parking in Venezia

The vaporetto stop at the Tronchetto is a very short distance from the elevators. The trick is to park as close as you can to the far side of the parking garage from where you enter and take the elevators down on that side.

I thought it was easier, but we had a hotel near San Marco vaporetto stop. Advantage of being on the first floor in Tronchetto- not as far to walk= there is a section of "VIP parking" on the first floor very near the office for 30 euros a day. You have to find an attendant ( one circulates on bucycle or you can go to the office) who unlocks the gate and lets you in and out. Your car is locked up, behind a chainlink fence and your walk is shorter towards the people mover building/vaporetto docks.

I have parked at both places and liked Mestre better.The lot is much more secure and it was also less expensive.There are numerous trains to St.Lucia and the vaporetto to close by.

we parked in the tronchetto on one of our trips to Venice and I don't recall it being very far to a vaporetto stop. We had packed very light though so didn't have much to schlep. We have seen tourists schlepping some pretty big bags over bridges and it does not look fun. Pack light!!

The Vaporetto stop is essentially next to the parking lot. It's a big parking lot (think all of a big shopping mall's parking in a straight line rather than around the mall), depending on how far back you have to park, it could be a short walk or a pretty long one. We parked in the secure parking lot next door. It was an hour wait to get in (and out) and expensive (but our car was fine when we retrieved it). Next time, I'll park elsewhere and take the train into Venice to save time and money.

I hate parking in Mestre and will only do it when the garages are full and the lines of cars are way too long. And even then, I'll probably opt to wait in the line.

Rik I can understand your not wishing to park in Mestre given that you are just down the road in Vicenza (at least that's how it looks) but why don't you think Mestre is good? We have parked for several years at the multistory just opposite the east end of the station (can't remember at the moment the name) and not had any difficulty other than when I got stubborn. As you arrive the guy says "how long?" and you tell him "5 days" and he says what number floor to go to. I have before wasted time trying lower floors and being frustrated until I got to the floor he said. Then grab what you need, notice the patterns drawn good-naturedly in the dust on the dust covers of the local cars, take the elevator down, go out the door, turn right, past one or two hotels, cross the road at the light (yes the cars stop) check the screens (I remember now, there's a McD's as you go in the station), check the screen, go to the platform and hop on.... no fuss, no muss, and much cheaper. I had the chance to park at Padova a couple of years ago. I'd be happy to leave the car near the park by the Scrovengi Chapel for a while but I sure wouldn't at the station in one of the open lots. We parked at Vicenza station one Sunday and that worked pretty well. How do you feel about parking there?

Nigel, if it were as simple as "park in Mestre, jump on the train", sure, but it never is. We parked in a spot barely big enough for my car and went to the station, which was mobbed. There is a little shack that sells tickets into Venice so I got in line. There were about ten people in front of me so the line was moving slow. Eventually I got to the front and asked for 4 tickets to Venice and the lady pointed to a little hand written sign on the window saying the tickets were finished and that I had to go to the machines inside. No problem, I always use the machines so I went and waited in line til one opened up, punched in Venice and the only tickets available for purchase were IC and ES trains which were E6.50 a piece. I tried a few different times because I know the tickets are only 1 euro but nothing so I bit my lip and got in the long line at the ticket window. Got the tickets for both ways, went back to the tracks and saw that the next train into Venice was in 1 minute and the next one was 20 minutes later so I grabbed my youngest, yelled "Track 5, let's go!" and we all ran to track 5. Now, we had tried to validate our tickets beforehand but of course the machine wasn't working so we had to do it at the track. Unfortunately we had two friends visiting from Germany who didn't know any better and jumped on the train while I validated my tickets. I started yelling at him to validate his but then the whistle blew so I figured I'd take my chances and jumped on the train. Needless to say, the train guy saw us and stormed over to check out tickets. Mine were fine but my friends weren't so I tried to explain the situation to the guy (he saw us running for the train) and he kept screaming that the next time my friends would have to pay 30 euros for not validating their tickets. Eventually we got to Venice... (Continued)

(...Continued) On the way back we were all tired from walking around all day but fortunately I'd already bought the tickets so we didn't have to go through that again. I checked when the next train leaving for Mestre was and it said track 16 in 5 minutes so we all ran through the terminal and of course track 16 was in the overspill tracks area. Got there a few minutes before the train was supposed to leave and there's no train on track 16 and nothing on the board even though we had a good 3 minutes til the schedule said it was supposed to leave. There was a train on track 18 so I went over and asked the train guy if it was stopping in Mestre. He said yes, leaving in a few minutes, so I yelled to everyone else and they ran over and we got on just in time. When we got back to the parking lot, some idiot had parked so close to my car that I had to crawl in through the passenger door even though the lot was barely half full. As I pulled out I swore to my wife that I would never, ever park in Mestre again. The parking cost 12 euros for about 4 hours so all things considered I will gladly pay the extra 10 euros for the convenience of not having to deal with Mestre. As for Vicenza, occasionally we park there and take the train in but not usually. We usually go for day trips and sometimes find we want to stay late to visit with friends and the last train leaves around 10:45 at night. When you factor in the parking fee at Vicenza and the cost of train tickets you don't save that much by parking in Vicenza and, like I said, I much prefer having the convenience of coming and going as I please. Sorry this was so long.

Rik,,, Thaks for your adventure, It reads like a Chevy Chase movie. I'm sold. We'll be in a hire car so I think I'll keep going to Venice and park. Less moving parts! Grazie Mille, Mike W.

To be honest I'm not a big fan of Tronchetto either. You pretty much have to take the vaporetto from there as it's a bit far to walk to from the main part of the island. Wouldn't be bad if it was cheaper but it's the same price as Piazzale Roma so I never do Tronchetto anymore.

Rik, thanks for that. I see your points. I have also seen the "where's the train now" game at V S.L. I can see the frustration of tickets at Mestre (or many Italian stations). I've been lucky and had tickets beforehand. I also park for several days, and the savings really add up. Not as much as this year though when we stayed cheap but really comfortably, with free parking, at Quarto d'Altino 20 minutes from V S L and breakfasts included like you've never seen. No changing at Mestre either. But I still think if staying at our old haunt in Dorsoduro, I'd park in Mestre. Just by the way, were you in the outside lot or the multi storey?

Nigel, if I'm going ot the island for more than a couple days I'll park in Vicenza for sure and take the train. Mestre is usually my last resort but for tourists I can understand why Mestre would be appealing.

Rik and Nigel, Thanks for a great discussion of "What Italy is really like." To enjoy Italy, one has to "go with the flow". Trying to stay on a strict schedule in Italy can definitely drive anyone crazy.

I want to thank you
all for your input. All very informative...as well as entertaining. I will be in Venice for 3 nites and the Tronchetto and vaporetto seems the most simple way to go. I will get a nice boat ride, listen to R.S. audio tour and have some wine. April can't come fast enough! Grazie Mille, Mike W.