Venice Gondola Experience

Our Gondola experience was great and less expensive than hiring a gondola separately for two on the day. We shared the gondola with 4 other tourists...but there was plenty of room. The meeting place outlined on the ticket is a bit tricky to find as there is no signage until the tour leader arrives with a flag/sign - a number of other companies use the same meeting place. But once we figured out which group was ours, everything went very smoothly and the trip was lovely.

We managed to book this tour as we were spending just 1 day in Venice. I read all the details and was aware that the gondola was going to be a shared one that holds 6 people. We were a party of 5. If you don't know, it is really easy to get lost in Venice. We put or GPS and headed towards the location stated on the Voucher. As we rushed thru the heavy streets, we arrived in what it seemed the location, there were lots of gondola tours and people getting in gondolas, so you would assume that that is the place. NO it is not, after asking around, no one would tell you where it is. I called the number in the voucher, after 1 minutes they finally picked up, the guy that picked up the phone just yelled at me THE GONDOLA IS LONG GONE! YOU SHOULD HAVE CALLED EARLIER, there is nothing I can do for you!I tried to explain and asked what alternatives did I had, and he just kept telling me that it is my fault, that is is clearly explained in the voucher, no refund, and hang up on me. I immediately called VIATOR, their wonderful customer service, they apologize and took ownership of the situation. They went above and beyond, and VIATOR were the ones who refunded me the Money. PLEASE don't get excited about he price point of this tour, I would recommend to spend a bit more and get a more respectful vendor for this tour. I went to Venice and I couldn't experience a Gondola ride!

We felt obligated to do a gondola ride in Venice. Big waste of time and money. First of all the way the gondola is set up is very uncomfortable. I did not end up sitting directly next to my wife. Also the gondola "driver" did not say one word on the trip. Don't think this is a tour as in they will point things out and explain them. It was not a tour, just an experience. If you are going to do a gondola tour I would recommend spending extra to do a private tour with a singer on board.

It was a great experience for our family! We arrived 20 minutes early and had no problem locating the meeting spot.

This gondola ride pretty much speaks for itself-a pleasant ride in a gondola. It is a good way to see Venice from the canals.

The gondola ride was nice, but the driver told us to be quiet as soon as the ride started. We were talking and laughing and he said twice in Italian and English 'be quiet'! We were appalled!

Overall it was a fun activity with the kids. The meeting place was not clear and we waited 30 mins past the start time to get in the gondola. I was the start time were more staggered and the directions of where to meet were easier to understand. The staff was friendly and polite. the tour through the canals was enjoyable and fun experience to see different things that you don't see just walking.

Please keep in mind that the rendezvous place is an open area beside an 'edicola" - news stand in front of the local post office's main entrance and not a physical space/office. Otherwise the chaperones were cordial, informed and got it done. in so far as the gondola ride, waiting for our turn was a hot and sticky situation. Out in the open in front of the assigned moorings in humid weather reaching 40 degrees Celsius factoring in the Humidex was hard. So bring plenty of water, a hat or even an umbrella - it worked well for my wife. The ride was pleasant, longer than expected due to 'gondola traffic' - funny to say but that's what it was. the 'gondoliere' really was not fun - he kept talking on his cell phone and gave just two pieces of information on the sites we passed by. We passed under plenty of bridges, saw how the local live from the water aspect of it all. Overall it was positive experience and a fun ride to take.

Read the reviews and scoped out location ahead of time very relaxing would do again if ever I get the chance

Expect 6 people in your gondola so if you want a private couple tour, you can find many places to get a 30 min tour for 80 euros total by walking around. 80 euro is the standard rate but can opt for better routes for 100 euros. You may want to book a gondola in the peak season though. Meeting point can be confusing - meet in front of the post office. There area many tour groups meeting there but the sign the guy holds up does not say Viaggi Tours. You will then walk to the starting point. It was a loop route that lasted on 25 min. A couple minutes was on the Grand Canal.