Venice Gondola: Iconic Romance - Unforgettable Private Ride

We had too many for a single gondola so we had to split up. My husband and I took one while our teens took a second. My husband and I had a great captain who pointed out interesting sights and was very kind. My kids had a very different experience. Their driver pulled the gondola parallel with his friends and they talked to each other the whole time. That may have been fine but their conversation consisted of insulting their customers and mocking each other’s passengers. My guess is they were assuming no one understood his Italian. Unfortunately, one of my kids understood Italian enough to translate his insults. Such a shame since my husband and I had a good driver. There are a lot of gondola companies in Venice, I can’t say I would chose this one again if we went back.

For the price I had expected a private gondola ride, not to be shepherded with a large group and filed onto a gondola with others who we didn’t know, without any explanation of the activity, or where it would end. The instructions for the meeting point were also unclear and several people were lost.

Some groups with same number of people as my group were able use the gondola for themselves…when everyone paid the same amount….

I loved the charming and traditional boat ride on the Gondola. I only wished that I had booked a longer ride. The views were spectacular of the open river and canals.

Finding location was very difficult. The organizer was very rude and uncooperative. The Gondola operator also wa totally not bothered. An unhappy experience though the ride was ok

My wife and I turned up at the arranged time and no know was there. I complained to Viator and they were not helpful at all refusing to give me a refund. I even sent pictures of my location, time and evidence to show the kiosk at the meeting point was locked with no one in sight. Luckily, my wife suggested we go the next day to find the local office. We couldn't find their office but went to the same meet up place and saw some tour operators that were the same as ours. We explained the situation to them and they were so helpful and put us in the next Gondola experience. We had such a lovely time and are so thankful to Andrei for putting us in the next ride. All i can say is if your experience is cancelled or they don't show up, try and go there the following day and the locals are far more helpful than any customer service they advise you to contact on the brochure. Thank you Andrei and the Gondola people.

Guide talked way too much. He was good but we paid to get in early and when he was done talking we were not early! The buildings were amazing. Wish my guide did not tell me so much. I was tired of all the info.

Would have loved to go under the Rialto Bridge? And the option for a longer ride. Otherwise, the ride was great!

The cheapest gondola ride you can get. It was a little disappointing as we had to walk about 7 minutes from the meeting point to where we boarded the gondola, and then most of the gondola ride we were experiencing "traffic jams" and waiting for the gondolas ahead of us to move. However, if you are looking for a classic Venice experience, it does the trick.

Good visit to Venice, lovely experience on the Gondola through the streets of Venice. Had the experience with my family and it was very exciting for us all.