Birmingham to Venice first timers

Blackavar

I have checked TripAdviser but thought my new Moneysavers may have some thoughts:
Planning a short break to Venice in April for me & Mrs (her birthday).
We've never been before & the time is right.
Thinking of 4 nights.
Will probs book as 'holiday' rather than flight& hotel separately as want a rep for info.
Looked @ Monarch but you have to pay £260 for airport transfer.
Any ideas around tour companies, locations, airport transfers very much appreciated,

cockaleekee

Not many operators will have reps available on a city break, they tend to be either with a tour group or based in a holiday resort. Is it a tour that you want, or do you want to do your own thing whilst you are there?

securityguy

Blackavar wrote: »

I have checked TripAdviser but thought my new Moneysavers may have some thoughts:
Planning a short break to Venice in April for me & Mrs (her birthday).
We've never been before & the time is right.
Thinking of 4 nights.
Will probs book as 'holiday' rather than flight& hotel separately as want a rep for info.
Looked @ Monarch but you have to pay £260 for airport transfer.
Any ideas around tour companies, locations, airport transfers very much appreciated,

Fly into Marco Polo and get a water taxi. Costs about a hundred euro. Why do you need a rep, if indeed you'll get one in Venice anyway?

Blackavar

Okay, maybe a rep isn't needed as tons of info on 'where to go' etc. The water taxi idea sounds good but @ e200 inc return, not much cheaper than taxi?
Is there no airport closer that won't cost as much as the flight for transfers?

lcbjcomc

Marco Polo is the closest airport you can get the airport bus for €11 return to piazzale roma, you then need to purchase boat tickets to get around to where ever you hotel is in the lagoon. A 3 day pass will cost approx €25 each.

securityguy

Blackavar wrote: »

Okay, maybe a rep isn't needed as tons of info on 'where to go' etc. The water taxi idea sounds good but @ e200 inc return, not much cheaper than taxi?

You do realise that Venice, or at least the bit you want to go to, has _no_ vehicular access, and "taxi" means "water taxi", yes? "Streets full of water, please advise".

Is there no airport closer that won't cost as much as the flight for transfers?

No. There's public transport of various sorts, but it's not quick. The ride across the lagoon and down the Grand Canal in a water taxi will also be one of the highlights of your trip (my kids talk about it to this day).

claire16c

Im going to Venice in a couple of weeks and I found some great deals on the BA website. Expedia had similar prices but for certain hotels BA was much cheaper.

If you click on holidays and book a flight and hotel together there are some really great prices.

Why would you need a rep in Venice? They cant tell you anything that a guidebook or a hotel worker cant. Plus even if you found a hotel with a rep, you normally have to call them anyway? Its not like they hang around the hotel all day.

Ive ordered the Frommers day by day Venice book, going on the trip advisor forum etc to find out info & what to do. Normally hotels give out free maps etc as well.

With BA I found trips for the end of Feb for around £180pp for flight and 3-4* hotel for 3 nights. Plus the flights were at good times. That was from Heathrow.

Might be a bit more in April but still Id have a look.

rocking69

Blackavar wrote: »

I have checked TripAdviser but thought my new Moneysavers may have some thoughts:
Planning a short break to Venice in April for me & Mrs (her birthday).
We've never been before & the time is right.
Thinking of 4 nights.
Will probs book as 'holiday' rather than flight& hotel separately as want a rep for info.
Looked @ Monarch but you have to pay £260 for airport transfer.
Any ideas around tour companies, locations, airport transfers very much appreciated,

The shared Water Taxi (which is normally for up to 6 people) should work out no more than 52GBP per person return which is what we sell it for. I hope this helps you

Neil49

Go to your local library and choose from a range of guidebooks at no cost.

They will provide much more information than a rep and be unbiased.

GlynD

Whatever you chose you will have an unforgettable time. Venice is mindblowing.

johnmcga

Just to echo other people, don't worry about having a rep in Venice. A guidebook is better. (I can't be the only person who feels the only purposes reps have is to flog you stuff you don't need and take their cut at the same time.)

And I would strongly advise not planning your itinerary in too much minute detail either. One of the biggest pleasures of the place is getting away from the crowds, losing yourself in the side streets and seeing what you find. You can waste hours that way.

Go with a laid-back mindset and a willingness to explore, and you'll have a great time. You'll probably also find better restaurants and cheaper bars that way!

The only other thing I'd say is that we found it was nice to stay on the main island if possible. The place tends to clear out a bit in the evening as day trippers and people staying elsewhere drift off, and if it's warm it's magical at night.

It's a wonderful city that's like nowhere else on earth. You'll have a great time.