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Venice hotel transfer

Situation: Three adults arriving in Venice on Monday with 7 suitcases and backpacks. (We were in Ireland previous to Italy and needed winter clothing/coats). We are staying at Hotel Pensione Guerrato. I had abdominal surgery prior to trip and cannot carry anything. Any suggestions of getting to hotel somewhat easily? A private water taxi maybe?
Thank you!

Posted by
11613 posts

How are you with climbing into/out of water taxi? A few steps. Vaporetto doesn't require stepping up/down, but may be too crowded for your comfort.

Posted by
32519 posts

are you OK with the fact that it is all stairs at the Guerrato, with no elevator / lift?

Well 7 suitcases carried by 2 people plus all those backpacks is quite a lot to carry, Venice or no Venice. A taxi would probably be the easiest. On a crowded vaporetto getting all those bags on and off will be fun, plus a vaporetto is technically limited to one suitcase each. I sure hope they are small suitcases.

The actual trip on the number 1 vaporetto from Piazzale Roma (buses from the airport) or Ferrovia (the train) to Rialto Mercato (don't take the number 2 vaporetto, and be sure to get off at Rialto Mercato, not Rialto which is on the wrong side of the Grand Canal) is pretty easy and scenic, and once you have lugged all those (7!!) suitcases off the walk to the Guerrato is really close and easy.

The taxi to and from the same origination and destination will cost a pretty penny, split 3 ways, and will not save a large amount of time, but (for a tip) the taximan will put your bags in and take them out, and as said above, it is a bit of a climb down into the taxi but you won't have other people pushing and shoving (we have seen little of that but there certainly are queues for the vaporettos),

My biggest concern is the stone staircase at the Guerrato (a favourite haunt of ours).

Do you mean that you are arriving tomorrow? I'm astonished about the winter clothing. I've just switched from short sleeves to long, with an occasional fleece. We don't have Irish weather but English has been pretty similar.

By the way - Is the Ireland part new? It looked in your other posts like you were doing only Italy?

Posted by
89 posts

Just a thought, but that is a lot of luggage to be lugging around Venice. For a charge you can store some of your luggage at the train station: http://www.grandistazioni.it/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=09dd82a9ec4eb110VgnVCM1000003f16f90aRCRD

It gets cheaper after the 13th hour. As mentioned, you're likely to need to tip well to get your luggage moved around for you. Trimming down your bags to one per person will make everything easier, from the transfer to getting up to your room.

Posted by
23178 posts

This is the wrong site to admit having seven suitcases for three adults with one adult out of the carrying pictures. Needing a winter coat does not justify that much luggage. So I would really encourage you to rethink your needs for that much luggage. Even that much luggage exceeds what we took on our first trip in 72 and that was a disaster. How came you expect two people to handle seven pieces of luggage? Three and half each....

Posted by
5955 posts

It sounds like the OP is already in Italy and has the 7 bags- so there is not really much point in beating her over the head with that issue.
If they have come from Ireland and spent some time in Italy already I would imagine the 2 able bodied adults are dealing with the excess baggage at this point.
Also sounds like she needs advice for this transfer tomorrow-

I would not want to try to board a vaporetto with so much luggage and has been pointed out 1 bag per passenger is supposed to be the rule.
I guess your best bet is a water taxi- as long as you can go up/down a few steps- I have to believe you are capable of doing that- esp since your hotel in Venice has no lift! Tip the driver to load/unload your bags if you must and your 2 travel partners can lug your bags up to your room.
When you leave Venice I guess you'll have to do the same in reverse- water taxi to train or airport?

I guess the thing I would say is that by carrying around so much luggage you have increased the cost of your transportation expenses dramatically.

Posted by
12 posts

Thank you all for your answers and queries. Since you are all very interested.... My husband and I were in Ireland for 14 days celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles so we needed suits and dresses. My mom passed away a year ago leaving just enough $ for me to be able to take my 27 year old son and my husband of 3 1/2 years away on a vacation if a lifetime after being a single struggling mother for 25 years. Unfortunately I had surgery in September that was not actually scheduled until next month. Life gave me lemons and I made lemonade. Thank you very much last reply for kind of cutting to the chase! But I appreciate everyone's replies! BTW- the extra suitcase is only half filled with clothes. The other 1/2 is to bring home gifts or buy my son whatever he wants. Carpe diem- you never know when it will be your last. I appreciate the info of storing at least one suitcase- right now I am living out of my carry on. When we leave Venice to fly home, do we have to go right back to where my suitcase will be stored or not necessarily? Again thank you all for your input.

