Boots in Venice

We missed the flooding by a day. April 09. The raised walkways were out. As others said it was for a few hours. But you never know when it'll happen. And unless you plan to carry boots around just in case. Or are at the hotel when it happens. Boots back at the hotel won't be of much help. Spending most of my life in an area where at least a few times a year. You get heavy rains. Where 5+ inches of rain can accumulate in the streets. You'll have basically 2 options. 1) Stay on higher ground, till it goes down. Or. 2) Take off your shoes and socks, roll up your pants, and be a kid. I love Venice. The desk at our Paris hotel was jealous, when he learned we were heading on to Venice.

You're more likely to see the Aqua Alta in November and December. It rarely happens in April. I would just leave the boots at home and if needed buy a cheap pair when you are in Venice. Donna

Absolutely do not take up precious luggage space for rubber boots you probably won't use. Here's a photo of the cute plastic boots that are sold there in case you do encounter aqua alta: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gesuati5ph/3752528231/ and another quick little article about aqua alta:
http://europeforvisitors.com/venice/articles/acqua-alta.htm Have a lovely trip, I'm jealous. I loved Venice in the evening.

Only parts of Venice flood during the acqua alta. And those are usually flooded for only a few hours. On the off chance you get flooding, just avoid those areas and you'll be fine. Have a great time. Venice is beautiful.

We visited Venice during the high tide in late May. The only areas where it was noticeable was St Mark's church and small areas around it on the same square. Occasionally areas around sewer pipe access covers were also wet, but nothing was submerged by any means.

Don't pack boots. a flashlight for looking at your map would be more useful! I was there Dec 3rd with aqua alta so high we could not get thru San Marco on the walkways. We just turned around and retraced our steps to a restaurant and chilled till it went down.
Those plastic baggie boots are 9 -12 euros a pair, depending on the store. They are sold all over, and have a flat hard plastic bottom that holds them on your shoes. You really probably won't need them, but they will be on display like the umbrellas if warranted. Love Venice.

Thank you all for your unanimous input. I'll not relinquish a centimeter of luggage space to rubber boots. And all will be well.

I was in Venice in December, in the midst of aqua alta. I wore my typical winter walking boots that are water proof, just as long as they are not submersed. Even though the tide was high, never once did my feet touch the water. I only had to walk on the elevated side walks once, at the Ca Rezzonica stop. What was funny is that Italian women everywhere in Italy wore very colorful rubber boots to their knees with jeans tucked in.......except in Venice.