Hi, we are trying to decide whether to take a private or shared water taxi for our trip this June. There will be 4 of us. We are thinking of prebooking our water taxi from Marco Polo airport to our hotel in Best Western Ala. Not sure which website to use or whether a shared or private water taxi . Thanks a lot.
Posted by
Wilmington, DE, USA
1075 posts
Really expensive!!!! Check out Alilaguna's website - it's a beautiful way to enter Venice. It is a long, slow trip but oh so worth it! It will let you off at San Marco. After a long plane and boat ride the relatively short (5-10 minutes) walk to (my very favorite hotel in Venice) Hotel Ala might be a welcome change from sitting! Or, it's just two stops on the vaporetto.
Am I mistaken or did I see an Alilaguna boat stop at the Giglio dock last summer? For some reason I'm thinking the company negotiated the right to use those stops. Anybody know for sure?
Posted by
Green Bay
21384 posts
Yes, the Alilaguna Arancia line stops at Giglio dock. It takes an hour and 12 minutes according to the schedule and costs 15 euro per person. With an exclusive water taxi costing about 100 euro for the 4 of you, and taking only about 30 to 40 minutes, it might just be worth the extra 10 euro pp. The water taxi will take you right next to the hotel.
Posted by
Watertown, MA
118 posts
+1 for private water taxi. If you pre-book through Venice Link it is €95 for the taxi, which works out to €23.75 per person.
Your hotel has its own dock which is an advantage.
I used Venice Link for a private water taxi a few years ago and it was a treat to go door to door after an international flight.
http://www.venicelink.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=11&Itemid=43&lang=english
Posted by
Alta Loma, CA, USA
1446 posts
We used a private water taxi to get from the airport to our B&B this past August and I'm glad we went that route versus the Alilaguna because it took a lot less time and we were delivered right to our B&B so we didn't have to schlep our luggage over bridges, etc. If our hotel hadn't had a water landing, we probably would have used the Alilaguna. After a long day of travel (from California), the last thing I wanted to do was sit on a hot & muggy public water taxi and worry about keeping our eyes on our luggage, etc. We just wanted to get to our hotel, check in and grab a bite/drink. If you can, I'd splurge on a private water taxi. Have a great trip.
Posted by
Wilmington, DE, USA
1075 posts
Can I change my vote? When I travel alone I don't mind the Alilaguna - I'd rather put the money saved towards my first big night's dinner in Venice. But with 4 people - the taxi does make a lot more sense. I know the Hotel Ala well and the small room you will enter into from the boat is a step back into a wonderful Venetian history. So, I vote for water taxi. And I think I'll look for people to share it with! Thank you everyone for changing my mind!!!!
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
Four is the magic number that makes a private water taxi well worth the additional euros, imho. It's a magical unforgettable way to get to Venice.
Posted by
OP
san Francisco
735 posts
Based on the suggestions here,We will book a private taxi. Thanks so much!