caryba Posted March 10, 2006 #1 Share Posted March 10, 2006 Any suggestions on where to go for a good gondola ride? And what can I expect to pay for my DH and I? I am sure they are like taxi cabs here in NYC and are probably everywhere but I was just wondering if some are better than others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wwinfl91 Posted March 10, 2006 #2 Share Posted March 10, 2006 Gondola rides are expenive but the cost can usually be shared for up to 3 couples making it a much better buy. Actually there are water taxis which are motor boats which are more like NY taxis. A Gondola ride is more like a horse carriage ride in Central Park. Here is a great web site with lots of information on Venice. Check under the transportation link for a good article on gondola rides. http://europeforvisitors.com/venice/ Have a great next cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogfam Posted March 10, 2006 #3 Share Posted March 10, 2006 There's always the Venetian Hotel in Vegas.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caryba Posted March 10, 2006 Author #4 Share Posted March 10, 2006 Thanks for the info wwinfl91. That was a cute suggestion ROGFAM :0) LOL! Already gave the Vegas one a try and it was kind of my inspiration for this trip. Too cute! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogfam Posted March 10, 2006 #5 Share Posted March 10, 2006 Vegas might be less expensive than enjoy a drink in St. Marks Square. Be careful about the hidden prices for "entertainment", "views" etc. Enjoy!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrenGina Posted March 10, 2006 #6 Share Posted March 10, 2006 My wife and I with our 2 children took a gondola ride on a Sunday afternoon back in July. There was a station not more than a five minute walk from St. Mark's. They started with 100 Euros for a 40 minute ride, but my wife said "too much". She offered 80 and he snapped it up. Whatever the cost, worth every last Euro for the experience and the memory!! You must do it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cberge Posted March 11, 2006 #7 Share Posted March 11, 2006 Gondola rides are cheaper during the day then at night..just an FYI. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hylasgirl Posted March 11, 2006 #8 Share Posted March 11, 2006 I agree! Worth every penny to take a gondola ride in Venice! You have come this far... why save the money now:rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Hlitner Posted March 11, 2006 #9 Share Posted March 11, 2006 There are several locations to find the Gondolas... and one is just to the right of St Marks square (facing the water) where you will find many Gondolas looking for business. Its negotiable for the standard ride of about 40 minutes. We like to take a bottle of wine and most of Gondolas have cups. Hank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mountainmare Posted March 11, 2006 #10 Share Posted March 11, 2006 Great idea about the wine!!! Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vacationhappy Posted March 11, 2006 #11 Share Posted March 11, 2006 We took a gondola ride in the late afternoon last August - it was about 80E right off St. Mark's square in the "back canals". The lighting at that time of day was spectacular! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wwinfl91 Posted March 11, 2006 #12 Share Posted March 11, 2006 If you decide to take wine be sure you have a cork screw to open it. I can't see anyone drinking a screwtop wine on a gondola ride. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mountainmare Posted March 11, 2006 #13 Share Posted March 11, 2006 Don't worry--I never leave home without one!!! I'll probably bring my own crystal glasses too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cusyl Posted March 11, 2006 #14 Share Posted March 11, 2006 The ship is charging $95. each for the Gondola, are you saying you can get several people in at the $80 charge? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susanp Posted March 11, 2006 #15 Share Posted March 11, 2006 At sunset, get a glass of prosecco/champagne at one of the hotel terrace restaurants along the Grand Canal across from Della Salute church (near San Marco). (Europa e Regina, Gritti Palace, Monaco and Grand Canal have lovely terraces.) You have a breathtaking view as the sun sets--you hear the bells from Della Salute, watch as gondolas spill into the grand canal (since everyone wants a gondola ride at sunset), hear gondoliers singing--indescribable, absolutely breathtaking. Worth doing even if you do take a gondola ride! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Cruise Junky Posted March 11, 2006 #16 Share Posted March 11, 2006 At sunset, get a glass of prosecco/champagne at one of the hotel terrace restaurants along the Grand Canal across from Della Salute church (near San Marco). (Europa e Regina, Gritti Palace, Monaco and Grand Canal have lovely terraces.) You have a breathtaking view as the sun sets--you hear the bells from Della Salute, watch as gondolas spill into the grand canal (since everyone wants a gondola ride at sunset), hear gondoliers singing--indescribable, absolutely breathtaking. Worth doing even if you do take a gondola ride! Oh, stop it... we stayed at the Europa and had that view every night...you're making me Venice sick :). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frandick Posted March 12, 2006 #17 Share Posted March 12, 2006 Last year my ship was charging $131 per person for an evening gondola ride. 4 Of us took an afternoon ride on our own for 100 Euros plus gratuity. I believe that the gondola holds 5-6 people. It is much better to go on your own versus the ships excursion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vetralla Posted March 12, 2006 #18 Share Posted March 12, 2006 A perfect souvenir to bring home is the calendar with photos of the cutest gondoliers -one for each month. You'll find them in most of the souvenir shops or newspaper kiosks. Maybe you can buy it beforehand and have your "driver" sign it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vacationhappy Posted March 12, 2006 #19 Share Posted March 12, 2006 Cusyl - yes, you can fill a gondola for 80E 4-6 people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClaudiaF Posted March 12, 2006 #20 Share Posted March 12, 2006 Gondola rides are much more romantic if it is just for two ..leave your shipmates behind and really have a treat. Also, 4get the ship tour..just negotiate a price on your own..as they are evrywhere you won't have trouble finding one.. would go behind St. marks square ( standing in center of it with your back to the water go to the back left corner and walk that way a bit.. there is the "back gondola stop there, in front of a hotel which is lovely by the way ( and a Best western-of all things)... you may get a better price from one there than one in front of Hotel Danieli or Gritti palace ). And hopefully he will sing for you!;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Hlitner Posted March 12, 2006 #21 Share Posted March 12, 2006 Claudia... Great advice with which we absolutely agree. A few years ago we were in Venice on a Grand Princess cruise where they were selling a gondola tour for about $100 pp. They said the tour included singing. Later that day my wife and I hired a gondola for about $80 total, and had a very romantic 45 min ride through the various waterways. As we rounded one of the corners in the canals (I love the way the Gondoleers cry-out as they turn blind corners) we saw one of the tours from our ship. There were about 6 gondolas close together,,, each one containing 4 - 6 people. One of the gondolas had a singer that was entertaining the mass group of boats. We cruised by this hoard while sipping our wine and were very happy we didn't go for the cattle tour. I guess its just a matter of personal tastes. Some travelers like to be in large groups while others (my wife and I) prefer the privacy and freedom of doing our own thing. Hank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClaudiaF Posted March 12, 2006 #22 Share Posted March 12, 2006 salute! TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU..:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MszKitty Posted March 14, 2006 #23 Share Posted March 14, 2006 DH and I were just in Venice and we paid 80 euro for our ride. There is a gondola stop at the end of San Marco Square with people and gondolas lined up. We didn't take that one because we felt it was too crowded....gondolas coming and going, passing each other in the canals...kind of like rush hour traffic. There are gondoliers everywhere and we ended up using one elsewhere. At first he said the price was 60 euro, but when I asked him about singing he said "60 for the ride...and 20 for the singing". So it ended up costing the same amount as it would if we had taken the gondola from San Marcos Square but less crowded. Try to avoid taking one on the Grand Canal....again...traffic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lesleyfb Posted March 16, 2006 #24 Share Posted March 16, 2006 We were in Venice a couple of years ago and the prices started at €100 but after walking away the gondolier actually ran after us and offered us the price of €60! There were 4 of us. I don't know how long the ride would have been though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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