luggge storage, but the trip is short and unless you are arriving extremely early or late, the shuttle should be running about every ten-twenty minutes minutes. I have never had a problem getting a water taxi at the airport. Although once or twice I have had to wait about five minutes for an incoming one to arrive, usually there are several waiting for passengers who are going back to Venice. Another option would be to take a land taxi to hte Piazale Roma and then a waterctaxi but with five people and a lot of luggage you might need two land taxis and that would get expensive. I would save half the 180 Euro and get my own water taxi. Ruth
I agree with Ruth - catch the shuttle bus from the airport to the docks and get your own water taxi there. Be sure to have the hotel's name and location with you.
(I'd check with the hotel in advance to see if their water entrance is in different location than their main/street entrance.)
Originally posted by cyndy: We will arrive in Venice with 3 small children and lots of luggage. I was going to take a private water taxi to our hotel but the hotel does have a service (180E) that they will arrange the taxi. It is just so expensive to have them arrange it, worth it?
You can do it yourself and save... it is up to you to decide if it is worth it. Ruth knows better than I do how much a water taxi to the airport is because I take the land taxi or blue bus. The porters that are at the airport can have your luggage sent ahead to the water taxi stop for a price. I don't know how much it would be, but it would probably depend on how much luggage you have. Then you will have to tip the bellman to get it from the water taxi to the hotel, so add that on, too. I would imagine if you pay 180 euro for the service, you would NOT tip anyone and not worry about anything, it would just be done. So... how much is that worth with three small children after a long plane ride? I know when I had my two sisters and two nieces I paid anyone and everyone to get them and all their luggage out of here
thanks for the help. this trip keeps getting more and more expensive so i think we will just do it ourselves. are there carts available to transport the luggage ourselves to the water taxi stop?
Originally posted by cyndy: thanks for the help. this trip keeps getting more and more expensive so i think we will just do it ourselves. are there carts available to transport the luggage ourselves to the water taxi stop?
There are baggage carts at the airport which you an take to the docks. You have to pay for them and I think it costs about 2 Euro. From the docks to the airport - it is strictly the luck of the draw - if someone has left carts and they have not yet been collected, you can get one free; otherwise you schlep. Ruth
To Dennis Rose: If you travel light the Allilaguna leaves the San marco dock at 4:35AM and it's 10 euros per person. The ride is longer than private taxi but so cheap... I did it a month ago and it was just fine.
Originally posted by yymca6: To Dennis Rose: If you travel light the Allilaguna leaves the San marco dock at 4:35AM and it's 10 euros per person. The ride is longer than private taxi but so cheap... I did it a month ago and it was just fine.
The Alilaguna is a lot longer - they tell you to allow an hour and a half - a water taxi takes about 25-35 minutes. You also have to get to the Alilaguna which leaves from the San Marco area, Zattere, Arsenale, Lido and Murano. Unless you are within walking distance of one of those places, you might as well take a vaporetto to the Piazzale Roma and then a land taxi. That will still take less than an hour. You can say good-bye to Venice as you glide down the Grand Canal. You can even be outside. In the Alilaguna, you have to sit inside and your only view is through high, heavy plastic windows that are not always very clean. Ruth
Originally posted by cyndy: thanks for the help. this trip keeps getting more and more expensive so i think we will just do it ourselves. are there carts available to transport the luggage ourselves to the water taxi stop?
I will say that the 180 euro will be money well spent to get the hostess. You will be getting off a long plane ride with three small children, landing in a foreign country. It sounds like a nightmare to fiddle with the luggage carts -- you will probably need more than one -- and walk down to the lagoon. You don't say how young your children are, but what seems like a short walk to an adult can seem much longer to a child -- just as the plane ride itself will seem longer to a child. In my opinion, once again, the stress you will spare five people is worth the money. If it were two adults with a little luggage, I would have a different opinion. To me, if you want to save money, it would be far more pleasurable to go ou
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