mauld

Try: http://europeforvisitors.com/venice/..._in_venice.htm

The Alilaguna is the public transport boat from the airport to the city and I believe it is e 10 to get to the San Marco stop in Venice. The boats that run throughout the canals in Venice are the Vaporetti. You can buy 1-3-7 day fare cards that are much cheaper than individual rides.

slawecki

Gold benefits???? I have a gold. don't even know where I got it. upgrade at the E&R, get serious.


I quit doing *wood, because I got no where near the bennies all the rest of these people got when I was a plat. 5 or 6 or 7 years in FEb at the danieli for 7-10 days as a plat, and NEVER a front room. forget the Doge suite, never a front room like all the rest of these people.

had a front room for a week at danieli and at E&R on points for a week each.

itsaboutthejourney

I don't have my TimeOut Venice book with me now, but it has a good description of the main modes of transportation: gondola, water taxi, water bus and the Alilaguna which I think is somewhere in between a water taxi and water bus to/from the VCE airport. Again, google should have these answers.

Don't forget to take advantage of the free Starwood/CIGA boat service between the E&R and their Lido hotels (Excelsior & Des Bains). Its a fun ride in itself.

ConsultantA

Just came back from a 2 nights stay there using points. 2 thumbs up.

We arrived ~9pm and we bite the bullet and took the watertaxi to the hotel, it was a wonderful experience. Taxi dropped us off at the dock. Checkin was a breeze and we were given room 308.

We got a bottle of sparking and choclate waiting in the room. (I've noted on the reservation that it's our honeymoon). Room was very nice, and we have a little balcony and partial canal view. What more can I ask for when I'm just a regular spg member (ex-plat.)

We also burned 3000pts on the breakfast for 2, the food wasn't bad, but no way it worths 50Euros each if paying cash even with the view of the canal .

when we left we took the vapporetto to the train station and it's another unique experience. We truly enjoyed our stay at Venice it's such a lovely place.

jnswinnipeg

Last month we were in Venice for the first time and did not take the water taxi, but wished we had. If you have never been to Venice, I would take the water taxi to the hotel. Leaving the hotel, once you have figured things out a Vaparetto should be fine.

The nice thing is that the water taxi will take you to the hotels dock where porters will help you.

XFed2001

jinswinnipeg: Thanks for the observation. Sounds like taking the water taxi is the way to go -- at least upon arrival. Do you recall seeing how other quests got their luggage from the airport to the water taxi loading dock? Thanks

mauld

It is a fairly short walk, but there is a bus that goes from the front of the airport to the loading area, where you will find the water taxi's as well as the alilaguna to Venice.
PS- how much luggage are you talking about? If it is just a couple of rolling pieces you should have no problem with the alilaguna. The difference is price is e 10 vs e 80-90.

itsaboutthejourney

venice is not the city for large pieces of luggage, especially if it has no wheels. Lots of on and off boats, the 5 min walk from the terminal to the dock for taxis or Alilaguna, lots of uneven surfaces and bridges in Venice itself. You will do well to pack light and use wheeled luggage. That said, the guys who run the taxis and Alilaguna are total pros at helping you and your luggage on/off the boat. I'm sure the occasional suitcase lands in the water though...

XFed2001

mauld: Thanks for the info. That 's exactly what I was trying to find out. Thanks again.

mauld

The bus will say "ALIGAUNA" and just about everyone on line will be boarding with luggage etc. There is no charge for this bus and the signs for it are clearly marked as you exit the terminal.

XFed2001

mauld: Thanks for this additional info. I'm surprised that neither Starwood nor Westin have established a luggage service to go from the air terminal to their hotels and from the hotels to the ships or vice versa. I'd be willing to pay up to 25 Euros per bag to avoid schlepping them around. What does anyone else think about this idea? Of course, if it's already possible, I would echo what Gilda Radner said, "never mind". I mention it because I see no mention of such a service in any of the threads on the subject. Thanks

ptpinit

So, I had been eyeing some award nights for our trip to Italy next May and finally decided to go ahead and book 'em. 3 nights at Westin Europa & Regina in Venice, May 4-7, 2008. Called up the SPG Gold Desk because of the whole "smoking only" award room online quirk. However, I was told that high season at the E&R ran May 01 through June 26 and would cost 16,000 points per night.

As I already knew by checking rooms online, SPG.com was quoting me only 12,000 points per night, or the low season rate, for my desired dates. I told the reservation agent this, and she rechecked her chart but came up with the same conclusion. 16,000 points per night. I said, well maybe I'll just book them online since I'm getting the better redemption rate, and she said she was trying to help me avoid any problems upon check-in, meaning they would then dock me an additional 4k per night? Seems ridiculous that the answer I'm getting from the website is wholly different than the human.

BTW, I went ahead and booked both the E&R and Villa Cipriani for my desired dates, "smoking only" and all, and there's no sign of the smoking room preference in my online or email confirmations. Just to be sure, I'll send individual emails to the hotels directly to have them note in my reservation.

sc flier

According to the calendar of peak dates on SPG's website, you are correct and the CSR is wrong.

http://www.starwoodhotels.com/prefer...CategoryCode=5

(To get to this yourself on spg.com, go to My Account >> Redeem Transfer >> Free Nights >> Starpoints Needed by Hotel/Resort Category)

beachfan

My experience, over many reservations, is that they honor the original points reservation.

It used to be that they were slow in posting high seasons, so if you acted quickly, it was all low season. Now they're posting further in advance.

Starwood Lurker

Just as an FYI, the Customer Contact Center associate was correct about the high season date being from May 1 - June 26, 2008 and it looks as if the web site has been updated to reflect that.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]