Venice transfer and restaurant tips please.

[13m]

hoegaardenruls said:

13m said:

hoegaardenruls said:

Was there last month, and stayed on Guidecca - there was a small chain called Majer had opened up and while it is mainly a bakery/coffee shop with a kitchen where the menu extended to some very good pasta, steaks and Italian craft beer at pretty reasonable prices, and is somewhere I would definitely go back to. I'd assume the other branches are similar, but without the view across to San Marco that you get from Guidecca.

Another on I enjoyed eating at was a basic family run place called All' Orologio in Campo Santa Maria Formoso, which had tables in the square - it was basic but did some very good pizza. What was entertaining was Mamma (who looked about 90) would occasionally come out and chase pigeons away with her broom, and Papa was sat in the kitchen shouting 'prego' at the staff

We were there as part of a road trip, so the car was left at the Tronchetto car park, and used the water taxi for the transfer to the hotel from there which made life pretty easy..

Edited by hoegaardenruls on Monday 26th September 09:01

We are staying on Guidecca too, so any more tips would be appreciated.

Are you staying at the Hilton? Their shuttle boat is pretty useful, but only runs between there an San Marco (outside the Londra Palace) with another stop at Zattere after about 5pm - you are supposed to show a room card to use it, but they never ask..

Guidecca itself is pretty quiet, but a good contrast from the main island, and it's worth walking the length of the island just for the views across.

There is a restaurant overlooking the boatyard on the south of the island that is worth trying, but we noticed Majer and ended up eating there (it's not far from the Pallanca water bus stop). There are some small pizza restaurants as well as ice cream shops, etc. Top-end on the island would be the restaurants at the Belmond.

We also found the small Co-op store on the island quite useful for small items, the odd bottle of wine, etc. rather than paying minibar prices - it down one of the side streets, but quite easy to find after you've found it once.

For transfers, if arriving by train/car you can pick up a water taxi at Piazza Roma, but it is probably easier to be dropped at the Tronchetto if travelling by car and find the Water Taxi stop there (not far from the people mover). As an alternative, the water boat does include Marco Polo Airport as its stop on the mainland, and they Blue Line stops outside the Hilton. Although from Treviso, train into Venice might be an option..

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

Thank you.

We're not staying at the Hilton, no and we are flying into Treviso. Sounds like the island is going to be enjoyable.

[13m]

Am trying to book a car / water taxi in advance and am unpleasantly surprised at how expensive it is. I am getting quotes for the thick end of £500 for two of us!

[anonymous-user]

13m said:

Am trying to book a car / water taxi in advance and am unpleasantly surprised at how expensive it is. I am getting quotes for the thick end of £500 for two of us!

The water taxis are expensive - it's about 120 each way from the main airport.

Does your hotel offer a taxi service? they may offer a special deal.

Failing that - try public transport - get a train from Treviso to Venice then either get a water taxi or the vaporetto to Giudecca.
I really like travelling by train in Europe. (not great if you are going fully loaded in terms of luggage)

[13m]

desolate said:

The water taxis are expensive - it's about 120 each way from the main airport.

Does your hotel offer a taxi service? they may offer a special deal.

Failing that - try public transport - get a train from Treviso to Venice then either get a water taxi or the vaporetto to Giudecca.
I really like travelling by train in Europe. (not great if you are going fully loaded in terms of luggage)

Public what? This is Pistonheads, I should be asking for Riva Aquarama hire

[anonymous-user]

13m said:

Public what? This is Pistonheads, I should be asking for Riva Aquarama hire

Doesn't count when you are abroad!

http://www.shuttledirect.com/en/transfers/lido%20d...


Which hotel are you staying at? Or if Self catering the people I have booked with in the past have organised it for us. But which ever way you cut it the water taxis are just expensive. (but they are beautiful)


And just wait until you pay for a drink in one of the grand cafes - that is painful.

[13m]

desolate said:

13m said:

Public what? This is Pistonheads, I should be asking for Riva Aquarama hire

Doesn't count when you are abroad!

http://www.shuttledirect.com/en/transfers/lido%20d...


Which hotel are you staying at? Or if Self catering the people I have booked with in the past have organised it for us. But which ever way you cut it the water taxis are just expensive. (but they are beautiful)


And just wait until you pay for a drink in one of the grand cafes - that is painful.

The Bauer Palladio on Giudecca.

I've seen Shuttle Direct, it was one of the places I got a quote from.

We are arriving mid-afternoon, so I don't want to be fannying about with public transport. We probably won't be doing this again, so I might just bite the bullet.

[anonymous-user]

Overall I am struggling to think of anywhere I have ever been to that is more expensive than Venice.

But combine some of the expensive things with plenty of walking, going to the food market and using the water bus and you can almost keep it sensible.

[hoegaardenruls]

This looks a bit more reasonable than £500 - with the taxi from Treviso airport at 60 euros, about the same as the water taxi for the last hop

http://www.trevisoairporter.com/treviso-airport-tr...

I don't think you will be disappointed with the Bauer - we had a look around it, and its now firmly on the list for any return to Venice..

For stunning views of Venice at night, I'd suggest a visit to the SkyBar at the Hilton.

