To my surprise, the Venice Marco Polo Airport, built in 2002, is modern, convenient, and efficient. Not at all chaotic or loud as one might expect where Italians convene in large numbers, the terminals are clean and spacious. ATVO and ACTV shuttle buses to the Venice-Santa Lucia train station on the western end of the Grand Canal are easy to locate and board. Once you’re standing on the steps of the train station, overlooking the romantic, shimmering Canal, all your cares will slip away like the quiet gondolas gliding through it over centuries gone by.
That is until you realize you have to find your way to your hotel through all those alleyways, over all those pedestrian bridges, and up and down their narrow steps, with your luggage and your kids. Panic! Although I would recommend walking most everywhere you want to go in Venice, it’s a good idea to dish out some bucks for public transportation upon your first arrival with your luggage, and perhaps upon departure as well. Public transportation is readily available on the waterbuses, called vaporetti, or the traghetto ferries. The water taxis are limousines and will cost you as much as one (be sure to negotiate the fare before you board the boat, since the water taxis don’t have meters), and gondolas are, of course, a tourist attraction, not a form of public transportation.
When, and if, you find your hotel, take some time to orient yourself. Collect some city maps from the lobby (or bring them from home if you’re staying in an apartment) and let your kids study them. Show them how the Grand Canal curves through the city center like a snake and play search-and-seek to locate the only four bridges that cross it. Ask the lobby receptionist where the nearest gelato shop is (the BEST gelato, however, is definitely Gelateria Nico at Dorsoduro 922). And when you’re ready to venture out, don’t take the GPS with you - getting lost in Venice is half the fun! (If your husband is like mine, it’ll take some pleading and prying to get that thing out of his hands.)
Pensione Accademia Villa Maravege |
After four days in magnificent Venice, we made a quick escape from Italy on a train to Austria. In only a few short hours you can be in the beautiful mountain and lakes region of Carinthia, Austria, in the eastern Alps. A few hours more and you’re in the historical cities of Innsbruck or Salzburg. A Venice/Austria itinerary is easy to plan, and one that is enchanting and enjoyable for kids of all ages.
Venice is the ONLY city in Europe that I have been totally lost in! At night!! LOVE the stories and LOVE those photos!!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to take my kids there some day. They are still too little. I'm definately going to read that book with them. Thanks for the great suggestion. We stayed at hotel Riva and I think we will stay there again. It was only 90 euros.
ReplyDeleteIf you want to make your family and kids happy then choose the Disneyland holidays by coach in Paris which is excellent holidays. If you are thinking of planning the trips to Paris and Italy, I think there are many tour planning website from where you can easily plan the trip.
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