Help making the most of short Visit-Venice

[musicmastimagic]

We are 2 adults and 2 kids (9 and 12). We are arriving Venice from Rome via train in the evening in May. We have our cruise the next day in the afternoon. So basically, we just have the 1st half of the day to see Venice. Need advice in making the most of this short time:

1. Which area should we book our hotel in? We don't want to waste any time commuting.

2. Can you suggest what are the must see/do things? If you can give a step by step itinerary as its our 1st time, that will really help!

3. We want to do gandola ride. Where should we take it from and what is good price for about half an hour ride?

 

Any ideas and suggestion are appreciated!

[buchhalm]

That's not too bad to get a first taste of Venice.

Look on line for hotels in Venice Santa Croce. That's the area that basically stretches from directly opposite the train station towards the cruise terminal, with Piazzale Roma in between. The latter is from where you can get a people mover train thingy to the docks.

In Santa Croce you find hotels for pretty moch every budget.

Gondola rides ain't cheap, but of course unique to Venice, so a nice thing to do once. Rates are fixed and timed. 30 to 45 minutes is plenty, id say. If you Google Venice gondola rates, you'll find out more.

For a nice overview and to experience the Grand Canal on a budget, take the canal "bus" (they are called Vaporettos) from outside the train station. Line 1 and 2 go all along the canal and end up at St. Marks Square.

Just wander around and follow the signs. These are painted on building walls, usually quite high up and on corners. "Per" means "to". So "per Rialto" is "to Rialto " "ferrovia" is the train station... easy peasy.

Venice in the evening is gorgeous. Experience St. Mark's after dark! Wonderful. By 10 pm Venice pretty much shuts ...

[mskaufman]

Similar to the previous poster. The vaparetto down the Grand Canal would be at the top of my list. Maybe even twice (once at dusk). Then wandering the streets and the smaller canals and St. Marks Sq in the evening. There are restaurants everywhere ( a lot on the canal near the Rialto Bridge)

 

[mapleleaves]

May? As in next month ? It could be a problem finding ANYTHING at this late date. Use tripadvisor or any large search site to see what's available for your time frame.

This link has suggestions for lodging near the train station. At the end of the link there is lodging info for the Piazzale Roma area which is across the Grand Canal from the station. At PRoma you can catch the People Mover monorail to the cruise terminal.

 

http://europeforvisitors.com/venice/directions/index-railroad-station.htm

[GOLDENBONNY]

We are 2 adults and 2 kids (9 and 12). We are arriving Venice from Rome via train in the evening in May. We have our cruise the next day in the afternoon. So basically, we just have the 1st half of the day to see Venice. Need advice in making the most of this short time:

1. Which area should we book our hotel in? We don't want to waste any time commuting.

2. Can you suggest what are the must see/do things? If you can give a step by step itinerary as its our 1st time, that will really help!

3. We want to do gandola ride. Where should we take it from and what is good price for about half an hour ride?

 

Any ideas and suggestion are appreciated!

Are you going this May? Wow . Book ASAP you will not have many choices specially for 4 ppl

[musicmastimagic]

That's not too bad to get a first taste of Venice.

Look on line for hotels in Venice Santa Croce. That's the area that basically stretches from directly opposite the train station towards the cruise terminal, with Piazzale Roma in between. The latter is from where you can get a people mover train thingy to the docks.

In Santa Croce you find hotels for pretty moch every budget.

Gondola rides ain't cheap, but of course unique to Venice, so a nice thing to do once. Rates are fixed and timed. 30 to 45 minutes is plenty, id say. If you Google Venice gondola rates, you'll find out more.

For a nice overview and to experience the Grand Canal on a budget, take the canal "bus" (they are called Vaporettos) from outside the train station. Line 1 and 2 go all along the canal and end up at St. Marks Square.

Just wander around and follow the signs. These are painted on building walls, usually quite high up and on corners. "Per" means "to". So "per Rialto" is "to Rialto " "ferrovia" is the train station... easy peasy.

Venice in the evening is gorgeous. Experience St. Mark's after dark! Wonderful. By 10 pm Venice pretty much shuts ...

 

We have to pick hotel from hotels.com site (have points with them). The search criteria has following options. Which one is close to Santa Croce?

