Murano

There are 3 ways to get there: 1) public boat transportation (lower cost), 2) or private speed boat transportation (higher cost) 3) or "free" one-way speedboat offered by sales reps of the glass factories, you're obligated to watch a 20-minute glassmaking show and sales pitch, and then free to escape and also to find your own way back to Venice (return trip not included).

Linda: We found the vaporetto pass was a terrific bargain for getting around Venice. A one-way trip is 6.50 euros (more to Burano I think), but a pass for 72 hours is 33.00 euros in high season and good for unlimited rides anywhere the vaporettos (waterbusses) go. If you buy online at http://www.veniceconnected.com before your trip, there's a discount. You can also by a day pass, a 7-day pass, a 12-hour pass, etc. The pass gives you hop on-hop off freedom. Nice when you have walked to the far end of the island need a lift back to your starting point. Oh, and you can take Rick Steves' self-guided tour, stop in the Glass Museum, and any number of shops that will show you their art. Some are free, some are a couple of euros. Laurel

depending on how long you are going to be in Venice, and how many vap trips you plan on taking, you should look into what is sometimes called a "residents pass". Holders of an IMOB card can ride for 1.05 for an hour in one direction, instead of 6.50 euro. Anyone can get an IMOB card – it costs 40 euro for non residents, less for residents, and the process of getting a card lasts half an hour. You'll receive a personalised card with photo ID that you load with "trips" at ten trips for 10.50 euro. It pays for itself in eight or nine trips – and the card has a five year validity, so worth buying if you plan on returning to Venice. (for full disclosure, I copied this description of the IMOB card from a post on Fodors).

Linda, you should purchase Rick's Venice guidebook! It will answer all of your questions.