We [3] will be staying in a villa near Lucca for 4 weeks. At some time we will drive into Venice.What is the best way to go, stay on the mainland and train it in each day, or park, and live, on the island.Where is the best park in Venice for 3-4 days stay.The mainland Hotels dont seem to that cheap that warrent the time spent on the train, or is there a better way to get on the island each day ??
Thanks for the great advice on this chatroom.

Heather & Don

I'd prefer to stay in Venice for the convenience of sightseeing and being able to make pits stops in the hotel room during the day. For parking over a few days I'd suggest Tronchetto. http://www.veniceparking.it/en/index2.htm

More information about Venice parking: http://europeforvisitors.com/venice/articles/tronchetto_parking_garage.htm

Find a safe parking lot near the train station in Mestre, park there, train into Venice and stay there. Pick up your car as you leave. Tronchetto is very expensive...

Callile

The general consensus is it's better to stay in Venice proper. Some of us feel this VERY strongly. To soak in the mood of Venice, it's better to be there in the morning and the evening and not have to worry about transportation back and forth.

For general information, Venice is on a series of islands in the middle of the lagoon. It is reached by a causeway from Mestre. The causeway holds a road and a railroad track. Just at the end of the causeway (and the beginning of Venice) is a large parking garage called the Tronchetto. I have heard of some theft problems in this garage, so don't leave anything valuable in your car.

Train fares being pretty cheap in Italy, you might consider taking the train from Lucca to Venice.

I agree with all of the above posters. Absolutely stay in Venice, as the early mornings and evenings are the most magical times. All of the tourists staying on the mainland aren't around!

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Add another vote to staying in Venice. Tronchetto and Piazzale Roma are going to be expensie compared ot Mestre, but since you canot use a car IN Venice, I agree with Susie L. who suggeted leaving your car in Lucca and taking the train to venice - just be sure to get off at Venice Santa Lucia and not Venice Mestre.
There are lots of reasonably priced hotels and B&B's in Venice, and even some apartments that rent on a short term basis. Venice cannot be rushed, and staying in Venice, is in my mind, far more pleasurable than commuting to it. And, as someone else has mentioned, Venice is made up of many small islands - a fact that hits home around the time you are crossing your ninth or tenth bridge. Ruth

Heather,
You didn't mention if you are renting the car. If so, why not turn the car in as you enter Venice and then rent another one as you leave?
We've done this a couple of times and did not have to be concerned about parking or trains. The car return is right at Piazzle Roma.

So far we are unanimous that staying in Venice is preferable.

Cost seemed to be an important factor in your decision. You've received some interesting options to consider and cost out:

• the cost of keeping the car, driving to Venice and back and paying for parking while there
• the potential savings from turning the car in and avoiding both rental fees and parking for three or four days while in Venice
• the cost of keeping the car but leaving it at your villa in Lucca and taking the train to Venice and back

We drove from central Tuscany to Venice last spring. It's not a difficult drive but, once you pass Bologna, it's also not particularly interesting. Personally, I'd prefer to take the train.