Considering Ryanair from Rome to Venice (Treviso). Has anyone had experience with that airport? Any tips for transportation to the island? Would we be better off paying a few extra bucks and fly Easyjet into Marco Polo?
We did a shuttle out there, and I would highly recommend the bus instead. Shuttle was hot, cramped, not well air conditioned, and pretty miserable. I haven't heard the folks who used the bus rattle off those complaints. ;)
With the amount you can save on Ryanair, I think it's worth it. :)
I flew into Treviso from Paris in 2005. After buying bus tix in the airport, we all boarded a bus (coach) for Venice. I think it was about $10 and took about an hour to the bus terminal on the island. From there I walked to the canal, bought a vaporetto ticket, and proceded to my hotel. From Marco Polo airport I believe transportation to the island would be by boat and would take about the same amount of time and money. These boats make several stops in Venice, so you may not need to transfer to a vaporetto.
If you have the choice of either Treviso or Marco Polo then by all means choose Marco Polo because that will put you right into Venice with an easy boat ride to your hotel.
However, we just flew SkyEurope from Prague into Treviso in June and the Treviso airport was easy to navigate and the buses were all parked out front, clearly labeled as to their destination, bus drivers stationed at their buses helping with luggage and directions, and ticket counter was just inside the door of the airport...right where you exit to the buses. It really couldn't have been simpler.
If you're only choice is Treviso, then go for it. If you DO have a choice between Treviso and Marco Polo then choose Marco Polo.
As Tim says above, the ATVO bus service into Venice is great and will work just fine. There is also a train from Treviso to the Venezia Santa Lucia train station. Fare is 2.35Euro. The train station looks to be a couple of miles from the airport on Google Earth. You would need a taxi there or perhaps there is a local bus.
FYI to Swan's post, Actually, there are two bus lines from Marco Polo to the Piazzale Roma on the main islands. The faster of the two, ATVO, takes 20 minutes and costs 3Euro. The Piazzale Rome is a major vaporetto stop as well. The only boats from Marco Polo to the main islands are the Alilaguna, which have limited stops there and a private taxi which costs a minimum 125Euro.
The bus was actually very nice...clean, air-conditioned, full but not cramped. Best of all it was very cheap. I've heard that shuttles from Venice to Treviso can be very expensive.