City center

Academy Bridge

Bridge of Sighs

Ca' Foscari University of Venice

Ca' Noghera Casino of Venice

Campo San Polo

Doge's Palace

La Fenice Opera House

Maritime Station

Ospedale dell'Angelo

Piazzale Roma

Port of Venice

Rialto Bridge

San Zaccaria Waterbus

St Mark's Campanile

St. Mark's Basilica

St. Mark's Square

Tronchetto Waterbus Stop

Venetian Ghetto

Venice City Center

Stations

Venezia Mestre Station

Venice Mestre Ospedale Station

Venice Santa Lucia Station

Airports

Marco Polo Airport (VCE)

Treviso (TSF)

[musicmastimagic]

Similar to the previous poster. The vaparetto down the Grand Canal would be at the top of my list. Maybe even twice (once at dusk). Then wandering the streets and the smaller canals and St. Marks Sq in the evening. There are restaurants everywhere ( a lot on the canal near the Rialto Bridge)

 

That is such a beautiful picture! Unfortunately, we are arriving late evening and have to reach cruise port between 1:00-3:30. Won't be able to enjoy the evening view :(

[musicmastimagic]

May? As in next month ? It could be a problem finding ANYTHING at this late date. Use tripadvisor or any large search site to see what's available for your time frame.

This link has suggestions for lodging near the train station. At the end of the link there is lodging info for the Piazzale Roma area which is across the Grand Canal from the station. At PRoma you can catch the People Mover monorail to the cruise terminal.

 

http://europeforvisitors.com/venice/directions/index-railroad-station.htm

 

Are you going this May? Wow . Book ASAP you will not have many choices specially for 4 ppl

 

yeah, it was a late decision! :rolleyes: Hopefully, we are able to book something by today or tomorrow.

[Ergates The Ant]

With just a short stay, I wouldn't bother with the gondola. I would stay on the opposite side of the Grand Canal from the station, and in the morning, take a vaporetto ( water bus) down the Grand Canal to St Marks Square and have a wander about in that area. I would then consider walking back to your hotel, making your way through the little side streets and over the bridges, including the Rialto Bridge, and just take in the unique atmosphere. You should be able to get this done in time to collect your luggage and head for the ship.

[buchhalm]

We have to pick hotel from hotels.com site (have points with them). The search criteria has following options. Which one is close to Santa Croce?

City center

Academy Bridge

Bridge of Sighs

Ca' Foscari University of Venice

Ca' Noghera Casino of Venice

Campo San Polo

Doge's Palace

La Fenice Opera House

Maritime Station

Ospedale dell'Angelo

Piazzale Roma

Port of Venice

Rialto Bridge

San Zaccaria Waterbus

St Mark's Campanile

St. Mark's Basilica

St. Mark's Square

Tronchetto Waterbus Stop

Venetian Ghetto

Venice City Center

Stations

Venezia Mestre Station

Venice Mestre Ospedale Station

Venice Santa Lucia Station

Airports

Marco Polo Airport (VCE)

Treviso (TSF)

 

Piazzale Roma and Venice Santa Lucia station.

The later is most often shown as Venezia S.L. on train time tables and displays

I stayed several times at the Hotel Atice Figure (directly opposite Venezia S.L. station) and the Hotel Gardens, around the corner from the first hotel. Perhaps these hotels or hotels nearby will show up on your website

[musicmastimagic]

I have been searching and closet available I think is

Hotel Casanova Venezia

 

Sestiere San Marco 1284, Venice, VE, 30124, Italy, 866-299-2910

Rooms seem very old and basic but I guess we don't have much choice left. If this is good location, we can manage for one night.

On the other hand this hotel seems better but not sure if this location is OK:

Grande Albergo AUSONIA & HUNGARIA Wellness & Spa

Gran Viale S.M. Elisabetta 28, Lido di Venice, Venice, VE, 30126, Italy, 866-299-2910

[mapleleaves]

as for your list, Santa Lucia and Piazzale Roma are the areas for your search. Those are the 2 areas that were covered in the link I provided earlier for your hotel search .......

 

If you don't find anything in Venice, you could disembark the train in Mestre instead. Mestre is the last stop on the mainland before the train crosses the bridge to Santa Lucia Station, so only minutes away. Mestre hotels are more affordable.

The next morning after b'fast you could take a cab to the pier and check your luggage, then go sightseeing for a couple of hrs.

[musicmastimagic]

Piazzale Roma and Venice Santa Lucia station.

The later is most often shown as Venezia S.L. on train time tables and displays

I stayed several times at the Hotel Atice Figure (directly opposite Venezia S.L. station) and the Hotel Gardens, around the corner from the first hotel. Perhaps these hotels or hotels nearby will show up on your website

 

Both are not available for 13th May :(

[musicmastimagic]

as for your list, Santa Lucia and Piazzale Roma are the areas for your search. Those are the 2 areas that were covered in the link I provided earlier for your hotel search .......

