Venice was ready for us. Our luggage? Not so much.

There are certain things you should know before traveling to Venice.

Here is a big one: 

There is no pulling up to your hotel and handing your luggage to the valet. 

Venice is built on water. You arrive, you find your water taxi, you load your luggage onto the boat, you get yourself and all those bags off the boat—and depending on where you’re staying, there may still be bridges, steps and narrow walkways between you and your hotel. 

I knew we were going to Venice. Apparently, one of my friends packed as though we were moving there. 

We were traveling for one week. I arrived with one suitcase. She arrived with what seemed like her entire closet: three large suitcases and three smaller bags. 

Six pieces --- For one person ---For one week. 

We were also traveling with two male friends. The minute they saw the luggage I could practically hear what they were thinking: “We’re going to end up carrying all of this……...” 

Nobody had volunteered to become anyone’s personal Venetian valet. Then we reached the water taxi. The driver took one look at the four of us—and then another look at the mountain of luggage. His expression said everything. 

What am I supposed to do with all... THAT? 

At that point, of course, there was nothing we could do. The bags were packed. We were in Venice. And everything she had decided she simply had to bring was coming along for the ride. Did she wear everything she packed? I’m pretty sure we all know the answer to that. 

It became one of those travel moments that was aggravating at the time and absolutely hilarious afterward. But it also taught us something worth remembering. 

The Passport Society Travel Note 

Do your homework before you pack. 

Don’t just research where you’re staying. Research how you’re actually getting there—because sometimes getting from the airport to your hotel is an adventure all by itself.

If you going to Venice you’ll likely land at Marco Polo Airport, collect your luggage and clear customs. But you can’t simply walk outside, grab a taxi and be driven to your hotel in Venice.

Instead, you follow the signs for Water Transport, leave the terminal and take your luggage along a covered walkway—about a 7 to 10-minute walk—to the airport’s waterfront docks. There, you board your water taxi, load your luggage onto the boat and travel across the lagoon into Venice.

And arriving by water is spectacular. But remember everything you packed is coming along for the journey. 

Once in Venice, depending on where you’re staying, there may still be cobblestones, narrow streets, steps and bridges between the water and your hotel. 

So before you pack, ask yourself:  Will I be taking trains? Boats? Walking over cobblestones? Climbing steps? Crossing bridges? Getting on and off water taxis? 

And then ask the most important question: 

Do I really want to drag everything I’m packing through all of that? 

Especially in Venice, pack lighter than you think you need to. 

Because once you’re standing at the water-taxi dock with six pieces of luggage and the driver is staring at your crazy friend—and her mountain of bags—in disbelief… it’s a little late to rethink your packing strategy. 

And that is one travel lesson none of us ever forgot. 

Happy Journeys!

~Sherilyne