Venice tourist traps: Cafe' Florian, Harry's Bar and Gondola ride....would you or won't you? Did you?
Feb 4th, 2008, 08:25 PM
#141
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1) Didn't do
2) Didn't do
3) Did do gondola ride - but with a large group so it was significantly cheaper per person. Glad I did it - it was a lovely experience but not one I feel any need to repeat.
2) Didn't do
3) Did do gondola ride - but with a large group so it was significantly cheaper per person. Glad I did it - it was a lovely experience but not one I feel any need to repeat.
Feb 4th, 2008, 09:26 PM
#142
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1) No.
2) No.
3) Been to Venice three times, gone on a gondola ride three times. Each visit was with a different travel companion. But the next time I go to Venice, I will take a gondola ride again. It's more than just a ride on an unusual boat (in which case it might not be worth the cost). If you head to the little back canals, you will see parts of Venice you cannot see on foot. I find nearly every inch of Venice fascinating.
2) No.
3) Been to Venice three times, gone on a gondola ride three times. Each visit was with a different travel companion. But the next time I go to Venice, I will take a gondola ride again. It's more than just a ride on an unusual boat (in which case it might not be worth the cost). If you head to the little back canals, you will see parts of Venice you cannot see on foot. I find nearly every inch of Venice fascinating.
Feb 5th, 2008, 08:45 AM
#143
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I have a question Adventure Seeker, what did you wind up doing, and what was your opinion?
It's a funny thing, reading this thread. Some people can be "travel snobs" and look down their noses at you for doing something "touristy", and others would question you if you went to Venice and DIDN'T do those same things. I guess really people just need to decide for themselves. I have only been to Venice once and did none of those things and still had a great time, but I am going back in May and DO plan on doing #2 and #3. This will be my thirteenth trip to Europe and I have been on and off the beaten path many times before. Some of my absolute favorite experiences were SO touristy (a night time boat ride down the Seine), but there were other touristy things I felt were such a ripoff (like Madame Tussaud's in London). So, to each his own... I say, each person needs to trust his/her gut as to whether or not they will like it, then go for it!!! I personally love hearing about ALL travel experiences!
It's a funny thing, reading this thread. Some people can be "travel snobs" and look down their noses at you for doing something "touristy", and others would question you if you went to Venice and DIDN'T do those same things. I guess really people just need to decide for themselves. I have only been to Venice once and did none of those things and still had a great time, but I am going back in May and DO plan on doing #2 and #3. This will be my thirteenth trip to Europe and I have been on and off the beaten path many times before. Some of my absolute favorite experiences were SO touristy (a night time boat ride down the Seine), but there were other touristy things I felt were such a ripoff (like Madame Tussaud's in London). So, to each his own... I say, each person needs to trust his/her gut as to whether or not they will like it, then go for it!!! I personally love hearing about ALL travel experiences!
Mar 9th, 2008, 01:51 PM
#145
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Thanks to all for all of the wonderful opinions. We will be going to Venice in May and I, for one, will definitely do all three - Cafe Florian, Harry's Bar and a Gondola Ride. I am taking my mother for her 80th birthday and and I believe this will be her first and last trip to Venice. It's only money and I think these "expensive" experiences will create lasting memories for both of us.
Mar 9th, 2008, 02:32 PM
#146
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We didn't do any of these things and we absolutely adored Venice; I think I was smiling the whole time I was there. It was December, but it was dry and sunny and around 50 - perfect! Take the vaporetto along the length of the Grand Canal - loved it! Walk alot and enjoy little streets and alleyways. You will find magnificent buildings, delicious food and magical memories everywhere. It was a dream come true for me.
Feb 18th, 2009, 03:15 PM
#148
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I would never enter a bar that I could not see into. So no to Harry’s. Tried the bar Arancina in Calle Foscari, Dorsoduro, many times, and it was fun.
Florians. It was mid-winter, so Florian had no tables in the Piazza. We would have taken coffee at Quadri’s, except that the Piazza was under water. But we have a photo of us sitting at a Quadri table in our rubber boots.
Gondola ride – at 80 Euro for 40 minutes – too costly, too like a procession. But we used the traghettos all the time, at 50 cents to cross the Grand Canal they are good value.
Florians. It was mid-winter, so Florian had no tables in the Piazza. We would have taken coffee at Quadri’s, except that the Piazza was under water. But we have a photo of us sitting at a Quadri table in our rubber boots.