 

If you don't find anything in Venice, you could disembark the train in Mestre instead. Mestre is the last stop on the mainland before the train crosses the bridge to Santa Lucia Station, so only minutes away. Mestre hotels are more affordable.

The next morning after b'fast you could take a cab to the pier and check your luggage, then go sightseeing for a couple of hrs.

 

Thanks! I searched with both landmarks. The only one I can find in reasonable budget in that area is this:

https://ca.hotels.com/hotel/details.html?q-check-out=2017-05-14&q-room-0-child-0-age=12&q-check-in=2017-05-13&WOE=7&WOD=6&q-room-0-children=2&pa=15&q-room-0-child-1-age=9&tab=description&hotel-id=308635&q-room-0-adults=2&YGF=14&MGT=1&ZSX=0&SYE=3

 

 

Is this good from location/accessibility point of view?

[mapleleaves]

I'm not familiar with the hotel, but it would be a fine location for sightseeing and relatively easy to access. You could hop on a vaporetto at the train station and ride it down the Grand Canal. Can everyone easily manage their luggage?

 

Nothing in mestre?

[musicmastimagic]

I'm not familiar with the hotel, but it would be a fine location for sightseeing and relatively easy to access. You could hop on a vaporetto at the train station and ride it down the Grand Canal. Can everyone easily manage their luggage?

 

Nothing in mestre?

 

Each one of us will carry one small suitcase with wheels..... (hopefully ;)). For ease of commuting, I am thinking Hotel Casanova will be better. I have understood about vaporetto for grand canal. Now, can you suggest what will be the best way to reach the hotel from Santa Lucia train station on 13th night at 9:30. And from hotel to cruise terminal on 14th afternoon.

[mapleleaves]

Each one of us will carry one small suitcase with wheels..... (hopefully ;)). For ease of commuting, I am thinking Hotel Casanova will be better. I have understood about vaporetto for grand canal. Now, can you suggest what will be the best way to reach the hotel from Santa Lucia train station on 13th night at 9:30. And from hotel to cruise terminal on 14th afternoon.

 

Your hotel web site has detailed instructions.

To get to the cruise terminal the easiest option is the blue line of the Alilaguna.

http://www.alilaguna.it/en/lines/linea-blu

 

After b;fast, check out, and ask the staff to hold your luggage. That way you won't have to run back to the hotel at 11am.

 

Vaporetto information here: http://europeforvisitors.com/venice/articles/venice-vaporetto-water-buses.htm

 

Have a great trip! Please return to this post and let us know about the hotel.

[CCJack]

With just a short stay, I wouldn't bother with the gondola. I would stay on the opposite side of the Grand Canal from the station, and in the morning, take a vaporetto ( water bus) down the Grand Canal to St Marks Square and have a wander about in that area. I would then consider walking back to your hotel, making your way through the little side streets and over the bridges, including the Rialto Bridge, and just take in the unique atmosphere. You should be able to get this done in time to collect your luggage and head for the ship.

 

I agree, the 3 things I would do are 1) wander Venice on foot, (hopefully getting a little lost along the way, you can get too lost it is an island!) 2) Visit St. Marks (briefly) and 3) a Vaporetto ride in the Grand Canal.

 

I would consider checking in the hotel and then taking the vaporetto to St. Marks in the evening. Even if dark, St. Marks is beautiful at night and won't be crowded like it is in the afternoon. The next morning I would get those kids up at dawn and start walking. We did this early one morning and Venice was empty, I felt like we had the city to ourselves. You can cover a lot of ground in a couple of hours and you would be able to see quite a bit of Venice. It was fun to see the morning activities of shops opening, utility boats such as UPS boats delivering packages, some construction crews on boats, even the boats collecting garbage early in the morning were interesting to me. Walk to the Rialto Bridge, etc. Stop for lunch, etc.

 

Have fun !

[musicmastimagic]

Thanks for all the help! We finally were able to confirm Hotel Casanova. I read lot of reviews on trip advisor. It seems really dated but like I mentioned before we are taking a chance just because of location.

We are thinking of taking train that arrives at 9:30 p.min at santa lucia station. Is it safe at that time?

One more question. From what I understand, vaporetto takes you across the grand canal. What about gondolas? If they do the same, what is the reason of skipping gondolas besides the price? When we decided to take the cruise from Venice, gondolas was the only thing on my mind. If they are more time consuming, I would skip them and enjoy the rest but if we can do it without not skipping out other important points, I would want to as we don't like to repeat destinations we visit.

[buchhalm]

OK....

