Hello everyone,

I'm finally getting around to planning our Italian vacation in early September. We will be leaving from Venice and wanted some advise on how to get to the airport. We are flying into Innsbruck and leaving from Venice.

Our flight leaves Venice at 6:25am! It goes to Amsterdam and we switch planes in Amsterdam for Seattle. I am not certain how early I have to check in but I suspect between 1-2 hours before the flight since the first flight is inter-continental. This still means finding transportation early in the morning around 4:00am. We haven't booked our accommodations yet so I can't say what area of Venice we will be staying.

I am looking for advice from the group. Here are a couple of questions:

• How long does it take to get to the Airport from Venice?
• What is the best transportation to the airport?
• Someone recommended scheduling a water taxi. Any experience with scheduling a pick up? What if you don't speak Italian and you are staying at an apartment?
• Would you recommend staying the final night at the airport or outside of Venice instead?

Thanks for the advice.
Marta

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Kim,

Several ways to go- Water taxi (very expensive); vaporetto to Piazalle Roma, then the airport bus; or Alilaguna waterbus. At that hour of the morning, I'd schedule a water taxi. And if you're in a group, the cost won't be too painful per person. The vaporetto and Alilaguna schedules probably won't work too well for you. (I loved the Alilaguna- it goes from the Airport dock to Murano, Lido, San Marco, and Zatarre). The Alilaguna takes around 1 hour 15 minutes from Zatarre (Giudecca side of Dorsoduro); I've been told water taxi takes 40-50 minutes to the airport. I'd contact my rental agent beforehand for info on getting a water taxi- they can probably take care of this for you.

On timing... the Venice airport is very small- but our experience was a very slow moving check-in line. Even so, we arrived at 9:15 and easily made our 10:30 flight.

Here's info on the web I found helpful:

Arriving in Venice
http://europeforvisitors.com/venice/articles/arriving_in_venice.htm

Airport Boat
http://europeforvisitors.com/venice/articles/venice_airport_boat.htm

ACTV-Venice Transportation-Vaperetto Routes

http://www.actv.it/eng/home.php

Alilaguna

http://www.alilaguna.com/

Venice transportation
http://europeforvisitors.com/venice/articles/venice_transportation.htm

Great information. That will give me a lot to review. Thanks a lot, Amy.

Marta

Marta, depending on how many nights you have in Venice, you might want to spend your last one on the mainland. That's what we're doing...our return flight leaves at 7:30 a.m. and I just felt more confident (i.e., less anxious!) staying in Mestre....a short taxi ride to the airport (15 KM). We're staying at the Holiday Inn-Marghera/Mestre-yeah, not very romantic for one's final night in Italy, but I think by then we'll just want a place to spread out and re-pack all our wine and olive oil, and be assured of being able to book a taxi to pick us up at 5:30 a.m. or so! So the thought of a big touristy american-style hotel didn't seem like such a bad one. And we can always go into Venice for dinner that last night, if we have the energy left!

Janet

The airport ride in a water taxi cost us e 85 for 4 people and luggage a few weeks ago. We were at the ALA Hotel which has a canal pick up point. The ride took about 40 minutes, we were picked up at 04:45 and there were quite a few people at the airport at that time! We did however have plenty of time to check through, and since it is a relatively small airport we were able to reach the gate in plenty of time. The flight home is another story.

Hi Marta,
I think all of your options for getting to the airport from Venice have been covered by others. I'll just add a slight modification to the vaporetto to Piazzale Roma/airport bus option.

I had a 6:35am (gag) flight to Frankfurt in January, and after taking a vaporetto to Piazzale Roma, rather than look/wait for a bus, I took a land taxi to the airport. The taxi ride was about €24, and took between 15 and 20 minutes. (It's hard to remember details at that hour of the morning!) I arrived at Marco Polo airport at approx. 5:30am, and quickly checked in. The line for security took a little bit longer, but I was already sitting in a chair waiting when the news stand and coffee shop opened at 6am.

If you decide to take a water taxi: to schedule one, I'd probably stop by one of the water taxi booths (There's one near San Marco, one at Piazzale Roma, and probably a few others) and make arrangements in person.

Venice is so magical for me, I'd always opt to stay *in* Venice my last night, and soak up as much of it as I could...

Was wondering...is it appropriate (expected?) to tip a water taxi? We're probably going to take one from the airport to our hotel....

leaving tomorrow evening, so answer quick!!

Janet

Now my 2 cents - it does really make a difference where you are staying in Venice. And Janet, NOOOOO! The mainland. Yuck! I guess it is too late to turn back now.

OK now the real stuff. If you booked yourself into La Calcina in Dorsoduro or the Pensione Bucintoro in Castello, the Alilaguna would be the best way because it stops right there. If you are staying near a vaporetto stop, it is easy to take the vaporetto and then a taxi or land bus. If you can afford it by all means take a water taxi as it is by far the quickest and easiest. I have not had luck speaking English to the water taxi companies on the phone but my bad Italian worked, and the guys at the stands speak English and can book one for you. Note that at that time there will be a surcharge for being so early but it should be around 80 Euro. You are not expected to tip but it is always nice to give them something if they are nice.

The Venice airport is always crowded at that hour so give yourself at least an hour. The hard part is getting through security where they seem to have a German/Austrian thing going - I have been turned away more than once. But don't worry you will make it no matter what method you choose.

I completely agree with Shannon. Stay in Venice the entire time. It will be one less move and that much less of a hassle. We were picked up by our water taxi at 4:00 am. Our rental agent arranged everything. He was waiting for us right on time, loaded and unloaded our bags and made the 4:00 am departure from Venice and arrival at the airport completely hassle/stress free. Well worth the extra money. I think the ride took about 30 minutes.
Have a great time!
Tom