specifically the Danielli

You have a few choices depending on $$. Best way is to take a private water taxi. They are readily available at the end of the building after you get your luggage. Tariff is regulated by government, I think around $100. all in. Don't buy into the "ciga launch". It is just another water taxi and has 2 disadvantages. You can end up having to wait around before leaving the airport and you often share the ride with other people even though the cost is the same.

There is public transportation on the vaporetto (like a water bus) which will leave you off near the hotel but I have not done this. There is a website with all the info on the vap schedule and stops here: http://www.actv.it/eng/home.php
You will want to get a vap pass once you are there. San ZACCARIA is your stop for the Daniele.

I have heard that some people take the land bus to Piazzale Roma and then get the vaporetto from there.

All in all schleping around Venice with luggage is not my idea of fun. I always take a water taxi and buy a vap pass when I get there.

I cannot afford the Danielli, so I reserved a holiday inn express at QUARTO D`ALTINO - VENEZIA. It looks like I have to take a bus from VCE to central train station, from there take a train to QUARTO D`ALTINO. I figure it will be too much hassle with luggage & stuff. I wonder if it is safe to take taxi at VCE. What kind of things I should watch out for?

It's perfectly safe to take a taxi at Venice airport, but it will certainly not be cheap. I recall passing by the HI a couple of years ago: it is conveniently located in the middle of nowhere, adjacent to nothing whatsoever.

Venice is one of the most extraordinary places on earth, and part of its charm is being in a city where there are equal numbers of cars and pink elephants roaming the streets. I would encourage you to reconsider your accommodations: you certainly do not have to pay the prices of a Danieli to stay in Venice.

In my experience the Starwood boat from Marco Polo airport to Venice is quick, comfortable, and reasonable in price. It will take you as close as possible to whichever hotel you are staying in. There is also a public ferry to San Marco, which is convenient to the Danielle. There is no reason to use a water taxi in Venice, ever. They are outrageously expensive. If you want to spend money, use a gondola.

Ummm, swim?

Seriously, unless you have loads of luggage, take the bus from the airport to the Piazzo Roma, then the water bus from there. Venice is not that big, so most any hotel is not too bad a walk.

Cautions: there is a bus that goes from the airport to a town called something like "Piazzola". Don't take this one (like I did http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/rolleyes.gif )

Get your ticket for the bus inside the airport before it arrives. The desk is across the terminal from the entrance and to the right (facing in).

Get good directions to the hotel, an address and phone number. Venice is an incredible maze, which is part of its charm, but finding your hotel the first (or second, or third) time can be a challenge.

Get a day pass for the water bus, and ride it up and down the Grand Canal at different times of day--do night time at least once! It's a great way to view the city and get around.

Have a great time!

JP

[This message has been edited by j379pa (edited 09-25-2002).]

--Water taxi to the Danieli is about $80.00. First of all, call the Concierge at the Danielli and inquire about the price and the service. Depending on your hotel rate, the transfer may, well, be included. Ignore the naysayers- about being ripped off for the water taxi from the airport. The watertaxi from the airport is just about the most wonderful, magical, romantic experience. There is nothing quite like the experience of collecting your baggage, turning left outside and walking to the dock. Weather permitting, sit outside with the driver and watch the city rise up before your eyes. It is sheer magic. It is money well spent and you will have the ride of your life. You can always take the Vaporetto back to the airport, but do indulge yourself and take the watertaxi from the airport. You will not be disappointed. The watertaxi will drop you at the front door of your hotel--yet, another great experience...off the boat and into the lobby. Please e-mail if you have further questions.

sxchan
Don't do it! To experience Venice you need to stay in Venice. Go way off season, Venice is better that way and you'll save a ton of money. Use the vaporetto from the airport. Check out some smaller 3*'s for reasonably priced hotels that are centrally located. Many are listed at http://www.veniceby.com Select 5* first, then Gritti Palace, "where we are", then click the map. You will see many of the 3*'s listed near the Santa Maria del Giglio vaporetto stop. This is the best area and there are many good inexpensive 3*'s on this map.

ajnaro
The price of a water taxi from the airport is the same as the Starwood/Ciga and the boats are the same. Consider yourself lucky that you didn't have to wait around or share a ride.

obscure2k
Couldn't agree more.


I trashed a VERY expensive Tumi just wheeling from the car park to the water taxi stop--the cobblestones and hundreds of bridges are no fun with luggage.

