On Feb 26th (after two nights in Venice) we're taking a 5:39am train from Mestre to Rome. Which means we'll need to be on the 5:15am train from Santa Lucia to Mestre. Will it be hard to find a vaporetto to Santa Lucia at 4:30 or 4:45am? I've heard they run at that time but not as frequently. We don't want to spend a ton of money hiring a water taxi if it's not necessary. We're debating whether to just simplify things by staying within walking distance of Santa Lucia. Although we'd much rather stay at either 3749 Ponte Chido or Hotel American Dinesen -- both of which would require some sort of transportation to Santa Lucia. Forgive me if this has already been discussed ... I've searched the site but can't seem to find a specific answer.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11304 posts
Have you asked your hotel choices? They should be able to advise. Are you locked in to the schedule? That's awfully early....
Posted by
OP
Pawtucket, RI, USA
32 posts
I've asked one hotel but they didn't seem to understand the question. They just respond saying what their check-in time is, which has no relevance. I clarified again after that but haven't heard back, so I figured I'd check here. The next latest train to Rome (I think around 8:30am) would only get us there around 12:30 pm or 1:00pm ... as opposed to getting there at 9:15 am. We don't mind getting up early to get a few more hours out of our day. Originally we were going to Florence but switched to Venice. The train from Florence to Rome wasn't nearly as early so it wasn't an issue. Besides the fact that getting to the train station in Florence wouldn't have been a problem.
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
The regular vaporettos No 1 and 2 do not begin running until about 5:00am. You will not make it to the Ferrovia stop (train station) in time on these two vaporettos. The good news is that there is a night vaporetto. It's the "N" vaporetto. And, fortunately, it stops at the CA d' Oro stop (3749 Ponte Chido) and the Accademia stop (Hotel American Dinesen). But, the stop times and travel distances are different so be cautious. From the CA d' Oro stop, it's a 10 minute journey by the N vaporetto. The N vaporetto stops there at 03:58, 04:19 and 04:38. It looks like any of these will get you there easily on time. The stop at the Accademia is different. First the journey is 21 minutes. It's farther down the Grand Canal from the train station stop than CA d' Oro. The next bad news is that the last stop there to get you to the train station in time is 04:06. The N vaporetto doesn't stop there as much during the night.
Posted by
OP
Pawtucket, RI, USA
32 posts
Larry, you are a lifesaver! Can't thank you enough. That's exactly the information that we were looking for. Glad to know what we want to do is possible. So it seems like 3749 Ponte Chido clearly wins over Hotel American Dinesen at any rate.
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
Alicia, I obtained all of this info from the www.actv.it website. ACTV operates the vaporettos. Still, I suggest that it would be wise to have your hotel validate this information. They should know it.
Posted by
OP
Pawtucket, RI, USA
32 posts
Will do. Thanks for the link.