Gondola or not?
 

I know those of you seasoned Italy visitors probably think this question cheesy (it is), but I wondered on whether or not a Venetian gondola ride is something I should budget for (do not want to spend more than $50 unless it's something I will regret big-time). I will be travelling with my sister, not my hubby on this trip in 2 weeks. I like playing the "tourist" role if it means that I will get to experience something that I would not otherwise; however, I do not like the idea of being ripped off due to my falling for the hype. Is it weird because the ride is supposed to be romantic? If not, any cost-cutting tips?

You'll be in Venice. Take a gondola ride.

Cut back somewhere else, if you must.

I think you'll enjoy it, and surely will regret it if you don't.

Have a great time in wonderful Venice!

Byrd

Go for the gondola ride. I was in Italy a couple of years ago with my 2 daughters & son-in-law & we went on it. It can be romantic or just plain "very nice". The driver sings to you, the scenery is beautiful, you can take lots of nice pictures. sure, its touristy, but when in Rome do as the Romans do. You'll have lots of fun & its a very memorable experience. My daughter still has a picture in her living room of all of us in the gondola.

Susan,

On our first trip we didn't take a gondola ride and we had a wonderful trip.

On our second trip, we did take a gondola and again we had a wonderful trip. We thoroughly enjoyed it - altough it was expensive.

On our last trip we again didn't take a gondola ride and still had a wonderful trip.

I guess what I am trying to say is that the gondola ride won't make or break your trip.

It is really fun and unique! You get to go down canals that aren't reachable on foot.

But it is also expensive! I think it was worth it and I don't regret it. I may take another one on another trip. But I won't take one on every trip.

Maybe just decide when you get there - see how you all feel.

Sally

Since you aren't going for romance this time, why not keep the costs way down by sharing your gondola ride, such as with he American Express rides in the evening?

I think it's something that you must do at least once, regardless of the cost...and I would be prepared to spend more than $50. I think it's more like $75.-100. for about 30-40 minutes.

Go just before sunset and ask to go down smaller canals. Cheesy? A little, but at least it is authentic to where you will be and not some made-up Disney ride.

Thanks for the replies. I think I'll go ahead and budget the money and skimp elsewhere. The comment about getting to see parts of the canal I would not otherwise get to view got me! Plus, it WILL be fun and make a good picture. I guess I was letting my stingy side get to me.

I don't think you can get a gondola ride for $50USD anyway... remember the euro exchange will make that 50 even less. I believe it's more in the 100 range.

Having only partly to do with it being way "touristy", the gondolas simply do not appeal to me. Instead you can take a vaporetto down the Grand Canal which is inexpensive, fantastic views, and didn't feel silly to me (like the gondola would have).

We'll be in Venice in October--is it appropriate to tip and if so how much?

We were in Venice a few weeks ago and did a gondola ride. I'm glad we did it, but it is certainly more than $50 (unless you mean per person). I asked our hotel concierge about the prices before we headed out for our ride, to make sure we weren't paying way over the going rate. He said they were 120 euros early evening, and 140 euros late night. We went late night and paid 120, so I felt like that was ok. It was interesting that the gondolier quoted exactly the rates that the concierge said. It made me think maybe they were standardized rates.

I second the vaporetto idea. We did this repeatedly, from san marco across to accademia area. Of course this is a short, functional ride, but still fun and it felt more local.

Ok, i'll do it. Can't imagine why no one else has mentioned the traghettos that are like flat bottomed gondolas and take you (albeit standing) from one side of the grand canal to the other. Rick Steves claims they are the "poor man's" gondola ride for a couple of bucks. Try one of them first and if you still want to go for the real thing, then part with the money it will cost you.

A traghetto ride will not cost anywhere near "a couple of bucks" or, at least, not per person. The last time I was in Venice, it was 0.40 Euro for one; I think it has since gone up to 0.50 Euro.

Oops- you're right Julie! I meant tragetto, not vaporetto. It was 1 euro per person each way.

We've been to Venice 3 times, and we only took a gondola ride on this last trip. We took it at dusk (it was a misty evening, so no sunset), and it was beautiful watching the lights from the building reflecting off the water.

The gondoliers are everywhere. We took ours from Campo Santa Sophia (which is also a traghetto stop). We paid 80E for a 45-minute ride, and requested mostly side canals, so we didn’t feel the need to bargain. The length of the ride was just right for us - it's beautiful, but those boats move very slowly, so you have plenty of time to see the sights! I'm glad we took a gondola ride, but once was enough.

We took a ride 4 years ago and it was $100.00 for the ride, not the number of people. We were standing in line waiting and I was stressing that it was expensive for the just the two of us. There was a beautiful young lady and her mother in line in front of us. To make a long story short, we shared the ride and we got to ride with Ms. USA runner up. Her dad sent her on a European vacation as a consolation prize. We had a lovely ride and a lovely conversation. I can't imagine going to Venice and not going for a Gondola ride. Stike up a conversation while in line, make a friend and have a great 1/2 price ride.

The American Express has a gondola ride as part of one of their tours. It is much less expensive that way and still very enjoyable.

Crossing the Grande Canal on a traghetto was fast, cheap (.35 EU in 2003) and easy, and you can sit down.

As I recall, when I last checked the American Express ride was $25 (or was it 25 Euros) per person. Is the rate still the same?