The San Marco stop is a much further walk to the Daniele than the San ZACCARIA.

--canacapitl--I am in complete agreement with you about going to Vce in the off-season. Have been doing this for years and years. When I describe MY Venice to those who travel there during high season, it is as if we are discussing two different cities. I love Venice november through march. Yes, it can be cold and damp, yet, not as cold and damp and windy as London or Paris. I have even had dazzling sunlight on Christmas day and sipped a Bellini outdoors in February at the Gritti bar.! It's a great time to walk and explore and see the Piazza San Marco uncrowded. We always stay in Canarreggio. That is an area filled with great local markets and trattorias and wine bars crowded with local residents and few tourists. We take the vaporetto at the end of the Strada Nouvo to St. Marks for shopping or fancy dining and walk a brisk 20 minutes back to our hotel. For strolling, it is nice to stroll from Canarregio through Castello. p.s. Venice is the best city in the world in which to get "lost." Nothing beats the unexpected pleasures one finds off the "beaten path." Miraculously, you will always manage to find your way out of, what seems like a maze of alleys, canals and bridges.

obscure2k
You sound like a fellow Venice addict. Do they have a special rehab for this? If so I know I need it! Better for most people to go in hoards during the high season and save the off season for us! We go to Cannaregio at least every other day to Fiaschetteria Toscana. We like Giglio because you can walk to so many places easily without going through San Marco crowds and there is a vap stop right near the hotel. We stay at the Gritti only with the help of Starwood points. If only Alitalia would resume non-stops from LAX....

The Taxi is regulated, but the regulated price is about €55, and you will pay about €100. Ask price before you get on board. I think the Danieli/CIGA boat is about €60 for two, but we leave too early to take it. Call the hotel and ask.

Porters are expensive. You can get from VCE to all the boats with roller luggage.

The ACTV is cheap, about €10pp, but The trip from San Marco to the Danieli entails crossing 2 or 3 bridges. The porter is about €35 or 40 for 3 or 4 bags. Forget land taxi or bus, if you have luggage and are not very young and strong, as it entails also taking a Vaperetto, which if you don't know how is no fun with luggage.

The Starwood has a concierge at VCE. He will assist you to the boats.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by sxchan:
I cannot afford the Danielli, so I reserved a holiday inn express at QUARTO D`ALTINO - VENEZIA. It looks like I have to take a bus from VCE to central train station, from there take a train to QUARTO D`ALTINO. I figure it will be too much hassle with luggage & stuff. I wonder if it is safe to take taxi at VCE. What kind of things I should watch out for?</font>

You're not going to Venice. You're going day tripping with hoards of people comming to venice for a day, and on to Florence on Tues, and Rome on Wed, and Paris, etc on thurs & Fri. Find something you can afford in Venice.

Try this site:

http://www.veniceinfo.it/frameset.php3?language=inglese

[This message has been edited by slawecki (edited 09-30-2002).]

--canacapitl--We love Fiaschetteria Toscana! Those little gnocchi with the seafood sauce is one of the greatest dishes in the world! The grilled shrimp are fabulous--actually, everything there is fabulous. Unfortunately, they are closed on Tuesdays or we might well be there more often. We sit downstairs..great people-watching. Re: Rehab for folks like us: I actually did write a piece entitled: "How do you know if you are addicted to Venice? I'll try to find it and e-mail it to you. I think you'll enjoy it. Not sure if your e-mail is listed, but mine is, so feel free to e-mail me and we can continue our conversation. Also, I'll tell you where we stay.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by RobertS975:
specifically the Danielli</font>


Search the Starwood board for Danieli, Venice, Gritti, etc.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by canacapitl:
ajnaro
The price of a water taxi from the airport is the same as the Starwood/Ciga and the boats are the same. Consider yourself lucky that you didn't have to wait around or share a ride.
</font>


I consider myself lucky for several reasons. In the first place, the Starwood boat was right there, waiting for me, in both directions every time I've gone to Venice (four trips recently). In the second place, every time my partner and I had the boat virtually to ourselves. In the third place, the round trip fare, charged to our hotel bill, was only around US$40 for both of us. In the fourth place, as we were staying at the Gritti Palace, the boat took us right to the front entrance.


[This message has been edited by ajnaro (edited 10-01-2002).]

ajnaro,
You were really lucky or maybe I was just very unlucky. I tried them twice and they bombed both times. I haven't tried them in about two years so maybe they made some changes. Apparently they reduced the price as well.