Public Transport. Mestre Marghera to Venice

Can you switch hotels to one on the island? It is a shame to spend 2 days in Venice and be located at a Holiday Inn in Mestre. Kinda like a weekend in New York City, except you are staying in Seacaucus. I know it will cost more, but it would be worth it.

Looks like you can take the No 15 bus to Mestre train station and get a train over the bridge to Venice proper. I know the train tickets are only 1.25 EUR. I am not sure about the local bus payment. You can ask at the ACTV desk at Venice airport.

I see that the Holiday Inn offers shuttle service to Piazzale Roma on the Island for 9 EUR pp each way. You can pick up the vaporettos there to get anywhere in Venice. That will save some time.
https://www.ihg.com/holidayinn/hotels/us/en/venice/vcerr/hoteldetail?cm_mmc=GoogleMaps-_-HI-_-ITA-_-VCERR#
Very top of the page in small print. Click on "Read More".

Thanks! I didn't know about the shuttle service, so that is very helpful indeed!

Many Thanks, Stavijanind! Knowing that the buses take cash is good news, and we will certainly take your advice regarding the main attractions.

From Piazzale Roma do not take the vaporetto lines because the ride will last almost as long as walking, unless it is raining.

Ah, but that ride down the Grand Canal in the No 1 vaporetto. Nothing like it!

Be aware that Marghera is the heavy industrial (oil refineries and ship building) part of a very industrial part of Venice (Mestre). It has its own minor train station which is different from the Venezia Mestre station, and all the way across the causeway from the station on the islands of Venice at Venezia Santa Lucia - which opens right onto the Grand Canal.

The Holiday Inn is just off the A57 next to a residential area. Just like the Holiday Inn's outside of Chicago, next to the Interstate.

Last time I landed at Marco Polo, the person in the window seat across the aisle was oohing and aahing about the fabulous view of Venice. I looked out the window on my side and I thought I was landing in New Jersey.

Thanks for all the great advice! New Jersey eh, Sam! I'm still laughing now. I'll try and make sure to look out of the right side as we come into land! I've bought a good tourist map and we will definitely wander off the beaten track as much as possible, although we will want to take the Number 1 Vaparetto once just to say we have done it. The ACTV Travelcard sounds like a good option. I believe I can buy a 2 day card for a fairly reasonable price and that will give us unlimited use of ACTV's services?
The only other thing that would be helpful to know is about Gondolas. Do I or don't I? We're on a fairly tight budget and are really just taking advantage of a British Airways special deal to get to see the city. Is it a "must do?" or can I leave Venice having not been in a gondola and not feel like I've cheated myself? (And my wife, more importantly!)

The ACTV card covers only the vaporetti, no buses except the No 5 bus between Piazzale Roma and the airport and then only when you buy the extra supplement for either one-way or round-trip at the time of purchase. It is a contactless RFID card which you must scan as you walk onto the docks every time you take a vaporetto. The 48-hours start when you scan it for the first time. You can buy it at the airport or at the ticket office at Piazzale Roma.

Speaking of riding the No 1 vaporetto, you can download Rick's Audio Tour to your device and listen to Rick's commentary on the sights as you cruise down the canal. Scroll down to the Italy and Venice sections on the page.
https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/audio/audio-tours/italy

PS I've been to Venice 5 or 6 times and have yet to set foot in a gondola, But I'm not counting taking the traghetto once or twice.

Sam the card you are talking about is in Italian called Biglietto turistico a tempo or time-limited card. ACTV is the company that is responsible for transportation in Venice and it offers different cards. The card that cost 20 Euros (1 day pass) is for both vaporetto, buses and trams (All bus lines on the territory of Venice- Venice, Mestre, Margera) accept the ride to and off the Marco Polo airport.

Ok....All set to go tomorrow and I've just found one more question!
Is there somewhere in Venice that I can leave a suitcase for 6 or 7 hours and collect later? It's not something I've ever had to do before, but I guess it's possible to leave it at the station perhaps?
Thanks,
Rob

There is left luggage at Venezia S.L. station, adjacent to platform 1. Also when you exit the station, to your left, a shop also offers a service.

Many Thanks for the swift reply! Much appreciated!

Trasbagagli also has a luggage depot at Piazzale Roma.
http://www.trasbagagli.it/en/pg/view/53/luggage-storage-venice-piazzale-roma-airport

Thanks again Sam!

Just a quick "Thanks" to everyone. We had a fantastic couple of days in Venice, and all the advice was put to great use. We used the 15 bus to our Hotel from the airport. Short walk at the end. We used the hotel shuttle service to get into and back from Venice and finally the Number 5 bus to get from Venice back to the airport. We did take both the Number 1 & 2 Vaparettos, so had a view of the Grand Canal from a water bus as well as the faster route around the outside of the main drag. We ate at a local pizzeria (92 different pizzas!) that was used exclusively by locals and took advantage of the hotels breakfast buffet to load up in the morning. This meant we didn't feel the need to stop for lunch, although we tried plenty of different bars along the way. Our favourites were in Dorsoduro, away from the manic tourist ares closer to St Marks. We didn't bother with a ride in a gondola as we didn't feel the need to.
Absolutely loved Venice, and all the advice gave us the confidence to get out there and make the most of our short stay.
Oh........and we actually sat next to Hugh Grant and Harry Enfield at one bar. But Hugh Grant declined my request for a photo of him and my wife! (Miserable Git, eh!)
Best Wishes to you all,
Rob & Julie

P.s. Sam........ I got the "New Jersey" view on the way in to Marco Polo. I see exactly what you mean!!