Venice tourist restriction question, separate from other thread

The biggest two disadvantages, speaking as one who has had one for about 10 years, are

a. The process of obtaining one is arduous. The only place that I was able to get one when I first got one (it may have changed since) was a small nondescript office in a small nondescript building with either no or very small signs indicating that I was in the right place. In fact I think I wandered around for about 10 minutes until I was that that was where I had to be. Then the forms and transaction with the person behind the desk were all in Italian (not too much of a problem for some, may be harder for others). An orderly queue was not the way that office worked. Nevertheless, after about 20 or 30 minutes my wife and I walked out with our cards.

b. It costs €50 to buy the card. Fine if you use it frequently like I do; less fine if you are only visiting once or twice. Or if it many years between visits because the cards do expire.

c. Although the fares are low, reloading the card is either easy or not so easy, and the trips are not per trip but per hour. A trip to Burano or Torcello or other remote parts of the Lagoon usually takes two fares each way. As opposed to a 24, 48 or 72 hour pass which is valid for unlimited journeys and only needs one purchase.

d. Because they are so valuable they take up space in the passport drawer at home when not being used.

e. I don't do tours so don't know about them, and it rare that I go in the big hitter museums now because I have been in quite a few times previously, but I do go in a lot of churches. I've never had a discount at a church, and other than the Chorus ones are mostly free.

Ah, sorry. I said 2 disadvantages. Got 5. oops.

Thanks Nigel. Sounds like it's not a deal for a 5 day visit. I can buy the vaporetto pass for as many days as I need. Museum tickets are online for advance purchase.

To be absolutely clear - it is the "Frequent User" version I was speaking of, not the City Card version.

Thanks Nigel. I didn’t realize there are two.

I always get the Venezia Unica card if I am there for more than three days and want to use the vaporetti as transportation. There is an office right outside the train station. Individual vaporetto rides are about $7.50 each, so the card pays for itself quickly. In addition, if you don't have the card, you will have to buy tickets every time, which means standing in line, and there is always someone in front of you who doesn't speak any Italian and can't figure out where they want to go.

Perhaps the previous post isn't aware that day passes (1, 2, 3 days and also I believe 7 days) are available even if you don't have the Unica card. So you can avoid waiting in line to buy single tickets. I believe the 24 hour pass costs 20 euros, 48 hours 30 euros... those were the prices when I went online yesterday. Just be sure to tap your pass and listen for the beep before boarding each trip.