Cheapskate here - Sharing Gondola rides
 

Going to Venice next month, is there any way you can 'share' a Gondola ride with people you don't know? as there are only 2 of us and I don't really want to shell out all that money! but I will if I have to.

Of course you can share with strangers.

Just beware of those notorious gondola-terrorizing pick-axe murderers when you pick and negotiate with other gondola riders.

Hi Sara, well if you can find others willing to share a gondola with you I don't know why not.

A lot of couples I would imagine however want a "romantic" ride and probably would not want to share.

But maybe if you found people who have hired a gondola before it could be a possibility.

How much are gondola rides? I'm going to Italy in June and want to make sure I go on one. I was just wondering. Thanks.

this recent thread has some answers:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34568805

i dont think the gondoliers will be too interested in matching you up with another couple but there is a central area not too far from san marco where a lot of gondola bording takes place. there will be quite a few tourists people watching others get on and off the gondolas (and probably wondering how much it costs). if you chat a bit with them i am sure you will find others interested in sharing.

personally i wouldnt decribe the 45min trip during the day as 'romantic', the canals are full of other gondolas and water taxis, all full of tourists.

i found it as very interesting, venice from a very different perspective.

Yes, just go on an American Express gondola ride. It is a lot of fun and is cheaper. One is in the afternoon, I think it is combined with a visit to a couple of churches. The other is at night and there will be several gondolas going together. One gondola will have an accordian player and a singer. When you arrive in Venice, you can get tickets at the American Express which is a couple of blocks behind Piazza San Marco.

Hi

We asked one gondolier who quoted a ridiculous figure i.e 150 euros for two sharing with others. He wouldn't negotiate either! Another was prepared to take us (2 people) anywhere at 90 euros for 40/50 minutes. I was left with the initial impression that they charge you the same fee no matter how many were in the boat. So shop around!

You might also check with your hotel. Sometimes they have deals that are a bit cheaper, and it might be easier to find another couple at your hotel who might want to share a ride with you.

We didn't know our hotel had such a deal until our last day at breakfast.

For about 0.5E you can take a traghetto across the Grand Canal in company with some locals.

I think that this is just as interesting, and much cheaper.

((I))

Do they have life jackets onboard the Gondolas? ((a)) ((b))

Even tho' my husband and I are still "madly in love", we'de share a gondola with you...we always like meeting new people as long as they're not terrorizing pick-axe murderers (don't like them at all) :)

We'll be in Venice April 27th. You?

um...ahem...gondolas are not enclosed boats. nothing goes on in them that you wouldnt see in a subway or airplane. so there shouldnt be any reason not to share.

you can even take turns at the bow so the photographs look like it was just the two of you.

Welove2travel,

We'll be in Vencie then too. Where shall we meet?

OMG, we are going to be in Venice on the 27th of April too! Small world!

SaraL--We 3 females were in Venice in 2003 and wanted a gondola ride, but it was very costly. As we stood grumbling to one another about it, a young couple came up and offered to share the ride with us. This was about 4pm and the night rates (according to the gondolier) had not started yet?! Anyway, the 5 of us rode for about 15E apiece! We were estatic with the price. Of course,that price did not include music, so the the young man (from the couple) sang for us. It was wonderful--we glided the canals and he sang Let It Be in German. We loved it!