Hi, We were on a gondola ride a week ago and I also vote yes! Do it. It was our 2nd time in Venice , the 1st time we didn't go on one and would not have done it this time but our friend really wanted to go. There were 4 of us, the charge was $25.00 per person for 40 delightful minutes going down small canals and under lovely bridges. I always thought they must be too touristy till it finally occured to me- I'm a tourist!!

I've done Venice with or without, but Rick Steve's is ridiculous on this one. A ride across a canal standing...please, just skip this. (OK, do it, but don't think it at all replaces a gondola!)

The point of a gondola is an evocative trip back in time. If you take the gondola after dark (or possibly very very early in the morning, before the city wakes up) you feel just a bit of what it might be like to live in the 17th or 18th century. I loved the gondola for this.

For this time-traveller feeling, it was worth the fee. But if you do decide to share (a good idea with the right co-passengers) try to find people that are very quiet and not at all chatty. If they are chatting about their 21st century lives, it will ruin that 17th century atmosphere. I'd make an agreement with copassengers about this...or I would not share!

" know those of you seasoned Italy visitors probably think this question cheesy (it is), but I wondered on whether or not a Venetian gondola ride is something I should budget for (do not want to spend more than $50 unless it's something I will regret big-time). I will be travelling with my sister, not my hubby on this trip in 2 weeks. I like playing the "tourist" role if it means that I will get to experience something that I would not otherwise; however, I do not like the idea of being ripped off due to my falling for the hype. Is it weird because the ride is supposed to be romantic? If not, any cost-cutting tips?"

you know, there are questions that no one can answer for you. This is one of them.

I thank you all for the responses about your own experiences in Venice with or without the gondola. We've decided to do it, because it's our first trip. Next time when in Italy, I will just take the water taxis (I am assuming that's the local vaporetto or traghetto). I just wanted to know if there were big rip-offs to avoid, as in most cities around the world.

Actually water taxis and the vaporetto are two entirely different things. (first being private very nice looking speed boat kinds of thing and fairly expensive, second is more like a public bus/boat and cheap).

Venice experience wouldn't be complete without that gondola ride. It surely is worth it!


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We didn't take a gondola ride, and I don't regret it - we had a great time in Venice - but I guess I also don't know what I'm missing! It is expensive, if it is worth doing really depends on your budget. If I had twice the budget (or it cost half as much) I would have done it. We had two nice meals for the same cost. . .

Dear Susan:

My husband and I did not do a gondola ride in 1994. He wanted to, but I was being a tightwad. I regreted it and swore the next time in Venice, we would do the godola ride.

In 2002, I visted Venice with my mom and sister. Mom opted out, but my sister and I enjoyed our gondola ride. It was expensive, but worth it. I have to go back though and do a ride with my hubby!!

Babs,

I am guessing it would be worth it if we could go with a Miss American contestant. How do I arrange that?

I'm curious. Would it be freezing to do this during Carnivale in February?
And does one need a mask in Feb?

nfmasek,

We took a gondola ride in February 2003 and it was delightful. We wore jackets, took a bottle of wine and cups, and watched the full moon as we floated along.

We were there the week before carnivale, I think. At any rate, we didn't need a mask.

Byrd

Do you tip the gondolier? Anyone??

I beleive that the gondoliers are all private operators, so they are making the full amount you pay them. I don't think you need to give an additional tip.

Thank you, sockboy!

I thought I'd share our experience regarding the pricing of gondola rides.

We started inquiring about prices starting at the Rialto bridge. 120 euros was the first price quoted. As we ventured a few minutes further, the rate was 80 euros for a trip of the same length. Our Gondolier didn't sing for us. He said it would bring on the rain.

I was simply amazed at the skill that they have when manuvering such tight turns and narrow passages. I can't even drive a grocery cart as proficiently. :)

I have never been to venice but I am going in two weeks, I have been everywhere else and for sure In paris I climbed the eiffel tower, In rio I went to corcodoba and carnival, In england picadilly circus, in New York Time square, In Spain the sagrada famillia, In Germany to a brew House, Canada Niagara Falls and the CN tower, Mexico the mayan ruins. Back in Montreal I encourage all my visitors to take a caleche ride.

And definitely even if the price was 1000 euros I will be in line with the rest of the tourist for a gondola ride. After you spend around 10k for a trip what 100 bucks,

The original plan was to take one, but after watching the faces of all of the tourist in them, I wasn't sure I wanted to. Nobody looked like they were really having fun, the drivers looked bored, the tourist had forced smiles, and it didn't look romantic. We finally took one only because one in the party had her heart set on it. I found it to be expensive, smelly (on the small canals), not that thrilling--and certainly not romantic. However, because of a strike, we had to take a water taxi to and from the train station and took one back and forth to Murano. THAT WAS FUN! And worth every penny. It was cool and breezy--we stood up in the back. I would do this again before a gondola.

Please take a gondola ride while you are there. It is incredibly romantic - yes it's a little expensive, but it is so worth it. You will get an entirely different view of Venice by gondola. DO IT!!!!!

" have never been to venice but I am going in two weeks, I have been everywhere else and for sure In paris I climbed the eiffel tower, In rio I went to corcodoba and carnival, In england picadilly circus, in New York Time square, In Spain the sagrada famillia, In Germany to a brew House, Canada Niagara Falls and the CN tower, Mexico the mayan ruins. Back in Montreal I encourage all my visitors to take a caleche ride."

No wonder the word "tourist" translates in so many languages as "sucker."

I'm with Amart on that one! I'd spring for one of those sexy speedboat water taxis any day, over a gondola ride lined up w/ all the other tourists ;-)