Did you miss the other Parts?

Part 1: Rome | Part II: Positano | Part IV: Tuscany

The basics of our time in Venice:

  • Venice – 4 nights starting Sep 30
  • Vaporetto: To know the public transport schedule (waterbus) download the app “che bateo” www.chebateo.it –
  • Airbnb canal view, santa croce $1122.96 – CALLE DE LE OCHE at Santa croce
    • pros: Pack and play included; Walking distance to bridge rialto; no bridges with luggage from nearest vaporetto stop to front door; good and quiet location to get away but also close enough to hustle and bustle.
    • cons: I thought I really wanted a canal view hotel BUT we were left to fly use open air (no screens) And got eaten alive by the mosquitos while we slept! The guy who owns it is anti-tourist even though he works in the tourism industry so he was a pain and very rude.

Day 1: Travel from Positano to Venice

  • Private car to napoli – Taxi:   $112 for standard car on Bookaway 
    • Call/whatsapp them the day before and make sure they think they can get you to your destination (if you need to make a train) on time. google maps said 1 hour but they told us we needed to leave 3 hours earlier. Glad we did because there was MAJOR traffic and it took a full 2.5 hours driving. 
  • Frecciarosa direct train from Napoli to Venice – $167 premium – splurge for premium seating was so worth it for the long day of travel.
  • Once we arrived, we new we would vaporetto with our luggage to avoid any bridges – so we bought 24H vaporetto pass and planned to do the islands the next day. 

Day 2 rest, family photos and islands

  • 8:30-10:30 Photoshoot in Venice, airbnb experience
    • shared experience with another couple was fantastic. We would watch eachother’s stuff for one another and have time to get little man set up for the photo while the other couple was in frame.
    • This photoshoot was also like a walking tour of Venice by a local – fun to have a 2 in 1 experience like that
  • Take vaporetto to Torcello, Burano, Murano

Day 3 – St. Mark’s

  • 10:30AM St. Mark’s, Doge’s, Gondola, Shops
    • Basilica skip the line tickets 
    • Use Rick Steve’s free podcast episode for tours of the basilica and square
  • Brunch / Nurse at Caffe Florian – oldest caffe – with live band
    • $$$ but splurged on this vs a gondola with mosquitos and have no regrets! 
  • Aperitivo and pizza – Explore the neighborhood of Dorsoduro, known for its art and culture.

Day 4, Make Up Day / Rest

  • Final shopping/exploring day – we meandered down the cliff!

Day 5, travel

  • Pick up Mom from Venice airport and pick up rental car
    • Alilaguna vaporetto has a specific ticket to airport for public transport
    • It does NOT depart from train station dock so we had to hike with all our luggage. Look up the specific dock it leaves from so you can vaporetto to it.
    • Booked rental car through Expedia with DrivAlia and they were NOT located at the airport with the others which was very inconvenient. Had to bus to them from the airport to pick up the car, and returning the car was a poor experience – details in Tuscany post.

Most used items:

  • Baby Bjorn mini carrier – so lightweight and not bulky! Blake preferred the doona up and down the bridges but I preferred baby carrying – after so many times of gripping the doona it was tering up my nails
  • vintage polaroid camera + case – Blake god this for my first mother’s day and all the polaroids make Banks’s baby book. So sweet.
  • Kavu – gender neutral so Blake or I could sling it on, fits diaper + travel essentials, hidden passport pocket inside for cash, passports, etc. very secure!
  • Chacos – I rotated between these and OnClouds every day. So comfortable for all the walking. Amazon drops them down to $29 on good sale days!  
  • OnClouds
  • My Amazon Storefront – “Traveling with Baby” shop for everything i brought that is on amazon!