Good morning boys and girls from the turnip! Ms. Ward was nice enough to send the information we've all been waiting for. I also received an e-mail from the guide which I have posted below. Her e-mail address is [email protected] <BR> <BR>Happy travels! <BR> <BR>I am Rossella Rondana a Venitian citizen (35 years old), I am mastered in International Political Sciences at the University of Trieste. <BR>I have been guided since 1984 in French German and English speaking. I'm specialized in Venitian history and art in particular some beautiful and curious corners that are difficult to reach by tourists. <BR>So I can show you the best places in Venice or if you prefer the unknown legends of the city or better some exibition or museum that you want to see or if I may suggest you some other collection in the unusual tour path. <BR>I found your message and I am very happy to help you next may (the best month of the year). <BR>Normally I guide in the morning from 08.00 am to 11.00 am or in the afternoon from 04.00 pm on . <BR>Or I can guide all the day long in the Islands of Murano(Venitian glass), Burano(Venitian laces) and Torcello(byzantine art and roman ruins) but I have to know previously to manage my time. <BR>I can show you the best places in Venice in short time if you want or in a long time as you like. <BR>For example I could guide the morning and in the evening bring you all to a gondola-tour, during my tours I will explain also the best places to spend the rest of the day and how to reach (glass) factories in Murano Island for shopping and visit with me if you like or how to find the best market for shopping or best restaurants (not very expensive) where you can taste traditional Venitian cooking. <BR> <BR> <BR>PRIVATE TOURS <BR> <BR>1 hour of tour is 100 $ <BR>2 hours 150 $ <BR>3 hours 225 $ <BR>4 hours 300 $ <BR> <BR>Venice by night 650 $ (for 3 people) including: <BR>45 minutes Gondola tour in Venice small canals + <BR>dinner (fish and traditional plates and sparkling white wine Prosecco) + <BR>2 hours tour by night <BR> <BR>Gondola-tour 150$ <BR> <BR>Give me more details when and where do you live in Venice or your accomodation if you have booked one, so I can reach you very easily and let me know your plans asap. <BR> <BR>Thank you and warm regards. <BR>See you soon, ciao by Rossella

I will be in Venice in April please email me information about the tour guide and her rates. <BR> <BR> Thank you

Ummm Shelly, the information you requested is right above your post... <BR> <BR

I emailed j.ward and received the young <BR>lady's email. You can imagine my surprise when she emailed me back, quoting prices so different from those of j. ward. For one hour her price was $100.00 and more for longer. She ended stating a evening tour of a 45 min. gondola ride, a fish dinner with white wine and a 2 hour tour of Venice for <BR>$600.00.

Good grief, Charley Brown! I thought Fodor's was to be kept free of blatant commercialism! And $600 yet!

Am I the only one who thinks it's a bit silly to have a tour guide to help you walk around Venice?? After seeing dozens of posts on this thread that say "send me the info" "me too" "yeah me too", I am starting to wonder. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for everyone doing their own thing--if all of you folks want to lighten your wallets by paying that kind of money for someone to walk around Venice with, more power to ya (or more accurately, more power to the tour guide!), <BR> <BR>For gosh sakes, all you have to do is a little reading and a lot of walking--all on your own! Reading, searching, surfing for Venetian history is an adventure that in my opinion is much more enjoyable (and affordable) than paying someone else to regurgitate it for you. And the most rewarding adventure is always to explore Venice on your own, not knowing what lies ahead next. <BR> <BR>Like I said, spend your money and your time any way you want, but for the price of a few great meals, or a day or two extra to spend in Venice, you can enjoy the thrill of exploration on your own.

We will be in Venice for 2 1/2 days with our 18yr old daughter in March. <BR>Would love to have this young lady's number. Thanks!!!

J Ward, my wife and I are leaving for Venice on March 22, 2000. Can you please email me the information for the independent tour guide in Venice. Thank you.

hi, read your message and am curious about any info you would like to share.we will be 5 women travelling to italy in sept. for a holiday.we are planning stops in venice,rome,tuscany,florence and perhaps capri. would love to hear about hotels,restaurants etc.please email.thanks very much.

Can you give me her contact information? Thank you. [email protected]

Sheesh, follow Fodorites, I guess most of you overlooked the thread.

The guide's name is posted above, Rossella Rondana, and her e-mail address is:

[email protected]

bodast -

Did you notice that this thread is over 3 years old? Can you imagine what her prices are now considering exchange rates the way they are?

Then again, its only money, and you may only visit Venice once - go for it.

Part of me hates to keep this thread going, but I am with Freddie. We were in Venice about a month ago. Granted someone who knows the area could have added insight, but I can read, and Venice just isn't that complicated to find your way around. We walked endlessly, and I think I probably saw plenty of non-tourist sites. And who could possibly need a guide on Murano? We walked the island end to end and stopped everywhere there was to stop. The glass blowing places have their own guides (and sales people!). I have much better ways to spend my money.

That's what I think, or used to...

I once found this url here at Fodors. And although I've been to Venice six times, and always toured on my own, these people seemed really interesting to me. I plan to use their services when I am again there, to get a more insightful ( and an insider) perspective of Venice.

So, I thought I should post the web address here, once more, to the ones looking for guidance on their trips to Venice.

http://www.walksinsidevenice.com/discovery3.html

Regards,

S

Ooops, sorry, wrong web address. I should have written:

http://www.walksinsidevenice.com/