we will be driving from san gimignano to venice staying in venice 4 nights. do we park at a train station and leave our car with some luggage left and take the train to venice or are there other better and safer thoughts on what to do .thanks for your help
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
Good advice above. You could also drop off the rental car in Florence or Bologna and train from there to Venice. Personally, I would much rather train than drive in Italy. Good luck. (P.S. Where's Arcadia?)
Posted by
Cartersville, GA, USA
101 posts
Assuming you will have a rental car, right? Why would you pay for 4 nights car rental you don't need (and 4 nights of possibly very expensive parking fees)? And NEVER leave luggage in a rental car, or anything visible for anyone passing by, no matter the perceived security of the locationat least not if you ever want to see or use those belongings again. If you drive in from San G, then just arrange to drop off your rental car at a Venice-Piazzale Roma location and take a vaporetto or water taxi to your Venice hotel. If you want to take the train into Venice, then just drive up to Florence and determine where you are allowed to drop your particular brand of rental car and take the train to Venice. Either way, if you still need a car for onward travels upon leaving Venice, then just arrange another rental period beginning for that departure day from Piazzale Roma pick-up location.
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
Exactly right...don't bring rental cars to Venice. You pay to rent while you pay to park. Rental Car Agency dream come true!
Posted by
Bay Area
3551 posts
If you must keep your car then stay at Novotel Hotel in adjacent town Mestre. they have a secured car park in hotel. they also have free shuttles to Venice. this is what I did. A great hotel and reasonable but of course it is not Venice. You will be chancing a break-in at the Venice train station car park.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23626 posts
I know there is an Arcadia, CA.
Posted by
Austin
976 posts
We parked a new car in Venice @Tronchetto exactly as Rick describes in the Italy book. Very easy. We chose the VIP parking, which was 30 euros a day- regular fee is about half of that. The car was locked up behind a fence/gate, well lit,and required an attendant to let you in and let you out. It seemed very secure. The other solutions mentioned here might be worth the money but take more time. Was very convenient to walk a long block or so and catch a vaporetto to one of the stops near San Marco. Edit: Of course we left nothing in the car,except some souvenirs in the trunk which I decided I could live without should they disappear. Absolutely follow everyone's advice about leaving nothing in the car.
Posted by
Portlandia
3313 posts
The regular fee at the Tronchetto is about 20E a day. It's very easy and much handier than parking off-island.