Venice Transfer Help Needed

Have you seen the choices provided (same as in Rick's book, pretty close) on your hotel's LOCATION webpage http://www.duodopalacehotel.com/location.htm?cookieChecked=true which spell it all out?

The simplest would be a water taxi, but that is very expensive.

Maybe the terms for the various forms of transport are confusing? The Alilaguna, which Rick seems to favor, is a water bus that you board at the airport dock. It takes you across the lagoon and either down the grand canal ( the Orange line) or around the outside ( the Blue line) to reach the San Marco area stops. The one suggested by your hotel is San Marco Vallaresso. You will need to navigate on foot from there. The hotel suggests you head toward La Fenice ( the opera house) as it is close by. Make sure you have a good street map of Venice with you when you arrive.

Here is a map of the Alilaguna routes:

http://www.alilaguna.it/en/lines/lines-map

The other option is to take a regular bus from the airport over the bridge to Piazzale Roma, which is as far into Venice as vehicles can drive. From there you catch a vaporetto down the grand canal to the San Marco V. stop. A vaporetto is another form of water bus that serves Venice and the outer islands. You may be using them a lot while in Venice, unless you prefer to walk everywhere like we do. Make sure you understand about purchasing and validating your vaporetto tickets or passes.

Between the Alilaguna and the bus + vaporetto, the Alilaguna is the simpler option.

How charming. The hotel location description mentions "steamboat" stops. This must be the translation of VAPORETTO. If I were following these directions, at La Fenice I would probably ask someone where to find the hotel. It would help to have a good map of Venice.

That is indeed what "vaporetto" means. They were originally steamboats.

I too found the transfer confusing until another forum poster sent me a message and I arrived in Venice. We flew into Marco Polo airport. I don't know if that's the same as VCE. Here's what you do. Go to baggage claim area. Then, follow the crowd out the main doors into a lobby area. On the left side as you leave baggage claim, there is a window where you can buy a combo. Vaporetto / bus pass. You have several options. (I.e. Bus only, 2 day pass, single boat trip pass, 3 day pass, etc.). It's best to use your guide book and know which pass you need in advance. Take the bus (located just outside the lobby area) to Piazzale Roma. validate your pass on the bus. Get off at Piazzale Roma - a large parking lot. From the parking lot, walk down to the grand canal and catch a vaporetto with your pass. Find the boat stop closest to your hotel. ( Your hotel can provide this info.)

You may find this video helpful: getting to Venice with Alilaguna water bus ( vaporetto)

Have a wonderful trip!

Maps are good but they're only as good as street markings or your ability to follow where you are from a known point. I found even better was downloading an offline map (since I went without data service) and using the gps. It was generally accurate enough to get me close.

Alilaguna or ask to duodo palace