Nice to Venice - preferred mode of transit?

It is easier to arrive by train in Venice.
But u should look up the the train ride; it sucks as it will take you 7 hours or more. Any airline you can afford is fine as long as the flight is direct.

It's too long for some but simple enough to take the train. The best schedules depart at 8:00 (takes 7.5 hours) or 14:00 (takes 8 hours) and only require that one connection in Milan. Other connections require more changes and take 9 - 9.5 hours. You'll be able to book these tickets about 4 months in advance for the best rate. The first leg is operated by Thello, but tickets also sold through www.trenitalia.com so you get the whole route. (It's technically not a TGV.)

For flights, I'd choose EasyJet (at least over RyanAir, or over any schedule that requires a connection).

The train station in Venice is definitely easier than getting to Venice from the Airport, your options from there are water taxi or train, both will chew up most of an hour.

You do not mention when you arrive in Nice, but train to Venice is in the range of 8 to 12 hours, so a long day on the train, if you get to Nice on Friday for example, you really would have no time in Nice. Plane would probably still chew up 5-6 hours.

For train, nearly all require a change in Milan, some an additional change in Bologna, some a change in Ventimiglia as well.

For Venice, you maybe have a choice of two airports, Marco Polo which is on the Venetian lagoon, and Treviso which is a bit inland. It would depend on which airline you are using.
If your airline flies into Treviso, there is a bus that meets every flight to take you to Piazle Roma in Venice, which is the point where road vehicles terminate. Bus takes a bit over half an hour.

If you fly into Marco Polo (VCE) there are two bus lines running from Marco Polo to Piazle Roma, both lines run on a twenty minute schedule so a bus goes every ten minutes.
ACTV bus lines are like a commuter bus, makes several stops along the way. ATVO is like a tour bus, luggage goes under the floor. Either bus costs 8 euro, takes 25 minutes, and buses leave from right outside the terminal. My preference is ATVO, although ACTV is OK.

If you fly into Marco Polo, get a seat on the right or starboard side of the aircraft and you will get a view of Venice as you arrive.
There is no train service from Marco Polo into Venice. For me, Nice to Venice would be by air; at Marco Polo, the time from getting your bags off the carousel to being in down town Venice would be about an hour.

It's easy to get into Venice from Marco Polo (VCE) airport: just take an ATVO express bus to Piazzale Roma - 8 euros, with frequent service. Takes about a half hour. But then you must get from Piazzale Roma to wherever you are staying in Venice. The vaporetto (water bus) works for that, unless you want to walk from there. (I have walked in the past, when staying near the train station, which is close to Piazzale Roma.)

The train is pleasant, too, if you have the time. Might have been nice to stop on the way over to split up the trip. But it sounds like your only option is the a morning train out of Nice on Saturday morning. If there's a cheap easyJet flight, that might save you a few hours and cost about the same. Up to you.

If you fly into Marco Polo, get a seat on the right or starboard side of the aircraft and you will get a view of Venice as you arrive.

And if on the left hand side, you'll think you are landing at Newark.

If you fly into Marco Polo, get a seat on the right or starboard side of the aircraft and you will get a view of Venice as you arrive.
And if on the left hand side, you'll think you are landing at Newark.

The wind NEVER blows the other way?

Seems to be rather infrequently.

I have landed in Venice and departed from Venice maybe eight or nine times, and watched from Fond Nove and Torcello as aircraft arrive and depart. I have never seen a flight land or take off in anything other than a west to east direction.

We've used Easyjet, to me a 1:05 minute flight beats a long train ride. Do check carefully the luggage requirements. We try to use their flex fare whenever possible.

Thanks everyone!! Y’all have given me some good food for thought here!
The plane is tempting, and I”m leaning that way. I’ll keep my eyes peeled (skyscanner? Or Google flight?) for the easyjet flights to open for next June. The train ride does seem very long, but train stations are so much easier/quicker to access coming/going (its the LONG middle part that makes me pause). I did see a few YouTubes of the train trip between Nice-Milan, so it was fun to see some of the passing scenery.
I’m leaning towards flying at this point! I appreciate all of your suggestions and input, especially on how to research the train, and which side to choose for my seat on the plane. :)
Happy travels!

The overall time difference is less than 2 hours if you take the 08:00 train.

That 08:01 train has a perfectly timed break at lunch. You get into Milano Centrale at 12:53 and have 52 minutes before your train to Venice at 13:45, and then a nice run to Venice, plonking you out at the Grand Canal at 16:10, perfect check in time.

You might prefer to fly. I'd prefer a ride to Milan, a fast but not rushed quick lunch (or shopping in the mall in the station for picnic supplies and a picnic on the train), and then the final 2 and a half hours to Venice.

Everybody is different. You can enjoy Nice and then enjoy Venice. It is nice that the first day you will be where you know and like.

Since you were last in Nice, the tram line has reached the airport. You can now get the tram to the city center (or between terminals) making transfers very convenient. https://www.frenchrivieratraveller.com/Nice/Transport/Tramway.html

I looked at EasyJet for a Saturday schedule. In September and October there's one flight a day, 12.20 to 13.25. That means a lazy morning in Nice (probably don't need to get to the airport more than 1.5 hours in advance, small airport, flying within Schengen). It shouldn't take you more than two hours to get from VCE to your hotel. If Alilaguna stops near your hotel, it's a good idea. If not, the bus may be a better choice. I took the boat a couple years ago (only time I flew into Venice) and it was okay but just. There was a line to get on and the boat isn't exactly comfortable, it's hard to see out so it's not very scenic either. I had a long ride down the Grand Canal and the last 20 minutes or so, I was the only passenger and they let me stand up top and outside next to the driver so I could enjoy the view.

As Nigel points out, you'd get to your Venetian hotel about the same time either way. The train is definitely more relaxing and a lot less hassle. By plane: hotel to tram to airport, through security, to plane to boat or bus, 3 or 4 transfers (depends on where your hotel is). By train, comfortable rides, scenery (some at least - you can see a bit of the Alps between Milan and Venice if you're on the left/north side) and 1 or 2 transfers, depending on where your hotel is.

When I started to write this I was leaning toward flying, now I like the train option better. Though I would try to use the loo in Nice before boarding and again in Milan, and avoiding the ones on the train. But women have slightly different issues :-)

Hi again everyone; Well, I was certainly leaning toward the train after all of your input, but then Easy Jet released their summer schedule yesterday. I couldn’t help but jump at the $53 one-hour flight to Venice. I’m not the earliest riser, so the flight at noon is much more appealing than the 8:01 train. And probably for the same price (or nearly) as the train. I’ll have to pay a bit more to add my checked bag but overall I’m pleased. And the Alilaguna (sp?) does serve my hotel in Venice, so I’ll probably take that route instead of the bus/vaperetto. Thanks again for all of your thoughts here!!