[85Carrera]

desolate said:

13m said:

85Carrera said:

I am not a fan of Venice - too busy, too expensive and often too hot but this is probably the best restaurant I have been too anywhere - https://www.locandacipriani.com/en/restaurant/

Great food, impeccable service and superb location away from the crowds. Need a water taxi back which makes it expensive but the restaurant itself is not badly priced for the quality. Plus the water taxis are pretty cool ...

The example menu seems to be in Lira!

it's been a long time since we were there, but it is very good.

Don't dismiss the idea of getting the water bus, rather than a taxi. It's a great way of seeing the islands

Good advice. We got the bus there and a taxi back.

[greg2k]

City bus to Treviso town from outskirts where the airport is located, have a look round Treviso which is actually quite nice and the centre of Prosecco production, take a double-decker train to Venice. The only way you'll be able to take a water taxi from Treviso airport is if it's amphibious.

[13m]

greg2k said:

The only way you'll be able to take a water taxi from Treviso airport is if it's amphibious.

Which is why I wrote in my OP "We're flying into Teviso and need a car / water taxi booking". We need to hire two differrent modes of traansport; one land-based, the other waterborne.

[13m]

We managed to get a good deal on transfers from these guys. http://www.lowcostaxi.net/venice-airport-transfer.... S Class Merc and pristine wooden water taxi. We used them several times, they were punctual and gave good service as well as being less than half the price of some providers.

We tried some of the recommendations - Majer was a good one. Very good food and reasonable.

Anyone digging out this thread at some future date should try Suso ice cream Calle della Bissa, 5453, 30124 San Marco. The best ice cream I've ever had.

Thanks Guys for the tips, genuinely appreciated.

[anonymous-user]

This thread started a thought process that saw me book 5 days on Guidecca. Booked late last night and leaving on Wednesday morning.

Have already arranged the transfers via the link provided - Ryan Air to Treviso was so cheap it is worth the extra transfer time.

[13m]

desolate said:

This thread started a thought process that saw me book 5 days on Guidecca. Booked late last night and leaving on Wednesday morning.

Have already arranged the transfers via the link provided - Ryan Air to Treviso was so cheap it is worth the extra transfer time.

Excellent.

I am envious. Where are you staying?

[anonymous-user]

13m said:

Where are you staying?

We have rented an apartment in Guidecca for 5 days.

2 mins walk from the Vaporetto stop.

[13m]

desolate said:

13m said:

Where are you staying?

We have rented an apartment in Guidecca for 5 days.

2 mins walk from the Vaporetto stop.

Good plan.

Top tip - take and wear mosquito repellant. I was surprised at how plentiful and hungry the mossies were. That was the only negative in an otherwise idyllic 5 nights away though.

Hope the weather is good to you.

[ColinM50]

We're going Ryanair from STN Friday late eve, arr Treviso 22:00 then staying at Agli Alborreti, or as we've nicknamed it "Ugly Alberts". Booked the private taxi and water taxi with www.trevisoairporter and IMHO for €115 door to door I can't see how you can beat it. And they don't want any money up front, just pay the driver when he picks you up. Will let you know when we eventually get back how it went.

And thanks to all for restaurant recommendations. We're only in Venice for a day till Sunday then off on a cruise for a week. Tough being retired isn't it?

[anonymous-user]

13m said:

desolate said:

13m said:

Where are you staying?

We have rented an apartment in Guidecca for 5 days.

2 mins walk from the Vaporetto stop.

Good plan.

Top tip - take and wear mosquito repellant. I was surprised at how plentiful and hungry the mossies were. That was the only negative in an otherwise idyllic 5 nights away though.

Hope the weather is good to you.

Overall, would have preferred to stay in a decent hotel but we are taking our 13 year old so once you factor in an extra room the additional cost starts to look too much.

Wish I had seen Colin's post about his transfer company - it's quite a few Euro's cheaper than the one I have booked.

[13m]

desolate said:

13m said:

desolate said:

13m said:

Where are you staying?

We have rented an apartment in Guidecca for 5 days.

2 mins walk from the Vaporetto stop.

Good plan.

Top tip - take and wear mosquito repellant. I was surprised at how plentiful and hungry the mossies were. That was the only negative in an otherwise idyllic 5 nights away though.

Hope the weather is good to you.

Overall, would have preferred to stay in a decent hotel but we are taking our 13 year old so once you factor in an extra room the additional cost starts to look too much.

Wish I had seen Colin's post about his transfer company - it's quite a few Euro's cheaper than the one I have booked.

We paid Euro 210 for a newis S-Class and an immaculate wooden water taxi (some of them a fibreglass and cheaper) from Treviso to Giudecca.

I emailed several firms and those that bothered replying were more than that for a minibus and standard water taxi.

Whilst it is easy to get ripped off in Venice, it is also possible to get varying degrees of quality at different price points it appears. But if you've not yet travelled and want to use the other firm I'd have thought you could cancel.

[ColinM50]

13m said:

Top tip - take and wear mosquito repellant. I was surprised at how plentiful and hungry the mossies were. That was the only negative in an otherwise idyllic 5 nights away though.

Are Mossies still a problem late October?