Navigate luggage to and in Venice

1. As you are arriving by car, you will be dropped off at Piazzale Roma (main bus and road transport hub). There are many vaporetto (water bus) stops at Piazzale Roma; which one you use depends on where you are going.

2. Vaporettos allow luggage. Just be prepared to carry it up and down from pier to boat.

The only place I can recommend for lodging is Pensione Guerrato. I've stayed there twice on Rick's recommendation and loved it. It is near the Rialto and Fish Market at vaporetto stop "Rialto Mercato". If that is where you end up staying, take vaporetto line 1 from Piazzale Roma stop C or F.

If you have excess luggage, use a small carry on bag for your stay in Venice checking the rest of your luggage at one of the locations in the article below.

https://europeforvisitors.com/venice/mobile/articles/venice-left-luggage.htm

Then click the transportation option for all modes of transport in Venice.

The best advice is to take a long, hard, sober look at what you plan to bring, right now, before you start packing. The solution is to pack lightly - very lightly - and manage with just a single, small-ish bag each.

While Venice does present some extra challenges, the same challenges will present themselves almost everywhere you go in Europe - so what works for Venice will make life easier and better for you anywhere in Europe.

New travelers (and not-so-new travelers who haven't learned this yet) often bring a tremendous amount of extra stuff that you really do not need. Read this website's section on packing tips, and follow them -- zealously. You really can get by with just one modest sized bag per person for any trip to Europe, Venice included. Once you down-size your luggage, it liberates you and your trip will become so much more enjoyable...whether that trip is to Venice, Ljubljana or Timbuktu.

Chances are car service will drop you off at Piazzale Roma. As this is near the train station and cruise port, there are bound to be some guys around with carts to take luggage to wherever you need to go. There are also vaporetto stops at the Piazza, but I believe there are limitations to 1 piece of luggage. I note a luggage storage business near the Piazza, and that is an area for the taxi or bus back to the airport, it is convenient. Then just take smaller luggage for your 4 days. Alternatively, with 6 of you, you may want to spring for a private water taxi. A vaporetto (or water bus) is the cheaper public transport. A water taxi is generally a private hire.
Alternatively, get a hotel or apartment nearby with minimal bridges.

hey hey jj
what is your party of 6 consist of, all adults, kids and what ages? will you all want to stay together or have seperate hotel rooms maybe to have down time from all? asking since will determine where you stay and luggage situation. you will find apartments to hold 6, how many bedrooms/bathrooms for all of you, location, how many bridges and stairs/steps to go across, what floor on and if a lift/elevator to carry bags up, have you been to venice before?
as others have said pack light, some apts may have washing machine (most no dryers), have brought small amount of liquid laundry soap, hand wash in sink and hang to dry, been there done that.
the train station (venezia santa lucia) has left luggage lockers and other places/sites for left luggage at a cost.
as gerri has stated read the europeforvisitors.com for lots of info. i would recommend a water taxi (motoscafivenezia.it), we've taken them 4 times. there were 4 of us with bags, get as close to hotel/apt as possible, it will be less since you'll be close to "parking garage/ train station, about 85E, split the cost no headaches, stress. same way to airport. when you've decided what kinda place you want, come back and i can give you some thoughts and places. hope this helps, sit and discuss with others, you want to have a great vacation and if prepared, life and all of you will be contented.
aloha

Thank you all! Glad that I asked and will definitely NOT bringing lugguage and store them somewhere, mostly likely at the airport for a hazel free vacation.
@Princess Pupule, we are a party of 6, all females in our 50+, and having such trip for an annual gathering. We went to Peru last time and it was a blast!

Luggage storage at the airport is not such a great idea, as if travelling by car from Slovenia it is quite out of the way.
There is a place to store luggage at Piazle Roma, also two at the railway station.
In the station, down by platform 1.
Outside the station, to the right as you face the station, the “Keep Calm” baggage store.

