5 nights in Venice with 2 kids - vaparetto pass question

melb

hi there thinking of taking 2 kids with us to venice as we enjoyed it so much on our own in june. the way the flights work out it's cheapest to go for 5 nights. however the vaparetto passes are going to cost us a fortune - much more than the flights. Which would be the most economical way to do it? We'll need to use the vaparetto to get from the bus station to our accommodation and back at the end of the stay but if we get a weekly pass it's going to cost 200 euros for the 4 of us. if we get a 3 days pass like we did last time we'll have to buy individual tickets for the first or last day. don't suppose there's anyway around it but the way the flights work it's either 5 nights or 2 nights and as the flight doesn't arrive until late evening it means just one and a half days in Venice which hardly seems worh it. thanks for any help

richardw

I doubt children would enjoy five nights in Venice, perhaps consider 2 nights doing something child friendly.

circuit

If that's how much it costs for tickets then there's no way around it. Catch a train to a nearby city like Treviso for a few Euros and save some cash on travel/food in Venice.

MrTomato

Just walk. It's not a massive place. Put one person on the boat with your bags then you only need to pay the €6.50 once.

melb

yeah you're right - no way round it. I don't fancy lugging 4 suitcases on my own on and off the vaparetto. Could walk but it's just the steps up the bridges that the kids might struggle with. I think you're right 5 nights is too long - and too expensive. It's just that I'm being seduced by the cheaper flights rather than looking at the holiday price as a whole. I was thinking maybe buy a 2 day pass at the beginning and then a 1 trip ticket for the way back and walk the other couple of days. did fancy visiting Treviso - it looks lovely and had a tour round it on our way back on the ryanair bus to Treviso. don't know if this was usual or if there were roadworks but it looked very pretty and more working town type of place that we like.

sunshinetours

Definitely if with kids only spend maybe 2 days at Venice itself and take in somewhere else as others have said. how old are your kids - if under 7 or 8 I would imagine they would get bored very quickly and if older than that then unless they are into Arts and culture I cnnot see they will find enough to do

Do try and get out to Burano for a half day at least, its very picturesque with all the coloured buildings. Also Murano with its glass factories etc
Maybe stay on Lido for a couple of nights as will be cheaper

Alterbatively check out the national rail network and most places can be reached from Venice if you are feeling adventurous. Florence for instance is apparently only about 2 hours on a high speed train http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=3fdbe14114bc9110VgnVCM10000080a3e90aRCRD