Gondolas and vaporettos go ALONG canals, not ACROSS.

The little boats (quite like gondolas) that do go Across the canal (as in from one bank to the other) are called TRAGETTO or TRAGETTI (pl).

These are used at a few points along the Grand Canal where it is too far or bothersome between bridges. Its a quick transfer mode for the locals (who stand up) and a few fearless tourists (who sit down :-) )

See this article: https://quickvenice.com/transportation/traghetti.htm

If you don't mind the money (at least 80 to 100 Euro for 40 minutes per gondola), y all means DO it. It is a very special experience.

Most gondolas will try to avoid the Grand Canal and / or get off it as soon as possible. This canal is very busy with all sorts of other water craft and not very safe for the gondolas. It is a bit like riding a bicycle down a freeway.

The gondoliers will know nice and romantic side canals, where you get to see just as many nice things. Any hotel reception will be able to point you to the nearest gondola station.

Singing (by the gondolier) costs extra, I think. :-)

 

As for safety at 9.30 pm:

Venice is very safe. Also at the train station. Unlike most other places, where the train station is often very dodgy, in Venice SL, the steps in front towards the Grand canal are a very popular meeting point and hang out for people. Lots of back packers are there at all hours. There are some very decent little cafes on the left as you leave the station, where you can buy a few delicious sandwiches, pastries, pizza slices and such at all hours. Perhaps a good idea to grab something for the hotel, as the restaurant (if there is one at the hotel) may be closed by the time you get there

[QueenP]

You will find water taxis right outside the train station, taking one of them to hotel or st marks is a great alternative to a gondola. Try to see the market around Rialto bridge in the morning and St Marks is a must see.

 

Sent from my SM-J200Y using Forums mobile app

[mskaufman]

That is such a beautiful picture! Unfortunately, we are arriving late evening and have to reach cruise port between 1:00-3:30. Won't be able to enjoy the evening view :(

 

The daytime views are also worth the trip.

 

[buchhalm]

LOVE the photos. No matter how many times I go to Venice (and I have lost count, as when I was growing up, we loved in Austria and Venice was a 4 hour drive or train ride away, so a frequent day trip), it is always such a joy.

Just wandering the streets and trying to get lost. But somehow you always end up at St Marks, Rialto or the train station.

[buchhalm]

LOVE the photos. No matter how many times I go to Venice (and I have lost count, as when I was growing up, we loved in Austria and Venice was a 4 hour drive or train ride away, so a frequent day trip), it is always such a joy.

Just wandering the streets and trying to get lost. But somehow you always end up at St Marks, Rialto or the train station.

 

 

We LIVED in Austria, I mean.... :halo:

[musicmastimagic]

OK....

Gondolas and vaporettos go ALONG canals, not ACROSS.

The little boats (quite like gondolas) that do go Across the canal (as in from one bank to the other) are called TRAGETTO or TRAGETTI (pl).

These are used at a few points along the Grand Canal where it is too far or bothersome between bridges. Its a quick transfer mode for the locals (who stand up) and a few fearless tourists (who sit down :-) )

See this article: https://quickvenice.com/transportation/traghetti.htm

If you don't mind the money (at least 80 to 100 Euro for 40 minutes per gondola), y all means DO it. It is a very special experience.

Most gondolas will try to avoid the Grand Canal and / or get off it as soon as possible. This canal is very busy with all sorts of other water craft and not very safe for the gondolas. It is a bit like riding a bicycle down a freeway.

The gondoliers will know nice and romantic side canals, where you get to see just as many nice things. Any hotel reception will be able to point you to the nearest gondola station.

Singing (by the gondolier) costs extra, I think. :-)

 

As for safety at 9.30 pm:

Venice is very safe. Also at the train station. Unlike most other places, where the train station is often very dodgy, in Venice SL, the steps in front towards the Grand canal are a very popular meeting point and hang out for people. Lots of back packers are there at all hours. There are some very decent little cafes on the left as you leave the station, where you can buy a few delicious sandwiches, pastries, pizza slices and such at all hours. Perhaps a good idea to grab something for the hotel, as the restaurant (if there is one at the hotel) may be closed by the time you get there

 

Good points!

Sorry for asking so many questions but since we have less time in Venice and to research, I don't want to go there and trying to figure out things. We have about 3-4 hours in total.

How busy is May? Approx how long the whole process of gondola ride take taking in account the waiting time etc...If we decide to do gondola, we don't need to take vaporetto?

How much time do we need for st mark square?

What time do gondola rides start in the morning?

Should we first do the gondola ride/vaporetto and then go to st mark square or vice a versa?