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Venice 2007 Guidebook --- is a new purchase necessary?

Posted by (Idaho) on

We were in Venice for two days in the summer of 2007. We will be back for about 36 hours this summer. Is there a reason for me to purchase the most recent Venice Pocket Guide if we still have our RS full Venice book from 2007?

Relevant info:
We have a night tour of St. Mark's booked for the first night we are there since we never got to see the full inside of the church last time, and the following day our plan is to mostly wander and enjoy the city using the Rick Steves app walks as well as the walks from the 2007 book.

We already have lodging booked, and I've made note of restaurant options from forum postings and a few shops to check out.

Reasoning:
In my mind, for such a short stay, most of the updated info in a new book is available online, and I presume the walks that Rick outlined in 2007 are nearly unchanged. The cost of a pocket guide isn't the issue. I'm happy to pay if there would be enough added value. I'm just not sure there will be.

We haven't been to Europe since 2007, and technological changes that make travel easier since that time have been interesting to think about. No more stopping at internet cafes!

Posted by
2694 posts

The entire tourism industry has changed significantly since 2007. Every major city has multiple apps to help guide you. Be sure you have these available. Che Bateo is great for vaporetto info. Plan to get lost, even using google maps.

The maps in your book will have the basics. The major sites haven’t moved! But shops and restaurants have probably changed.

Posted by
344 posts

Just out of curiosity, what is the price of a vaporetto ride in the ‘07 guidebook? It’s now £9.50.

Posted by
9 posts

Tickets were 5 euro, a 24 hour pass was 12 euro, and a 72 hour pass was 25 euro.

Posted by
706 posts

Carly I don’t think you need a new book for the time you will be there. This will be our 7th visit to Venice next week and I am using an old book as well. Like you this site has been invaluable with their information. For the first time I booked a Doge Palace tour. We were in it back in 2006 but very briefly as they were closing in a half hour.
Enjoy. My favourite city. And do wander and get lost .

Posted by
3251 posts

I don't think you really need a new guide book. I've visited Venice three times in five years. The buildings don't change. There are walking guides on the Rick Steves Audio Europe app so download the app. Venice is a city to wander and get lost in. Don't worry -- it's an island, you can't get lost. You're already using forum recommendations for restaurants, shopping and probably a few smaller sights.

Use a website like https://www.veneziaunica.it/en/content/visit-venice-0 for current information. Buy a vaporetto pass (€30 for 48 hours) because you will use it. I buy it at the dock in front of the train station because I have always arrived by train.
For only 36 hours, I wouldn't buy a city pass. Only a few sights need to be prebooked. Does your San Marco tour include Doge's Palace? If not and you want to see it, you need to prebook. Everything else you can walk up to and buy tickets.

Buon Viaggio! I hope you love Venice as much as I do.

Posted by
1330 posts

I have a Baedeker “Guide to Venice and the Leghorn” printed around 1905. Much of it is still applicable.

Posted by
1846 posts

You remind me the time, around 1967, when my father had to drive an old German baroness from Milan to Dolomites; she was the mother-in-law of his boss. The old lady was very aristocratic and not easy to deal with, to put it mildly. At the time there was no Brenner motorway and you had to drive around Garda lake. When they passed through Riva, the baroness began wondering: "This place has truly changed! I cannot make my mind, it is so changed from the last time I was here". "When you were here, milady?" "1913".
(In 1913 Riva was not even in Italy, it was still under Austrian rule)

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