I have to decide soon on this. I arrive Milan Malpensa at approx. 8 am. The early flight to Venice is full - next one is at 2:40 pm arriving approx. 3:45ish. Other option is to take a bus/shuttle to the central station? (1 hour ride?) in order to get a train to Venice - which is approx. 3 hr. ride...so would arrive approx. 1pm in Venice.

My question is, I've never arrived in Venice via airport - so I'm not sure what happens once I hit the ground there - will I have to jump on a train anyway to the train station where I will catch the vaperetto?

I'm thinking if I have to take a train either way I decide, I might as well go by train and arrive an hour or so earlier? - But, I'm using ff ticket business class - so if I do decide to take the 2:40 flight - (six hour layover) I'm assuming Malpensa has a nice Alitalia lounge I can relax in?

If anyone is familiar with both ways and can offer me some insight, I would greatly appreciate it - I have to book that portion before it sells out too. Keep in mind I will be alone, tired and the less hassle the better!

Thanks
Debbie

Take the train. It will take you four or five hours to arrive in Venice, but that's less than the six plus hours if you fly. You just take the shuttle right to the train station, and it's a three hour trip from there.

From the Venice airport, it will be another half hour (minimum) to hour and a half journey, depending on where you are staying. Not counting waiting.

I agree with Shannon. The shuttle bus from the airport to the Central staion in Milan is easy, frequent and realtively quick. Also if you fly into Venice jet-lagged you would probably want to take a water taxi (at least I would) which is pretty expensive. There are cheaper modes of transportation from the airport but they are more of a hassle. I'd sleep on the train from Milan and get into Venice a little earlier.

Thanks!

Thats sort of what I was thinking, but didn't have the first hand experience to make the decision.

I knew someone would set me straight!

Debbie

I suggest to take a shuttle for Milan train station and after take a train (the besti is Eurostar) directly to venice Santa Lucia.
Because if you take a fly for Venice, when you arrive in Marco Polo airport you have min. other one hour (if you take a watertaxi cost approx. 80 Euro) you arrive in centervenice in 30 min. but if you arrive by train you arrive directly in center of venice and after you can take a public waterbus (vaporetto) to go at your hotel.
Train timetable:
http://www.trenitalia.com/home/en/index.htm
(Milano central station - Venice Santa Lucia)
Vaporetto timetable and map:
http://www.actv.it/eng/home.php?PHPSESSID=613fe3444dfaa199cedfa99d21018eef

Sorry for my few english.
kiss from venice
Cristiana

from Milan to Venice with a train it's maximum 3 hours if you take a correct train
I suggest to take only a Eurostar (h.2,40 to venice) or Intercity (h.3 to venice).
Cristiana