AIRPORT TRANSFERS
Some hotels provide a service to meet you at the airport.  If not, you can arrange for a water taxi to take you to your hotel at the “Venezia Taxi” desk located in the arrival lounge.  The cost for this service is € 100.00 to be paid in cash to the taxi driver and includes up to 4 people with 4 pieces of luggage. (This service can be booked in advance.)  To get to the water taxi from the airport, there is a shuttle bus; the fee is 10 Euros.  The staff at the Taxi desk will call the shuttle driver for you.

CROWDS and VENICE CLAUSTROPHOBIA
Go to museums early and late in the day when the day trippers aren’t filling the city.  Escape at mid-day to a nice restaurant, preferably one outdoors or to the Cipriani and eat by the pool.  Reservations are a must.

DINNER HOURS
Venetians tend to eat early; lunch is typically between 12 and 2:00 and dinner between 7:30 and 9:00 pm.

PHONE CALLS: +39  (041) and the number.

SIGHTSEEING
Hop on a public vaparetto and ride up and down the canal.  This is especially lovely just as the sun is setting and the lights are going on in the Palazzo’s.

TIPPING
Italians generally don’t tip much while Americans are used to tipping for service.  What makes it complicated is the fact by now Americans are expected to tip, and when they don’t, they may seem cheap while an Italian or a European wouldn’t.

Restaurants:
By law, service is included on restaurant bills and you’ll often see “servizio incluso” written on the menu.  This charge is generally 15% so if you want to leave extra, 5% of the bill would be appropriate. It’s best to give this in cash to the waiters, as some owners may not pass on the tip.
In some restaurants you’ll find another fee, “il coperto” or “pane e coperto” which is a cover charge of one or two Euro and includes the bread served before a meal.

Taxi’s:
Italians often round the bill up to the next whole number, but a tip of 5% would be appropriate.    This includes water taxis, as well.