I'm concerned about a 6:55am flight that leaves from the airport in Venice. If I'm there an hour and a half before take off, thats 5:25am, that means I should be checking out of my hotel and on a water taxi at like 4am.
My question is based on this early flight, should I stay in Venice, or on the mainland, and do water taxi's work at 4am...should I be worked up about this, or can I figure it out the day before? My flight leaves 3/9/2008. Thanks. Tom
I would stay overnight near the airport. This is the "downside" of cheap within-Europe airlines. They either fly at dawn or late in the evening, to a large extent. I don't think the Alilaguna boats travel to the airport that early. You may be able to find an expensive taxi.
Amazingly enough, the Alilaguna taxi does start up that early. Per their website "www.alilaguna.it" their first trip to the airport arrives there at 4:59 a.m. (leaving San Marco at 03:40 am). You should ask your Venice hotel what your options are. They'll know better than anyone else.
I would recommend staying overnight at the airport to be sure. However, there is bus service from the Piazalle Roma (near the cruise ship terminal) that leaves as early as 4:00am. It costs 3 Euro and the trip takes 20 minutes. A cautious note on the water taxi (not the Alilaguna or Vaporetto). Your hotel will gladly get you one but it will cost you a minimum 100 Euro to get to the airport. It's fast but it's not cheap.
It takes about an hour to get to the Venice airport by Alilaguna from San Marco. It would be about 6 am if you catch the earliest boat.
We took a private water taxi because of an early flight. Our hotel arranged it for us. The bell boy walked us to the spot where we had to get the taxi. The hotel told us it would be 100 euros, but when we got out of the taxi he told us the charge would be 120 euros because of the early pick-up. It was a fun boat ride, and I guess it made up in cost for the Gondola ride we never took. Once you get out at the airport dock there is still a walk to the airport or you can hop a van for another 20 euros that takes you and your luggage right up to airport and they get you in line with your luggage to check in. We were so tired, we paid for that too. Maybe you'll have more energy then we did if you choose to do the early morning water taxi.
Hi Thomas, I have been studying the Alilaguna schedule as I am about to take it to VCE on Sunday. I even walked out to the stop today to see if they showed up on schedule - they were on the dot. So to ease your mind, the earliest boat leaves as follows:
San Marco 03:40
San Zaccaria 03:44
Lido (S.M.E.) 03:56
Fondamente Nove 04:21
Murano Colonna 04:29
Arrives Airport 04:59
I am told you do have to walk about 10 minutes from the boat dock to the airport. I don't think the airport opens much earlier than this anyway.
It costs 12 Euro per person.
I think you could enjoy your last evening in Venice, get an early wakeup call, and enjoy your hour long slow last look at beautiful Venice before you head home. For me it will be bitter sweet (even though it is bitter cold here right now).
What ever makes you most comfortable - you have some good suggestions here.
Yes, we did the water taxi ride, too. Those early morning flights are killers. The disappointing thing about the water taxi ride was that it was still dark that early of the morning in March so we really didn't get to see anything.
The best part was that it was raining and we stayed dry the whole way!
The walk from the dock to the airport is easy.It is covered most of the way and we had no problem.It took about 10-15 minutes.
Thomas.. My husband and I took that same flight out of Venice.. so we stayed at the Marriott at the airport. It was $150.0 EU,( they DO offer AAA discount) but the room was incredible and they offered free shuttle service that got us there in plenty of time. Took all the worry out of our last night in beautiful Venice..
