Personal Guides in Venice?

It is a perfectly correct place to ask that question.

Sorry, I don't have a suggestion. Over many trips I have always gone around just with my wife and a couple of good books.

I hope you get a good answer...

and a great trip

If you use the search function at the top of the page on a laptop/desktop (or in the menu at the top left of the page on a mobile device) and search “Venice private guide,” you will find a couple of posts from the last two years with recommendations.

I’ll add that the Tours by Locals website can be helpful for finding guides, too. It includes reviews by people who did tours with the guides. If you’re lucky, you will be able to glean enough info from the TBL site to find a guide’s personal website through a search engine. Finding the personal website often results in 20-25 percent savings due to removing the TBL “finder’s fee.”

Buy a good guidebook. Venice is a city that is relatively easy to do on your own. You can find private tours via Viator.com as well.

You might want to check out the Guide Collective These travel guides who ordinarily do some of RS tours (and other tours) formed this group. I see there are three based in Italy. Even if they can't guide you themselves, they likely know some of the best individual guides who would. I think Sarah Murdock and Trish Feaster started this group as they are all out of work now due to Covid...

I don't have a personal guide rec, but if you're interested in the history & architecture, get the Blue Guide Venice book. My DH and I love this series. The book also discusses regional food specialities, local traditions and gives a few restaurant recommendations.

A small local bakery that we love is Pasticceria Tonolo; tucked away in the San Polo neighborhood, just on the edge of the Dorsoduro. It's always filled with locals; just follow their lead when ordering. The address is: Calle S. Pantalon, 3764, 30123 Venezia VE, Italy
Copy and plug it into Google Maps

We stop by daily for an afternoon pick-me-up of espresso & a sweet (love their sacher torte or cream puffs).

Another strong vote for Tonolo.

Their fresh squeezed in front of you orange juice, their coffees, and their pastries (unfortunately I have not yet tried ALL of them) are wonderful... great atmosphere.

How about http://www.2guides4venice.com/? This was recommended by someone else on Rick Steves a year or two ago. You can also try Elena Zampiron who is Rick Steves guide who I believe also does private tours. https://www.facebook.com/elena.zampiron.7 I know some people who did a Context Tour of a less well known neighborhood in Venice and that tour cost around $300 for roughly 2 hours.

hey hey dave
no apologies asking, posters will give you some info here.
i've saved a few that might interest you
withlocals.com/venice
lots of different tours and things to do on the island. since you have been before, maybe check out
city highlight tours: treviso charms: history, tiramisu and prosecco. 30 minute train ride from venice, learn about a small city outside of venice and it's history along with a tasting of what's known for that area
mammamiatours.com you will need to contact them for cost
getyourguide.com/venice on left hand side click guided tour.
streaty.com 2 food tours available, read both descriptions what's included
schezzini.it alessandro does a cicchetti tour bar crawl, (appetizers, wine and history). email him for any questions and ask if he does a guided tour of the island.
of course you know we have no idea who will be ready to open, if they are still in business, what precautions to take. what ever you decide, check the cancellation policy. enjoy and hope this gives your things to research what you are looking for.
aloha

Hi David,
Although I cannot recommend a guide for Venice I can suggest a guidebook that we used when planning our stay. It’s Frommer’s 24 Great walks in Venice. What we liked about the guide was: It gives you the whole Venetian experience, allowing you to explore the alleys, quays, filled-in canals and squares from wide-open spaces of the Public Gardens in the Castillo district to the narrow passageways well off the beaten tourist track. The guide provides
Distance, time to allow, start & finish. In addition to the guide friends gave us similar tips that were spot on. The RS Venice guidebook & contributors on this forum were also excellent resources.

We usually hire personal guides or walking tours in most places where we travel. We just didn’t think we needed to in Venice. That said, I wouldn’t discourage you from doing so. We spent a week there and were able to take our time, but also thinking we would return. We were exploring ancestral history as well.