Emily: I’ve wanted to go to Croatia for the last several years. I heard wonderful things about the country and how beautiful (and relatively affordable) it was compared to the rest of Europe. It’s located in Eastern Europe and is just a few hours from Venice, Italy, making it a great side trip.
Last year, my friends and I organized a group trip to visit Rovinj, a small coastal town on the Dalmatian Coast of Croatia. It’s a gorgeous town full of romance. Everything is stunning there, from the streets to the houses. The food is also excellent.
We went for a kizomba dance festival. Later in the trip report series, I will introduce you to kizomba and describe what an incredible dance it is! The dance festival was amazing and Croatia is definitely a place I want to return and spend more time exploring! The trip’s retail cost was ~$17,000 but I paid ~$900.
A Quick and Reasonably Priced Bus Trip Between the Airport and Venice
Captivating Croatia Trip Report Index:
- Part 1 – Introduction and Planning
- Part 2 – Admirals Club Lounge, New York (JFK)
- Part 3 – Air Berlin Flight to Croatia
- Part 4 – Getting to Venice
- Part 5 – A Night in Venice – Gritti Palace Hotel Overview
- Part 6 – A Night in Venice – Gritti Palace Hotel Room
- Part 7 – Apartment in Rovinj Croatia
- Part 8 – Activities in Rovinj Croatia – Discovering the Old Town
- Part 9 – Activities in Rovinj Croatia – Exploring the Old Church
- Part 10 – Activities in Rovinj Croatia – Day Trip to Plitvice Lakes
- Part 11 – Activities in Rovinj Croatia – Dance Festival Review
- Part 12 – Eating in Rovinj Croatia
- Part 13 – Shopping in Rovinj Croatia
- Part 14 – Return Flight on United Airlines
- Part 15 – Conclusion & Reader Giveaway
Venice Arrival
After the long series of flights, I wanted to pamper myself a bit, so I used Starwood points earned from the AMEX Starwood Preferred Guest card to book a room at the Gritti Palace Hotel in Venice. It was very easy to get to the hotel from the airport. The bus ticket cost 6 euros (~$7). There are several machines to use to buy tickets.
Don’t Forget to Use a Card That Doesn’t Add Foreign Transaction Fees to Buy Your Bus Ticket!
You can choose instructions in English which makes it very simple to understand. I used my Chase Sapphire Preferred card to avoid foreign transaction fees. There are lots of other ways to save money when traveling outside the US.
A lot of my friends took out large amounts of money at the currency exchange stores and used credit cards which charged them currency conversion fees on top of the foreign fees! If they had planned farther in advance, they could have saved a lot of money.
The Ticket Machines Have English Instructions If You’re Not up to Speed on Your Italian!
Don’t forget to validate your ticket before getting on the bus!
Don’t Get Busted! Validate Your Ticket Before You Board the Bus
We took the bus, and it was a short ~30 minute ride.
Away We Go! The Bus Was Comfortable and Just a ~30 Minute Ride Into the City
We then made our way to the Venice water bus that would take us close to our hotel.
Trying to See How Many Modes of Transportation We Can Cram Into 1 Day!
The water bus is one of the cheapest, and most fun, ways to see Venice! Rick Steves gives an excellent self-guided water bus tour in his Venice guidebook.
We took the bus to the S. Marco stop, and then walked to our hotel.
Navigating Venice Is Easy! Everything Is Clearly Marked in English and Italian
On the way, we saw many beautiful Venetian buildings.
The Architecture Is Stunning! There Are Photo Opportunities Everywhere You Look
It was so beautiful. My camera was very happy.
You’ll Feel Like You’ve Been Dropped Into a History Book! Venice Is Gorgeous
We passed gondolas filled with other tourists…
Ciao! We Waved to These Folks Riding in a Classic Venice Gondola
…and the famous Rialto Bridge that is undergoing some maintenance.
The Rialto Bridge Is Undergoing Renovations, but the Views Are Still Spectacular
Finally, we arrived at our stop, and started walking towards the hotel.
Ready to Relax at the Hotel After a Long Journey!
It was located in a quiet lane in the center of the city.
We finally arrived!!
Bottom Line
Getting to the heart of Venice from the airport using public transportation was cheap, easy, and picturesque. Don’t waste money on a private transfer!
And remember to use a card that doesn’t add foreign transaction fees, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred, when you buy your ticket!
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