We are flying into Marco Polo airport arriving at 9 am. Our hotel is near Accademia in Dorsoduro. We don't want to pay a lot for a water taxi. The hotel and Rick Steves book both say we have 2 options:
1. Take Alilaguna blue or orange line to Zattere or Ca'Rezzonico and walk 5-10 min to hotel.
2. Take bus line #5 to Piazzale Roma and catch vaporetta line #1 or 2 to Accademia stop (and could do Rick's grand canal tour in process)….but Rick's comments also suggest it could be really crowded in the morning!!
Is there a best choice?
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
You will be dragging all your luggage, so your option 2 doesn't sound good for that reason. And you'll be tired after all all night flight. The easier the better in that situation.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23267 posts
First you are going to have to define best for you. The best choice, most convenient is always going to be a door to door taxi. In this case, the water taxi. But you really have the two lower cost options. So it is crowded. So what? Personally I would take option 1 since you don't have to change.
Posted by
101 posts
Another option is a shared water taxi. While private water taxis are expensive, a shared water taxis is a relatively affordable option. I've used the following link to arrange transportation from VCE to the vaporette stop nearest to my hotel (venicelink.com).
They'll make a few intermediate stops to drop off other passengers, but since the space is limited they usually don't make more than two or three stops, and you have a minimum hassle with luggage.
http://www.venicelink.com/index.php?page=shop.browse&category_id=10&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=43&lang=english&vmcchk=1&Itemid=43
Posted by
Seattle, WA
16254 posts
There is another option---a shared water taxi for €25 pp (2 person minimum).
We haven't tried this yet but it seems attractive to me. We have taken the Alilaguna several time and while it is convenient (no change from bus to vaporetto) it is not very comfortable. The windows are dirty/ fogged so it is not easy to see out on the trip across the lagoon.
As for the vaporetto, yes it can be very crowded, but getting on at Piazzale Roma (before the über busy train station stop) gives you a bit of advantage.
How many bridges are between the closest stop (for Alilaguna, vaporetto,mor shared taxi) and your hotel?
Posted by
Louisville, KY, USA
255 posts
I agree, take the Alilaguna. I always think one should approach Venice from the sea.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
I have no idea how many bridges are between airport and hotel depending on type of transport?? Never been to Venice. And the schedule only states the name of the stops, not bridges.
Sounds like we should take the Aliluguna or check out the shared water taxi. (Hadn't heard of that before, but sounds like a good alternative.)
Thanks for the input!!
Posted by
Seattle, WA
16254 posts
Actually I was asking about the number of bridges between the dock where you get off the boat ( Alilaguna, vaporetto, or water taxi) and the hotel. Venice has many little side canals which are crossed by bridges. Each one has steps up and then down the other side. It is a bit of a pain with luggage so you want to choose the route with the fewest bridges. You can see the bridges if you look on Google maps, hybrid view.
Posted by
Green Bay
20085 posts
You might fess up and tell us the name of the hotel. Also, if the hotel has a website and/or email, they can give you directions
Posted by
2 posts
Our hotel not only gave us detailed directions for Alilaguna, but also included a detailed walking map and youtube video. Ask your hotel the best way.