to gondola or not to gondola

No and no.

It's worth doing once in your life.

you can check this website out to see if anything there that interests you. tours-italy.com
happy travels

Depends on the experience you want.

Do you NEED a gondola ride? Gondola Services got turned into romantic events for tourists. Its the only reason they are still around. You can rent any other form of boat in Venice: Barefoot or with a Captain, for less than a Gondola and for much longer. Gondolas are purely a romantic expression of a historical art form. You pays your money for that experience. And thats why it is very regulated and a bit of theatre. There is price fixing that you can't go below. The negotiation of price is even part of that theatre. They can't do a lower price than the ones set with out risking loss of the License.

Next time we are in Venice, we'll be hiring a Gondola. Cause we want the theatre of it. But there are no cheap Gondola Rides.

So how do I know what the fixed price is? I assume they can charge higher if I don't haggle down to the lowest.
Any info is appreciated as I am considering it, I haven't quite decided how much I want to do it yet.

I decided I was "over it" when I saw how crowded the canals were with gondolas, and I felt like I saw many of the same things walking extensively through many of the canal areas.

If I were with someone while traveling it may have swayed me more to do it. I was laughing at the thought of trying to take pictures of myself while riding solo on a gondola... : )

When we were in Venice in /06, the Gondola ride was way too expensive (80Euro pp) so we took the ride on the Traghetto's (ferries across the Canal) for .80Euro about 1.40 US from the Church across from the Piazza San Marco to the this side of the Grand Canal; we took it as soon as it started in the morning and had it to ourselves; took pictures as we crossed. Gave the gondolier 3Euros for the ride. http://europeforvisitors.com/venice/articles/traghetto.htm although they're not as dressy as the real Gondola's, it was an experience without the cost. J

Its just work to find out what that lowest allowable price is. They offer something, and then you negotiate. Then start to walk if it isn't working in negotiations. Then and only then, will they tell you what they have to charge. This doesn't work, as I've intimated, in a romantic situation. You don't haggle the cost of roses before your partner at the florist. They know that and have been doing this since the invention of the outboard motor.

Like I said, its Theatre.

My husband and I did not ride in 2003, and we both regretted it. When we went back in 2008, my husband said "We will take a gondola ride for sure" and we did. It really is very expensive for what you get, but I don't regret doing it once. I probably will not do it again.

We thought we would, and there are plenty of areas to pick up a gondola and not have to deal with the crowded areas. In the end, between the vaporetto rides and the traghetti rides, we just didn't feel a need to.

ANother vote for taking a traghetto ride to experience crossing the canal in a boat quite like a gondola. It is the way the Venetians cross the canal where a bridge is not available. Rick marks the spots where traghettos cross the canal on his map in the Venice book. I did this two years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it.

I don't think a traghetto ride compares to the gondola ride. It is something you do once and you will not regret it. After all, you have spent plenty of money for your trip so another 80 euros or so will not matter. If I remember correctly the 80 e was for two. We hoped to pair up with another couple to share the cost but that was not an option. Loved seeing the back sides of buildings along the smaller canals. Venice is an expensive place and the gondola ride, Harry's Bar, Florian, etc. are worth a one time experience IMO. Great memories!

For us it was entirely worth it. It was part of the experience that we wanted. Ultimately, only you can decide what you want for your own Venice experience and memories.

My wife and I spent three days/two nights in Venice as part of our 5th anniversary. Due to not wanting to haggle about prices and concerns about spending too much, we kept putting off opportunities to ride a gondola once in our lives. On the last day and a half, it rained incessantly and we never got another chance. We regretted that. So if the experience is important to you, do it. You're in Italy after all...enjoy it.

It is expensive, but worth the experience IMO. If you find a gondolier in a quiet place at a time when it is not busy, it is easier to haggle on the price. We have taken the daytime gondola and also the one at night with music. Theater indeed...but an awesome experience!

It is a once in a lifetime experience. The only way I know to get a ride cheaper is to share with other people and split the cost.

A bit off topic, but I chuckle when I recall reading of the person visiting NYC who wondered about the local expression that some things cost a nominal egg.

One piece that hasn't really been said above: The gondolas do take you to parts of Venice that you can see only from the water (and not from the traghetti that only cross the Grand Canal back and forth).

Denny: "A nominal egg" !!! I love that! My day has been made. Thanks.

I agree with others. A traghetto ride is fun and you should take a ride on one. However, it is not the same as a gondola tour. The traghetto crosses the Grand Canal and takes only a minute or so. You will want a gondola ride that goes down some of the smaller canals, Most rides incorporate some of both, but check with the gondolier to be sure he does some of the smaller canals. A bonus for us was that our gondola went right under the window of the room we were staying in.

We love Venice. Our first visit we considered a gondola ride. And didn't do it when we found it to be more fun to watch the bumper boat action in the canals.

We got pretty good at figuring out the routes - and go from bridge to bridge to watch them go under.

The gondolaiers who sing seem to enjoy singing the same refrain over and over as they go under each bridge.

It is an expensive ride - It reminded us of Disneyland.

Laurie and Jean a BIG THANK YOU!

We are definitely going to do the rowed ferries next time in Venice.

I'll have to see where the longest one is. This is a gem to discover.

You can get a cheaper ride, but it will simply be shorter. I would suggest trying to find a gondola away from the real hotspots. Wife and I took a wonderful hour long ride and only once saw the grand canal. The smaller canals are really where the great experiences are. What I found interesting was the communication between the gondoliers. Do not try and skimp, how often do you go to Venice? for that matter, Italy! Rie and enjoy! Caio, Jeff
Ask around for a Gondolier named of all things Egor. He was great. We found him at the Ponte dei Miracoli.

My vote is to do the gondola ride. My sister at I rode it at night. At first we thought the 30 euro per person price was out of control, but it was so worth the experience. Our gondolier took us off the beaten path and we saw the old opera house and Cassanova's house. Whether these were in fact the places he said I can't verify, but it was so worth it anyway. Im terrified of water AND darkness, so don't ask why I chose to ride a gondola at night, but even for me it was great. Trying to find our way back to the hotel at night among all those narrow streets was also an experience. My sister and I laught hysterically about it to this very day. I say go for it!

Too many times, travelers do what they are expected to do, not what they want to do.

Just because you are in Venice, you do not HAVE to go on a gondola ride or buy glassware or lace. Just because you are in Vienna, you do not HAVE to go to a classical concert or buy Mozart Balls. Just because you're in Scotland, you do not HAVE to see Loch Ness or buy Nessie souvenirs. The list goes on and on.

If you WANT to go on a gondola right, then it is worth every penny.

I say do it. Sitting in that gondola was one of the most romantic things I've ever done. My husband and I did it the first time we were in Venice. I know it won't be duplicated, so we probably won't do it again. I wrote home to a friend after that ride, "I'm in love with my husband, in love with myself, in love with life!" That's amore!

Here's a tip, though. If you take the gondola ride with your sweetheart, put your video camera away. (It's a sore point...)