Venice is such a unique city that I have personally not seen anywhere like it in the world. Where else in the world do the fire service have to go around by boat or what other major city like this has no roads for cars? And then there is the culture with numerous museums, galleries and carnival season. Below are some useful sites for learning more about Venice, Italy.
us not being overly accustomed to taking boat trips, and especially not Gondola trips around cities, there are certain guideline you can follow to enhance your experience:
Do not feel pressured into paying if you don’t want to - Whilst you may be keen to go on a Gondola, make sure that you do it on your own terms. You may be propositioned as you walk along the waterfront by people trying to lure you into their boat. Don’t feel pressured to say yes.
Don’t pay over the odds - If you feel you have been quoted too high a price you are within your rights to either barter or look for someone who is offering a better deal. Also, don’t be afraid to book online in advance, this way there will be no surprises when it comes to cost.
Negotiate cost before you enter the boat - If you are going to include extras such as singing or drinks, make sure that you agree the price before you enter to avoid any confrontation.
Do not stand up - There is often not a lot of space in the Gondola so if you stand up you may well find yourself off balance and in the water. The water, whilst pleasant to look at, is not always the cleanest, so entering it is an experience you will do well to avoid.
Travelling to Venice, Italy
Accommodation - if you are looking for somewhere to stay in Venice, holiday-velvet.com have a wide range of apartments available (including with apartments in San Marco) and are a good agency to book with. If it is a budget stay you are looking for, Hostal Venice (accredited with the IYH) is a hostel I have stayed in several times and greatly enjoyed. More youth hostels also can be found online.
Trying a Gondola
With Venice being famed as being a city based on water it would be a huge shame to visit the city without partaking in a boat trip, an event which is synonymous with the image of Venice. With the majority of
us not being overly accustomed to taking boat trips, and especially not Gondola trips around cities, there are certain guideline you can follow to enhance your experience:Do not feel pressured into paying if you don’t want to - Whilst you may be keen to go on a Gondola, make sure that you do it on your own terms. You may be propositioned as you walk along the waterfront by people trying to lure you into their boat. Don’t feel pressured to say yes.
Don’t pay over the odds - If you feel you have been quoted too high a price you are within your rights to either barter or look for someone who is offering a better deal. Also, don’t be afraid to book online in advance, this way there will be no surprises when it comes to cost.
Negotiate cost before you enter the boat - If you are going to include extras such as singing or drinks, make sure that you agree the price before you enter to avoid any confrontation.
Do not stand up - There is often not a lot of space in the Gondola so if you stand up you may well find yourself off balance and in the water. The water, whilst pleasant to look at, is not always the cleanest, so entering it is an experience you will do well to avoid.
