From beginning to end, this was a very good experience. Marco is a great communicator.
Face it, water taxis are something no one but Venetians know about. Marco was great in explaining all this, and do buy the package ticket so you will be free to just hop on and hop off.
A note about water taxis from the airport. Just follow the signs for water taxis after baggage claim, and walk and walk and walk but you will get there. Buy a round trip ticket which gives you a schedule, one way does not. There are ticket machines in airport baggage claim and a ticket office at the water taxi gate. Marco will probably meet you at the other end at the Arsenale stop.
Marco's place is as he describes, in the heart of a local area, not a tourist one. We liked this. And it really wasn't too far to walk, but you do have two canal step bridges to cross with your luggage. Pack light :-)
We would definitely return to Marco.
Tim and Martha King