Locals did suggest the airport but depends on how much luggage you have I suppose if you don't mind a train or crowded (90 min+ To Europa) air port water bus. There is another parking lot on the mainland beside the causeway for $10 EUR or so....closer and what local day trippers use and then a short train/bus ride over. I didn't want to use transit so drove over....point to add, the parking garages are very busy (often full I'm told) so some park in the Venezia Tronchetto Parking for less and are still on the island technically.
Advantage of the airport is you can book in advance on the website and actually get a fairly substansial discount (35-40% IIRC).
Tronchetto is a major pain as you can spend a long time to find a parking spot- do remember where you parked as the garage has 3500 places- which is a lot for Venezia and Europe for that matter.
If you do decide to park at the airport I wouldn't take the vaporetto- I would take the alilaguna- which is not usually that crowded.
Of course organizing a water taxi is nice for a once-in-a-while special trip- it becomes a bit much to do it on a regular basis.
The prices of the SPG hotels are usually lower as they are shared water taxis- not private. Private water taxis will cost you >100 EUR in all cases. Do make sure the final price is clear prior to confirming.
Garage San Marco and Autorimessa Comunale, a municipal parking garage allow pre-booking online in the Piazzale Roma if you want to be closer.
FYI....anyone in Venice Jan 27, Travel disruption due to strike
On Friday 27th January 2012, there is expected to be waterbus and bus disruption to Venice as the public transport company ACTV has announced a 24 hour strike action.
Public transport service (ACTV water buses and buses) will probably be disrupted by the strike action. Also, the //venice>connected points ticket desks may not be operating normally.
Garage San Marco and Autorimessa Comunale, a municipal parking garage allow pre-booking online in the Piazzale Roma if you want to be closer.
FYI....anyone in Venice Jan 27, Travel disruption due to strike
On Friday 27th January 2012, there is expected to be waterbus and bus disruption to Venice as the public transport company ACTV has announced a 24 hour strike action.
Public transport service (ACTV water buses and buses) will probably be disrupted by the strike action. Also, the //venice>connected points ticket desks may not be operating normally.
The large majority of trains will also be on strike from 21:00 26 January to 21:00 27 January. An excellent time period to avoid travel within Italy unless absolutely necessary. This week in general has had a series of disruptions in travel due to protests of the liberalization of a number of industries.
The large majority of trains will also be on strike from 21:00 26 January to 21:00 27 January. An excellent time period to avoid travel within Italy unless absolutely necessary. This week in general has had a series of disruptions in travel due to protests of the liberalization of a number of industries.
Very true. With truckers blocking expressways this week too, transit/taxi strikes, and a gas pumpers strike for 10 days it will deeply hurt travel and locals in Italy short term at least. I was concerned over rumors before we left for Italy at Christmas but just ducked the bullet by a few weeks. Didn't want to get trapped in a Greece style travel situation but its spreading more into the rest of Europe.
Not so much in the news in Canada/USA so it pays to do some research
Very true. With truckers blocking expressways this week too, transit/taxi strikes, and a gas pumpers strike for 10 days it will deeply hurt travel and locals in Italy short term at least. I was concerned over rumors before we left for Italy at Christmas but just ducked the bullet by a few weeks. Didn't want to get trapped in a Greece style travel situation but its spreading more into the rest of Europe.
Not so much in the news in Canada/USA so it pays to do some research
To be sure- this is not the best of times- however to be fair it isn't all that bad at the moment at all. The gas station strike of 10 days will rotate- meaning that any one gas station can only close for a maximum of 72 hours- and many are saying they won't close at all. Pharmacies are in a similar position- may not strike at all. Taxi is a huge problem- but it is resolving itself in the next day or two. It is fine to come to Italy. Thursday-Friday will be the worst of it for a few weeks.
Programs: US Chairman, SPG Platinum, and most other major hotel programs
Posts: 285
Rental car pickup question
I will be arriving in Venice on a cruise ship and staying at the E&R for a day or two. When I leave Venice, I will be picking up a Hertz rental car at Piazzale Roma. Does anyone have a suggestion on the best way for my wife and I to get there? We will have more than carry-on luggage, but not overwhelming.