Posted by
12 posts

Lol! I have now read all of your replies public and private. To reply- I did not know the hotel had steps, but we were just in a Positano for 5 days. We stayed at Villa Donna Rosa and we had 30 steps each day back and forth to anywhere (not much for Positano!) I can walk, just not carry anything heavy. But I have my husband and my 27 year old son. So again - LOL! - split pyt 3 ways, really? The proprietor at Guerrato said he would meet us at the dock - we are blessed! So questions now: someone called me an OP- what is that- odd person?! I love the idea of leaving luggage at the train station if the lockers are large enough because (and here is more fodder for all) of course we have large suitcases! Are the lockers safe and do we actually go back to train station on way to airport? How do you actually get to the airport? I have to add- this trip was actually planned out very well with drivers, tours, etc. Rome- Pompeii- Positano- Bologna- Modena - Maranello (any of you guys drive a Ferrari?). Venice is the place I wanted to visit and I just got tired planning. I'll go on the expensive Gondola and give all a laugh with our luggage. Will look for any replies as I wake up throughout the night and morning prior to getting to train station as I get anxious about all our luggage. Did I mention my husband us legally blind! But we've had a great trip!

Posted by
32519 posts

No lockers at the Ferrovia, or at any train station in Italy. You leave your bags at the baggage check, by platform 1 if my memory is right, and not far from the ramp which goes along the side of the station down to the Grand Canal. You have to allow enough time for the bags to be x-rayed and written up, and when you leave you need to allow plenty of time incase the attendant has had to take a break or if there is a long queue.

Across the Canal and the next stop on the vaporetto is Piazzale Roma where you catch a land bus to the airport. Something like €6 per person, not sure about excess baggage charges.

Or to the airport you can book (the Pensione Guerrato can book you one) a water taxi for around €100 to €120 for all of you and your luggage.

Posted by
1501 posts

Good Heavens Audreyonthego! I absolutely LOVE your spirit, sense of adventure, and what a big heart you have! I was so worried about the elevator situation!
I was worried that you weren't looking at the thread and the lack of elevator would be a (bad) surprise! I didn't know if you'd even read my Private Message regarding the Alarming Elevator Situation!
The OP means on here: Original Poster! LOLOL. The person who asked the original question! Many times, we chime in, and other people jump on these threads because they have a similar situation coming up, etc., ! So, to get back on track we say OP.

So get the expensive "water taxi" both directions! You can get to the airport via water taxi as well if you're not storing your suitcase.

I sincerely hope that when I pass, and I leave Money to my kids they would honor my memory with such a wonderful trip!

Posted by
5955 posts

OP = Original Poster which is you.
And You have the right attitude
Hope all goes well with your arrival/ transfers and you love your time in Venice as much as we did last month!

Posted by
12 posts

Nigel, Donna and Christine-
THANK YOU!

Nigel- (I think you questioned about being cold) yes it was cold in Ireland, I am a woman and I just had surgery. I needed a wool winter coat, turtlenecks, tights and boots. I think it was 15 Celsius. Rome was so hot- maybe 25-27 C!

Donna and Christine- ahhh east coast(ish) woman! You made me laugh and brought tears to my eyes. What's another couple of hundred Euro at this point! I just have to make sure we have Euros! Even though I am now packed to live outside of my carry on- I would hate to leave my luggage with all my gifts just somewhere! Private water taxi it is! I'll let you know how it turns out- I wish I could post photos- seems like we need a few laughs out there! Well, it's 11:32 pm here - we turned the clocks back last night- and we get to do it again next week when we are home. I'm going to be jet lagged for the rest of my life. Night all!

Posted by
89 posts

Audreyonthego (aka: OP :) ) Enjoy Venice! Especially the overpriced gondola ride!!

Ciao

Posted by
5188 posts

**Bless your heart audreyonthego!**

I hope you enjoy the rest of your trip!

As for being jetlagged for the rest of your life.... no, not quite so! You will be exhausted for a few days, maybe a week... but
I'm sure you'll have priceless memories to cherish for a lifetime!!!

Posted by
12 posts

We are in Venice! For whatever reason I have always wondered about coming here, but never thought I would actually make it. An update of our arrival -meaningful for some, maybe a morning laugh for others.

We arrived at Bologna Centrale- 3 adults, 7 suitcases, two backpacks, a purse and of course ceramic dishes and bills purchased in Positano for my Son's newly purchased condo in South Boston!

No tickets, so stood in line for about 30 minutes. Purchased tix at 11:14, previous train left at 11:10, next train at 12::10. Up and down elevators and ramps finally at platform 3, car 6 spot. 40 minutes to come up with a plan to get all into the train.
On train to Venice...... Off train in Venice, looking for private water taxi. A nice gentleman comes up to
ua and asks where we are going- I have Pensione Guerrato name and address all written out, so I can show for directions. He instructed us to vaporetto #1; I showed him all our bags- no problem, he said, "The boat hold 250 people!" I buy three tickets, show our suitcases, the ticket seller says no problem. 21 Euros and 5 stops later to Rialto Mercado go thru arch, take a right and a left. Pensione Guerrato! My husband and son carry everything up- we go out, get lost in Venice ( check that off the bucket list!). The best meal since coming to Italy was at Osteria de Albert! A good night. A little bit if prayer and some advice from seasoned travelers. Grazie, ciao!

Posted by
5188 posts

Thank goodness, it all worked out for you!

Are you planning to visit some of the nearby cities or are you staying in Venice for the rest of your trip?

Thanks for the update!