Venice Transportation to Hotel Ala from SanMarco Airport

It is literally about 15 steps from the dock to Ala door. No bridges, no stairs.

We took the Alilaguna but that was 10 yrs ago! I am pretty sure we had the voucher.
I might do the same again just to be guaranteed a seat

Enjoy!

thank you!

Don’t hold me to that 15 steps-it might be 19 or 20 ;)
You will love the location

This morning it took us almost three hours from the airport to Hotel Ala. There were lots of people taking Aliguana 8-(

Honestly, even despite that, I would still prefer to take the No 5 bus from the airport exit door to Piazzale Roma and change to the No 1 boat to Giglio. About the same price with the Bus+Boat ticket. Since the No 1 vaporetto originates at Piazzale Roma, you will be the first to board and get seats, maybe with a view. Just be ready to exit on the left side after the boat departs Accademia.

Good advice from Sam

We did exactly what Sam suggested (although our stop was at Rialto Mercato) last October. Being among the first to board the vaporetto was a big plus.

We stayed at Hotel Ala late April, 2024. The walk from the dock to the hotel is a couple of hundred level feet. We took a water taxi. Yes, it would cost more than two Alilaguna tickets, but the memory of that ride is well worth the extra euros.

Getting to Venice from Marco Polo Airport. [Make sure you have seats on the right/starboard side of the aircraft, for a view of Venice as you fly into Marco Polo.]

A paper map of Venice is the best three euro you will ever spend. Sure, people say that getting lost in Venice is fun. Getting lost, hauling your luggage and not being able to find your hotel is nobody’s idea of fun. Buy that map at the Tabac or bookshop at Marco Polo.

Do take a look at your hotel website – there may be info there. Otherwise,

1. Water taxi will get you close, maybe to, the door of your hotel. Can carry about ten people, will cost about €140 for the boat. No need to book, taxis are waiting at the Marco Polo dock.
2. Shared water taxi. Minimum of two people. Book in advance, wait at the desk in the terminal for the others sharing the taxi. Costs about €30 per person. Google “shared water taxi Venice”, use the venicelink dot com web site. Will get you to a vaporetto stop near your hotel.
3. Alilaguna ferry, as per below.
4. Bus to Piazale Roma, then walk to your hotel, or take vaporetto to the nearest stop. Buses leave from the outside the terminal, tickets at the machine.

Water transport in Venice.
1. Gondolas. Only for pleasure, not for transport. 90 euro for half an hour for the boat, more for evenings.
2. Traghetto – big gondolas, two oarsmen, about ten passengers, for crossing the Grand Canal. Found at Rialto, San Toma and a couple of other places. Cost 2 euro per trip, can save a heap of walking.
3. Water taxis, which are like a floating limo, costs to match.
4. Vaporettos - ACTV. Are like a floating bus, operate on a bunch of routes. Get the app Chebateo for routes and schedules. Vaps do not service the airport. Vaps are not water taxis.
5. Alilaguna ferries, service the airport, run from Marco Polo via a bunch of stops to the main part of Venice, Murano and Lido. They stop at some, but by no means all, vaporetto stops.

thanks folks for the info. we will have to weigh the options.

We have always used the shared water taxi… so easy, especially with our bags. And I’ll add that l’ve never reserved ahead, concerned that our flight could be late and we could miss our reservation. But this year, the person at the desk said that it would never be a problem…booking ahead simply allows them to have a good estimate of travelers. Even without a reservation, we have waited only perhaps 10-15 minutes for them to gather enough (6-8 plus luggage) for a taxi.

Cathy, great information and what was the approximate cost (recently)?

We paid €32 per person…their desk is toward the end of the main terminal hall.

Edited to add that we were visiting in late May.

The Alilaguna is good if you get one that will be stopping near your accommodation.

However, you will see absolutely nothing from on board.
Passengers are put below deck at the waterline, and the tiny windows are a little above your seated head height, and are salt encrusted or wet .
There is no view.
Luggage is held outside, up on the deck above the waterline….it’s the only thing seeing a view!
Your luggage may also get wet from spray if the driver is a bit of a cowboy, as happened to my suitcase last time.
He kept swerving into other boats wakes with the resulting spray splashing over everyone’s bags.
If you want the great arrival-into-Venice views, a water taxi is what you want.

Just be aware - the airport closest to Venice is Marco Polo, aka VCE, not San Marco.

And Marco Polo was not a saint :-)

As far as I remember (from reading, not from being there) he was denied absolution, because he refused to take back all the "lies", he had told about his travels.