We will be in Venice July 9 thru July 12. Does anyone have a tour guide recommendation or tour recommendation? Note, we have our two older teenage boys with us. We have read about the RS recommended tours including, the one with Classic Venice Bars Tour and with tour guide Alessandro Schezzini. Thank you so much for any help you could provide.
Sincerely...Barb and Dan Whitaker
We just wandered around the whole island. Sometimes it isnice just to get lost. We did take the Boat to Burano. The houses are very colorful.
Get an early start one day and take the vaporetta out to Murano and Burano. That can consume the better part of a day and it is covered by your 3 day vap. pass. Forget organized tours in Venice itself -- just use the RS book and walk, walk, walk. It is a get city to just wander about and you can't really get lost since you are on an island.
We did two tours with Avventure Bellissime and were very happy with both. Especially the walking tour because our guide was a very knowledgable expat who'd been living in Venice for many years.
Original Venice Walking Tour
http://www.tours-italy.com/venice-city_tours-original_venice_walk.htm
Three-Island Boat Tour
http://www.tours-italy.com/venice-city_tours-three_island_boat_tour.htm
We tried booking the Classic Venice Bars Tour with Alessandro Schezzini. He replied to our e-mails but never gave us a specific meeting time and did not return our calls when we arrived in Venice. We would have liked to try it.
The Secret Itineraries Tour at Doges Palace is a hoot. After you are through, you are free to visit the rest of the site. Best to book before leaving for Italy. George, Pittsburgh
We had a hard time getting a res. for the Secret Itineraries Tour so did the audioguide tour that is offered at the Doge's Palace. It was great and offered so much valuable information (90 min). You can pick it up after you pass through the turnstile after the ticket counter. As good as any tour!
I don't think an organized tour is necessary - you will just be packed in with all the day trippers. Since you will be staying in venice for a few days I would avoid the main sites from 9:00 to 5:00 when the crowds are there and explore the rest of the city. It will be almost vacant, and there is plenty to see. Then hit San Marco when it is near empty and enjoy a drink at one of the outdoor cafes. Your boys will enjoy exploring on there own as opposed to following around someone holding a yellow umbrella.