Luggage in Venice, in my opinion, is not as big a deal as people make out. Just plan your route so you are not carting luggage over the Scalzi, Rialto or Academia bridges as they are hard work; the Calatrava bridge not so much.

You can take luggage on the vaporetto (water bus) without difficulty. People cart all sorts of stuff like welders, tradesmen with trolleys and power saws, people in wheelchairs.

For selection of lodgings, we have stayed in Dorsoduro half a dozen times, near Campo San Barnaba, and that works for us ( mature aged couple now, less mature aged for our first visit in 2008).
When you are looking for places, on a map draw a line from Piazle Roma to the San Basilio vaporetto stop, and don’t choose a place much west of the line. That part of Venice is less historical , a lot of buildings from the 1950’s.
Also I would suggest if you are on the right or San Marco side of the Grand Canal, don’t stay east of the Arsenale, as that part of Venice (Castello) starts to involve a fair bit of walking to get anywhere. Fine for a longer stay, not so good for a short stay.

1. No. But it looks like you've already got this settled.
2. I think you've already received answers on this too. My advice is study google maps street view before departure so you have some sense of where you have to go to get to the vaporetti and taxi, and distances that you'll be carrying your bags.
3. Yes that should be no problem. On the vaporetto, if it is crowded, they may require you to put your luggage in a designated luggage spot toward the front of the boat. It's a safety thing. Use your luggage locks and keep your eyes on your bags. For 6 people, it's probably worth it to take a taxi. Show them the address/map, show them that you only have one small bag each and ask how much. Since the vaporetto will cost you 7-8 euro, X6 friends, depending on where you're going, it may nearly be a wash in price.
4. I was just about to say 'ditto" to everything that @David wrote, then saw your decision to pack light. Good choice. Every time I go to Venice I see people who have not taken this advice and who are unhappily lugging their big bags over the bridges and onto the vaporetti. I just did a practice pack for my next trip of 4 weeks: 2 weeks Slovenia, 1 week Croatia, 4 days Venice, 3 days Florence. Everything I need fits in a small rolling back pack that easily fits in the overhead on int'l flights. Easy-peasy. I did a trip last year with 8 ladies and they were all thankful that I (forcefully) steered them to small rolling backpacks for our trip that started in Venice, ended Rome. Have an awesome time!!

Everyone has answered your luggage questions so I am going to suggest a hotel. My sister-in-law and I stayed at Hotel Rosa Salva
in San Marco in May. It was quiet, close to everything and the service was fantastic especially when we had a problem (you can search for my trip report if you want to know more or PM me). Whichever hotel you stay at will let you know which vaporetto stop to use. It may not be the one that looks the most convenient on a map. We used the Waze GPS app for walking directions; not always accurate but we didn’t totally lost.
I can’t wait to go back to Venice and am working it in to my 2021 trip. Enjoy your trip!

PS: Tip for maneuvering luggage over the bridges: pull the suitcase up the stairs and push it down. There are usually 5 stairs on the smaller bridges. We had RS Rolling Carry On and totes with trolley straps. Hope that helps.

My sister and I stayed in a monestery easy walking distance from Piazzale Roma with 3 little bridges. Clean simple breakfast, and reasonable cost (130 euros in May 2019). Dosodouro is a quiet neighborhood. It is a basic room not fancy but the location was so easy. 5 minute walk to vaporetto and bus to airport and place the transfer will let you off. Buy a multi day vaporetto ticket and Venice is at your fingertips. Happy travels.

I just spent several days in Venice in September. I stayed at a lovely hotel with friendly and helpful staff - Hotel al Ponte Mocenigo. It is located the equivalent of about 1-2 blocks from the San Stae vaporetti (water bus) stop and there are NO bridges between the stop and the hotel! I easily wheeled my carry-on size luggage onto/off the vaporetti and then to the hotel. I liked the location - an easy walk to the Rialto bridge, but away from the huge crowds.

I bought a 3-day vaporetti pass which allowed me to hop on and off wherever I wanted. Sometimes I only went one stop just to easily cross the canal.