Venice to Florence

Since you asked for comments here goes. It sounds as if you are clueless about this whole ordeal. You have luggage too big for the train but somehow you think 6 of you and 6 big luggage pieces will fit into a minivan?

It takes about 2 hours on the fast train (no changes) from Venice to Florence city center to center. Take a cheap taxi to your hotel and drop your bags and be done with it.

Why in the world do you think a minivan would be simpler?

If this is the tail of of your trip to Slovenia, just head straight to Florence and spend the last night near the Venice airport. You could use trains for the back and forth, not mess with the nightmare of a van in 2 of the least car friendly cities in Italy

It's going to take 3 to 4 hours to drive between Venice and Florence. That's after you get yourselves and your belongings into the car and not allowing for any stops. I don't know what time your flight depart from Venice, but I would want to be in Venice, not in Florence, the night before that flight. There's always the risk of a car accident or mechanical malfunction along the way. I'd give the same advice if you were taking the train (which I think you should do), though significant delays would presumably be less likely on a train.

I'm not sure exactly what you mean by "local tours to the city of Florence or nearby cities". Tours typically originate in large cities, not in small ones. I doubt that you'll find any tours running from places other than Florence or Siena. Your sightseeing will be much more efficient if you stay in the city of Florence. You will be able to find tours fanning out to some of the smaller towns in Tuscany if you choose to go that route. Siena is easy by bus; Lucca and Pisa are easy by train.

Hi, Tim:

Our plan is to rent a 9-passenger van which can be less hassle for us to carry along the luggage to train station. Another factor, as I mentioned, "the earliest train schedule (7:35am from Florence to Venice) won't make us on time for our departure flight" (at 10:30am to US) in Venice.

Hi, Joe32F:

Very good suggestion, thank you!!

What time is you flight departing Venice? Figure 3 hours drive time to Venice airport if there are no traffic issues. Turn in the van, check in 2 hours prior to a European flight, 3 hours direct to North America. Sounds like you could be leaving in the wee hours of the morning.

PS, And Joe32F's suggestion is best. Several good hotels near the airport. Once everything is put a way, you can take a bus to Piazzale Roma and visit Venice for the evening.

Hi, acraven:

Finding eligible local tours is definitely our concern, thanks for the good advice!

We will arrive Venice on 4/29/20, should we worry about the current flooding aftermaths if we decide to stay in Venice?

Singing with the choir here for all the reasons already given: ditch the van and take the train. Yep, definitely spend the last night in Venice if you have a morning flight. Get bag sizes down to what you can each manage yourself, up and down stairs, off and on trains... That van would likely be bigger headache than help for this particular itinerary.

Tours are not really a necessity as Florence is pretty compact and easy to get around on foot; a good guidebook will include a self-guided walking tour. As previously stated, Lucca, Siena, Fiesole, etc. are easily done via public transport.

Hi, Sam:

Agree, Joe32F's suggestion is PERFECT!!

With a 10:30 departure to US you need to be at the airport by 7:30. No way would I be anywhere else than in a hotel in Venice near the airport the night before.

A 9 passenger van is not going to have much trunk space so you'll be sitting on some of those big bags. Not only that but if you do drive (do not recommend) you still have to deal with your luggage once you have parked the van at some outside of Florence parking garage (IF a 9 passenger van fits in the garage!) and get yourselves into the center. Honestly getting on/off train is a whole lot easier. Exactly what size bags are you talking about? We travel with checked luggage as well- 25 inch bags- and have no problem getting around. If your bags are bigger than that you need to rethink what you are bringing.

If you've never driven in Italy or Europe before and decide to do this- be sure all drivers have an IDP (get at your local AAA office) and read up on driving in Italy. You don't want to drive into Florence at all. Nightmare for sure and with a 9 passenger van? Yikes!
Again I would not recommend this plan at all.

As for the flooding situation you are talking about 5 months from now- no way to predict what the weather will be or what the situation will be then.

ETA: Just read your earlier posts about getting into Venice with luggage. It's not that big of a deal! We stay at Hotel Ala- it is just steps from SM Giglio vaporetto stop- no bridges or canals to cross. From there you can get a water taxi to take you to the airport- they will pick you up at that same dock. Easy peasy- book it for about 6:30 and you are at VCE in plenty of time. With 6 of you the cost is very reasonable (120 euros). You could do the same to get from VCE (if that is where you are arriving?) to your hotel and the captain will help you get your luggage on/off the water taxi.

https://www.motoscafivenezia.it/en/

If you decide to rent a van, please do yourself a favor and return to Venice for the night before your mid-morning international flight. It's not just a matter of having to get up in the middle of the night to drive from Florence to the Venice airport in time for you flight, there's no way to predict what delays you might encounter during the long drive. Do you really want to risk missing your flight?

If you rent a van you will regret it deeply.
If I were you, upon arrival to Venice (not sure if you fly in, arrive by train, arrive by ferry, or arrive by cruise ship), since you are not interested in seeing Venice, you should immediately go to Florence by train. There are baggage service porters at the station that can help with luggage. There is plenty of room for luggage on the trains. Once in Florence you can take taxis to the hotel.
The DAY BEFORE YOUR FLIGHT, you should go back to Venice (by train) and check into a hotel for the night, preferably near the station/Piazzale Roma. You can visit a few hours on that day. The morning of the flight you go to the airport (you should be there about 2.5 hours prior to departure is it’s a US bound flight). If you stay near Piazzale Roma it’s only 20 min taxi ride to the airport.

To drive from Florence to Venice on the day of departure is reckless behavior. It’s a 3.5 hour drive under optimal circumstances, but I’ve spent also countless hours driving from Florence to Venice under less favorable circumstances (e.g. freeway accidents or car trouble). Shyt happens, unfortunately, and I wouldn’t want it to happen just before a transatlantic flight. I’d rather get up at 6:30am in a Venice hotel, than wake up at 2:30am in a Florence hotel to drive to an airport over 200 miles away.

The cost is also not more if you do the above by train. A 9 pax van will cost you $150 a day to rent with mandatory insurance. Add fuel, freeway tolls, parking fees in Florence, and your van adventure will cost you at least $800-$900.
The full base fare Venice to Florence is 57€ one way per person. So even by paying full price the 6 of you will stay under $800. If you buy tickets in advance you can save up to 60%.

If you still stick with the van hire idea - not a good idea in your circumstances, IMHO - what time does the van hire place open so you can return it just before your flight?

Do you know about the dreaded ZTLs in Florence? And how many hundreds they may cost you?

Thanks all! After reading all your valuable inputs and comments, we decide to drop the car- rental idea. Most likely will base in Venice and take a day trip to Florence!

Glad that I asked, or else we will end up having "A Night(mare) in Florence"!

A day trip to Florence takes 4.5-6 hours of train travel.( round trip)

Perhaps consider spending a night in Florence even if it means paying for two hotels one night. Leave your main bags in Venice and take just an overnighter bag . Just a thought to make the trip worth the bother and not be burdened with luggage