Go Opti versus Flixbus from Rovinj to Venice

I have no experience with transporation along your route, but I've taken dozens of buses in Europe in the last three years, quite a lot of them in the Balkans, and they were all very comfortable. I don't see any reason to pay a lot of extra money for the privilege of waking up 2-1/2 hours earlier. The prospect makes me quake. I guess this would give you the opportunity to take that often-recommended walk through Venice while the city is waking up.

Although what you've laid out are probably the fastest and most direct options (short of chartering a helicopter), I imagine you could cobble something together via public transportation, plus perhaps a taxi across the border, that would have you starting out at a saner hour. It would certainly take quite a bit longer, though.

What date in April? Are you sure you are choosing shared transfer? Checking a random date with GoOpti right now (April 24), I see a price of 23 Euros per person for a shared transfer between 6-9am. (You can choose any time departure or arrival time you want - what happens if you choose a later time than 3:15am?) If you are doing it correctly and see that high price, could it be you have chosen a holiday or something?

Like you, I've heard good things about GoOpti but never used them. I have used FlixBus from Ljubljana to Trieste. It wast s fine.

You could also just get to the Trieste train station and take the train the rest of the way. I doubt that will save you any time or money, though. I'd probably consider just to shorten the bus or van ride and because I like trains.

Forget waiting around. At Rovinj station, buy a bus ticket to Trieste day before you leave and take a bus or train from there to Venice. In Trieste the bus and train stations are almost next to each other and there is lots of choice for getting to Venice.

Another vote for bus to Trieste and train to Venice. It won't save you much time or money, but it will be a more comfortable journey and you'll avoid the congested Trieste - Venice autostrada.

Thanks for all the input!
I should clarify that the prices I had quoted were for our family of 4 leaving on April 6. In a quick check today, the prices were down a bit for the Go Opti option. I was under the impression that the sooner you buy, the lower the prices, but that may not be the case.
I will look into the bus >Trieste, train>Venice option. Our goal is to get there sometime before noon, so that we can have a large portion of the day to explore. I realize that does mean leaving early---but we are hoping to be able to catch a bit of sleep enroute!

Yes, the prices you quote seem a lot more reasonable for four people.

For April 6, on GoOpti I see a price of 19 Euros per person (for four) from Rovinj to Trieste or 21 Euros per person to Venice Piazzale Roma, pick-up between 8:00 and 10:00 (or probably later if you want).

GoOpti will probably go up closer to departure, but it's hard to predict - depends on their capacity, other people's cancellations, etc.
The FlixBus prices will probably go up too closer to departure as cheaper tickets sell out.

I guess I'd take GoOpti to avoid getting up so early, if you don't need to be in Venice early.

I checked into the bus>Trieste, train>Venice. The cost for the bus to Trieste is only 2.5 euros less than to take the bus all the way to Venice---and we would have to leave at the same time (5:40am) and hope it's on time for the train transfer and get into Venice at exactly the same time as the bus. It would be more comfortable no doubt,--- but just a bit more hassle IMO. In the end, I think we will go with Flixbus. It just seems easier, rather than transfer---or have the 3 hour departure time frame for the GoOpti.

Thanks for all the suggestions! I can't wait for our trip!

I think I'd opt for GoOpti in this case, just to avoid getting up so early...and I'd take it all the way to Venice, actually. I've taken the train from Trieste to Venice twice. Even though I love trains, I wouldn't call this an amazing train ride - about average. The simplicity of the direct van ride would and the slight extra cost would probably swing me toward the direct van.

GoOpti will let you know exact arrival time by email and text a day before, so you wouldn't have to sit out there for three hours waiting for them.

I wouldn't bet on the FlixBus being on time. Last year, I took a FlixBus from Ljubljana to Trieste. It arrived 45+ min late. (Fortunately, I had the FlixBus app on my phone, so they sent me delay notifications so I wasn't left wondering!) Maybe at 5:40am you wouldn't be so likely to have any delays. But we also got stopped for 20 minutes at the Italian border for passport checks (cops took all US passports and took them off the bus and checked them in their squad car, then brought them back). Maybe you won't have to deal with that either, but who knows?

The bus should work out good for you, it is usually very reliable and is preferred way to travel for us locals when not using a car. When you compare bus service and GoOpti on reliability, bus has much better reputation in Croatia.

Roxanne, if you want to get up a bit later, Getbybus.com indicates that Brioni, an established Croatian bus operator, runs a bus service departing Rovinj at 6:50am and arriving in Trieste at 8:55am. You could then catch the 9:15 Regionale Veloce train to arrive in Venezia S. Lucia at 11:20am.

We have taken the bus many times, from Rijeka to Zagreb is one route. We usually get the tickets the day before. You too can get a bus ticket a day or two before so why don’t you wait to see when the catamaran schedules come out. It is still a little early.

I don't think there's any hurry, either, but international buses are a bit different from buses within a country. In my experience, there's a greater risk of a sell-out when you're crossing a border. And the buses don't typically run as frequently, either, so if you can't get on the one you planned to take, you're probably going to lose a good bit of time.

Looks like the international bus from Rovinj to Trieste costs around $18 each and takes less than an hour.

First Istria-Venice catamaran service start is April 28