Venice by other means than boat

Instead of dragging luggage all the way to San Marco, why not get a hotel near the train station and walk luggage-free there while you are touring. Besides walking or taking a boat (vaporetto or water taxi), the only other imaginably way would be by helicopter, but I think they have regulations forbidding that option.

I can see why you'd want to stay closer to San Marco but it may not be possible. If you pack very light, you could walk it, but you will be dragging luggage over many bridges. Porter service in Venice is spotty. You might want to reach out to the hotel you have in mind, tell them of your predicament, and see what they can do to help you.

The only ways to get around Venice are by foot or by boat. All visitors, not just those with "boat issues," spend more time getting around on foot. However, getting from point A to point B can be much faster by boat, due to the shapes of the islands making up Venice, and where the bridges are (or aren't). For instance, there are only four bridges that cross the Grand Canal, and getting to one could involve a substantial detour.

As long as you're prepared for some LONG walks, including over steps and bridges, you can see Venice without ever setting foot on a boat. In your situation, you will definitely want a hotel near the station.

Go to Google Maps, and map out some walks between sights that interest you. See if you're up for what's involved. If not, you will want to skip Venice, as it will just cause misery if you can't get to the places you want to see.

As others have said you either float or walk.
I'd suggest getting a hotel near the Rialto, its doable walking from the station about 25minutes
and similar to St Marco.
You can leave luggage at the station and take light luggage, for your time in Venice, or
arrange a porter to deliver your luggage. regards

Cunning Pig, this will present a problem. Venice is a collection of islands, separated by (originally natural) canals, with bridges over them. As the others say, walk or boat, there is no alternative.
The simplest solution is to get a hotel near the station, threre are plenty. Note, most of the bridges involve steps up and down, this is not easy with luggage.

The city is split in two by the Grand Canal. See map here: http://www.veniceonline.it/Maps/Map2_VeniceOnLine.jpg
There are only 4 bridges across, two near the station, and the Rialto Bridge in the middle and the accademia. At the St Marco end there is no bridge. The only way to "cross the road" is via a vaporetto (water bus) or a long detour back to the bridge. There are also some sections of the city not connected by bridges; see the area at the bottom of the map, and the same applies to the outlying islands of Burano and Murano, all of which can only be reached by boat.

If the train station has luggage lockers or manned storage (someone said it did) and you will be in Venice for only a couple nights, I'd leave most of your stuff in the storage. Pack a small tote with a couple changes of clothes and your toiletries and carry it to wherever you want to stay.

It may be a long walk, but if you have trouble with long walks then Venice without boats will be a real challenge. If you are willing to walk a lot you will enjoy it a

Problem solved: Take a taxi (or an arranged car) to the San Basilio cruise terminal (not to be confused with the HUGE cruise terminal). From there, it would be (I'm guessing) a 20-ish minute walk to the San Marcos area. Many may post that cars of any type are not allowed on the main Island of Venice, but I can assure you we took an arranged car from the San Basilio cruise terminal to the airport when we disembarked at the end of the cruise. It's about a 20-minute ride, give or take 5/10 minutes depending on time of day/traffic. But, to clarify, personal vehicles/rental cars, etc, are NOT allowed, just taxis and arranged car services (with approved drivers).

When we were in Venice, we took the vaporetto from the San Marcos area to San Basilio to catch our small-ship cruise (SeaCloud), but we had also considered just walking it. We travel carry-on only, using the RS rollaboard. But, you likely know many of the bridges include several stairs, so that means you will need to carry your luggage up/down several times.

But, take a look on a map to determine if you think the walk would be do-able for the two of you. I would not want to do in a rain storm, but otherwise, it would work okay for me, if I could not (medically) go on a boat.

But, HUGE DISCLAIMER, what I don't know is if someone has to have any sort of advance reservations arranged thru the San Basilio terminal in order to have a vehicle have access, since the vehicle that met us when we departed at the end of the cruise was arranged through our ship. Your hotel might be able to advise. And, your hotel may also be able to advise what arrangements can be made for someone who just can't medically travel by boat. If you are staying at a very small hotel that does not have such information, you could always just telephone one of the larger, high-end hotels and talk with a concierge (and just not explain where you plan to stay).

Since there are no cars in Venice, and since the station is right on the Grand Canal, really close to one of the four bridges, spending the night near the train station is a lot pleasanter and more convenient than you might think. That would be my vote also.

I don't think there's any real advantage to staying near San Marco. Look for a place in Cannareggio, which has some really good restaurants, and is close to the train station. Once you've dropped your luggage, Venice is walkable. Nothing is very far away. It's about an hour's walk from one end of the city to the other.

If you fly into Venice, you can take the bus from the airport to the bus station, about a 5 minute walk from the train station.

It's a 30 min walk from the station to San Marco. It's a long way with luggage and most bridges over the little canals have some stairs. You should look for accommodations within a short walking distance from the station/piazzale Roma. There are plenty. You still need to walk the distance to visit San Marco, but at least you will do so unburdened by the luggage.

There are some very nice hotels right at the train station so that you never have to step foot onto a boat.

Thank you all for all the helpful suggestions. We travel pretty light, so I think we'll look for something in a couple of areas that were suggested that are a little away from the train station. Mr. Steves' guide was kind of steering us away from the station.

Thanks again!

Jeff

I was in Venice during the crowded weekend before last (first week of Carnival) and walked around near and right past the train station several times, including pretty late at night. It was always very busy and lively, but never seedy or unsavory.

Yes, all else being equal, the station area is not the very best part of Venice to stay. But in your case, things are very much not equal. And as Chani says, it's not that the station area is dangerous or decrepit; it's just not as nice as other parts of the city. If you can never get on a boat (a situation Rick's book does not anticipate), staying near the station will make things easier.

I've been several times to Venice and have not taken a single boat or evaporator, ever (unless going to other islands). It's really not big and if you have a small suitcase it's not difficult to drag them. And the best way to visit and get to know a city is by walking!!

I will ask the unasked question. Can you not eliminate Venice from your itinerary!

I will ask the unasked question. Can you not eliminate Venice from your itinerary?

We stayed in Santa Croce across from the station and were very happy with the area. Lots of great restaurants and a large Coop grocer. We stayed in an Airbnb. We're going back for a few days this October and are staying there again.

Norma, that's tantamount to heresy.

Sister and I stayed at the Hotel Villa Rosa, for a couple of nights, last year, before flying out. Hotel is about a 5 minute walk from the train station (no bridges!). It's down a very quiet side street off the "main drag" from the train station to San Marco. There was a wonderful staff, who helped us out in numerous ways. The room was very clean and comfortable and it was GREAT value for money in Venice. Within a 10-15 minute walk are the Jewish Ghetto, numerous wonderful neighborhoods of Canereggio, and then about 20 minutes walk to Rialto Bridge, and 30 minutes walk to San Marco. I suggest you don't underestimate distances in Venice, especially if carrying or rolling luggage (as I have done and will do again!). Those bridges get VERY tiresome after awhile. Plus there are lots of other tourists (and a few locals) to dodge on the narrow streets as you are hauling or pulling....By the way: Mr. Steves' guide may steer you towards areas away from the train station .... but the guide does so with the assumption that you will likely use a vaporetto or water taxi to get there.