BTW, last time we were in Venice, we were with another couple and we shared the cost of a private water taxi to/from E&R/VCE, which was not unreasonably costly with the cost shared.
I will be arriving in Venice on a cruise ship and staying at the E&R for a day or two. When I leave Venice, I will be picking up a Hertz rental car at Piazzale Roma. Does anyone have a suggestion on the best way for my wife and I to get there? We will have more than carry-on luggage, but not overwhelming.
BTW, last time we were in Venice, we were with another couple and we shared the cost of a private water taxi to/from E&R/VCE, which was not unreasonably costly with the cost shared.
From the hotel to P.Roma I would see if you can share a private water taxi given that you have more than carry-on luggage. The water taxi drop off at P.Roma to the Hertz parking area is less than 350 m.
We checked into the Westin on Thursday. Very nice staff and the unique key was nice touch. We were upgraded to a stunning view room. The room was very clean and in working orders. I was on the first floor looking out to the canal. And right below me is the docks. I spent a lot of time on Thursday night taking pictures of the grand canal. I wake up to construction noises in the morning. I figured I should be out and about in Venice anyways.
Friday night was a different story. Get the HIGHER floor rooms. I felt every single door shuts from the door to the pier. On top of it, there were people smoking and talking very loudly from the bar. Most of them speak english so I knew that they were drunk. =) They are well within their rights to do so. But from 11pm to 1:00am, it was getting too much to handle. I called the front desk to see what can be done. Since it was 1:00 in the morning, I figured it can't be that hard. The guy basically told me I can move to another room @ 1:00am or go pound sand. There was no managers on duty tonight and you can complain tomorrow morning.
I guess the noise level comes with the room upgrade...
If you are to stay @ the WESTIN E&R, Stay on the higher floor to avoid the excess noise.
It looks like they increased this property from a category 5 to a category 6 hotel. I just booked a hotel last month for a stay in May for a Premium Deluxe Room for 14,500 points a night for 2 nights. Now it looks like the minimum for a standard room is 20,000-25,000 points.
Location: New Orleans, AA EXP, DL PM, SPG PLT, HH Diamond
Posts: 3,492
Had an excellent stay here in May. Had a beautiful large room with huge bathroom and balcony overlooking the Grand Canal. Cannot say enough good things about this Hotel. Service was outstanding, excellent location, could go on and on... Had lunch overlooking the Grand Canal- what an experience. Hotel is in an excellent location. Last time we stayed at the Gritti Palace- surprisingly much preferred this hotel. Rooms were larger, more updated (although Gritti is currently undergoing major renovation-). Found service to be much better than Gritti- Gritti was very formal and atmosphere quite 'uptight'. Highly recommend this property for your stay in Venice.
Programs: US Chairman, SPG Platinum, and most other major hotel programs
Posts: 285
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robinjoym
Hello,
Does anyone know what that hotel offers as free breakfast for Platinum guests?
I have a stay booked in August.
Thank you.
A full buffet breakfast with most anything you would want is one option for the Platinum amenity and is well worth it if you're staying more than one night . . . probably worth more than 500 points even if you're only staying one night. I don't remember the price they charge for it if you're not Platinum, but it was very pricey (a cruisemate of ours paid for it).
Full buffet breakfast is 45 € and for free with the platinum voucher.
They used to have an option of 1500 points per person for breakfast, but I think it's now 2000 points...
It's well worth it.. the two nights I stayed there in 2009 I spent the 6000 points for both of us to have breakfast.. though it was only 42 euros at the time... it was one of the rare times that using points for breakfast was a good value...
They used to have an option of 1500 points per person for breakfast, but I think it's now 2000 points...
It's well worth it.. the two nights I stayed there in 2009 I spent the 6000 points for both of us to have breakfast.. though it was only 42 euros at the time... it was one of the rare times that using points for breakfast was a good value...
FDW
I saw 3000 starpoints per person for breakfast on the instant award list in my room there two weeks ago.
But there is also this breakfast:
Terrace ' SuperFoods' Breakfast
Take 3 renewing items from our breakfast buffetaccompanied by tea, coffee or fresh juice at only 21,00 €, including a breathtaking view over the Grand Canal.
SPG Lifetime™ Gold 
