Is 24 hours in Venice worth it?

Absolutely! Despite jet lag, try to stay up to enjoy Venice at night - take a Grand Canal vaporetto ride if you can. Venice in the morning is great too, maybe even better than evening in some ways. Stay on the island though - don't stay on the mainland and day trip in.

Take every opportunity you can to visit this one of a kind jewel. You will be there in the evening and next morning which is the absolute best time to visit Venice.

Any minute you can spare is worth it.

I agree it is worth it! Evening and early morning are best! My very first visit there was by myself for the day. Took an early morning train in and left around dinner time. Not ideal, but was still totally worth it!

Checking the RS itineraries, it looks like you will be taking the Village Italy tour, so you won't be heading to Venice on your tour. Definitely stay overnight in Venice! I would recommend Hotel Ala. When we stayed there on our last trip to Venice, we saw that a RS tour was also staying there.

From the airport, take the Aliguna boat (NOT a taxi boat $$$) from the airport down the Grand Canal; this is the Orange (Arancio) Line. Get off at the S. Maria Del Giglio stop, which is the last stop, I think. The hotel is very close. This will put you near St. Mark's and the highlights. The next day when you leave, just take the vaporetto (water bus) up the Grand Canal to the train station and hop a train to Padova.

Hard to think of a better way to start your trip.

I agree with everybody, but Venice is my favorite city in Italy. Walk around and explore the rest of the day. Enjoy the island after all the boat people and day tourists have gone. Have a great meal. Do the night trip up the Grand Canal (get a 24 hour vaporetto pass). Get up the next morning and take the first Secret Itinerary tour of the Doge Palace (reserve in advance). Walk next door and see the Cathedral with the lights on (reserve a time). Grab your bags and head to Padua.

Have a great trip.

Totally agree - worth it. It's a fantastic city.

Venice is magical, especially at night! I would try to take a SHORT nap in the afternoon, so that you can stay up to enjoy taking a gondola ride, and just explore. Early morning before the crowds begin to arrive is also wonderful for walking and exploring. Stay in Venice! You won't regret it.

Venice is the perfect place to be jet-lagged --- you can wander around without having to cross streets or watch out for motorcycles or bicycles. Don't do any of the major tourist things and plan to return some day. Preferably in the winter.

You only live once! If this is your one shot at it - go for it!

YES! Even a few hours in Venice is worth it. If you turn out to be one of those people who don’t like Venice, well, at least you will know you don’t need to go back.

Venice is quite lovely and you can easily see quite a bit of it, naturally on foot, in just a few hours. One recommendation: As you will be crossing streets which means going up a flight of stairs, across a bridge and then down another flight of steps, you will cover much more territory (and enjoy all the city has to offer) a lot more if you don't weigh yourself down with a lot of bags or luggage. Our excellent guide the first time I went, Dimitri, had us leave our luggage in the bus and just take a small satchel with us (we did stay overnight) so we would be able to walk around and enjoy ourselves.

Just walk, see the San Marco Plaza and enjoy yourself. A few hours in Venice is worth a week of traveling in other cities.

Flying into Venice is cool. You get to see snow capped alps and get a great aerial view of Venice. Take a few moments to appreciate this time. The drinking water at public fountains is very good quality. Take an empty bottle along. See San Marco and possibly Doge's Palace. Check out Frari Church. (Free RS Audio guides available as downloads.). Read your RS guidebook before hand and chart-out your time a bit. We can help you with food suggestions, tickets, etc..
Budget-Saver tips: take the airport bus to Venice. You can walk everywhere and not use the vaporettos if you choose. San Polo and Dorsoduro areas are a bit cheaper and quiet if you don't mind walking a bit more. Budget Hotel - Hotel Tivoli. (We stayed here. No elevator. Night time A/C. Near Frari church and decent restaurants. Breakfast included. Friendly front desk clerks. Clean, bare-bones room.)
If we can help you with anything else - let us know.

I had one day in Venice. Saw St. Marks, Doge’s palace, Murano, took a gondola ride. A fun, full day - enough to satisfy me for many years until this year when I will visit again with my wife and spend 2 days!