Gondola ride – at 80 Euro for 40 minutes – too costly, too like a procession. But we used the traghettos all the time, at 50 cents to cross the Grand Canal they are good value.
Feb 18th, 2009, 04:09 PM
#149
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Cafe Florian: We did it, sat outside on the square. Not worth it. The drinks weren't good. The cost was HIGH. Better to walk by, slowly, listen, move on and get a drink elsewhere.
Gondola ride, yes, worth it. Loved it. A bit costly, but that's the very thing I visualize when I think of Venice.
Harry's Bar, no. Didn't appeal to us.
Gondola ride, yes, worth it. Loved it. A bit costly, but that's the very thing I visualize when I think of Venice.
Harry's Bar, no. Didn't appeal to us.
Feb 19th, 2009, 06:17 AM
#150
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I have done all 3 and would recommend them.
I love bellinis and knew they were created at Harry's Bar in Venice. The first time I went to Italy I didn't make it to Harry's in Venice but went to the one in Florence; they were out of fresh peach nectar so I didn't get my Bellini. I had its strawberry cousin the Rossini instead. I knew when I returned to Venice I wanted to get a Bellini from the creator, even though it would be expensive. It was, but I enjoyed the experience of sitting in Harry's, once frequented by Hemingway, and sloooowly sipping my drink.
I enjoyed the Cafe Florian as well. It was rather chilly, so I had hot drinks which were quite good. It is a unique experience to sit comfortably in Piazza San Marco and listen to the orchestra while drinking your beverage of choice. I was not rushed but allowed to take my time.
I have done a gondola ride each time I have gone to Venice and wouldn't miss it. The gondola ride provides a different perspective of Venice since you are in a gondola, in the canals and smaller rios very close to the old buildings and the water. The sights, sounds and feel of the ride evokes images of the days when Venice truly was La Serenissima.
All 3 of these experiences are, in my opinion, just that--experiences. You might get a cheaper Bellini somewhere else, or a slightly better drink at a different cafe, or see Venice from a waterbus for significantly less. However, the enjoyment of the experience itself is worth more than the monetary value of the good or service that you are receiving.
I love bellinis and knew they were created at Harry's Bar in Venice. The first time I went to Italy I didn't make it to Harry's in Venice but went to the one in Florence; they were out of fresh peach nectar so I didn't get my Bellini. I had its strawberry cousin the Rossini instead. I knew when I returned to Venice I wanted to get a Bellini from the creator, even though it would be expensive. It was, but I enjoyed the experience of sitting in Harry's, once frequented by Hemingway, and sloooowly sipping my drink.
I enjoyed the Cafe Florian as well. It was rather chilly, so I had hot drinks which were quite good. It is a unique experience to sit comfortably in Piazza San Marco and listen to the orchestra while drinking your beverage of choice. I was not rushed but allowed to take my time.
I have done a gondola ride each time I have gone to Venice and wouldn't miss it. The gondola ride provides a different perspective of Venice since you are in a gondola, in the canals and smaller rios very close to the old buildings and the water. The sights, sounds and feel of the ride evokes images of the days when Venice truly was La Serenissima.
All 3 of these experiences are, in my opinion, just that--experiences. You might get a cheaper Bellini somewhere else, or a slightly better drink at a different cafe, or see Venice from a waterbus for significantly less. However, the enjoyment of the experience itself is worth more than the monetary value of the good or service that you are receiving.
Feb 19th, 2009, 07:01 AM
#151
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Did all 3 and glad we did. They certainly are in many ways meant for tourist today but hat who we are. In fcat, we ate dinner at Harrys Bar, upstairs and the food was excellent. My wife had the Bellini and it was very good.
The gondoal is really what Venice is all about. It is aprt of their history and not to try it, to me, is a loss for anyone visiting Venice.
As for Cafe Florian we did it just to say we did it.
But whenevr we see Venice on TV or in the movies, whenever we speak to someone aboput it we can and do remark that we did that and some bragging about where you have gone and what you did is part of what makes travelling so importnat to many people.
The gondoal is really what Venice is all about. It is aprt of their history and not to try it, to me, is a loss for anyone visiting Venice.
As for Cafe Florian we did it just to say we did it.
But whenevr we see Venice on TV or in the movies, whenever we speak to someone aboput it we can and do remark that we did that and some bragging about where you have gone and what you did is part of what makes travelling so importnat to many people.
