Gondola Rides - A Ripoff?

$17 per person is not bad, although I do remember I probably paid around $20 for a 1/2 hour ride and I shared the gondola with two American girls.

I can't really say for sure why your gondalier seemed grim - I remember our gondolalier being quite flirtatious although he couldn't speak much English.

I don't think of experiences like that as a rip off - I expect high prices in touristy areas like Venice. Venice is one of the most expensive cities to live - so much so that young people actually have to move out of the city because they can't afford to buy a house or live there.

was there last september and really enjoyed it. weather still nice but not too hot. accommodation was not ott expensive. food expensive but if you look a little you can find good cheap restaurants. beer and wine prices a bit hefty too. I used the barge thingys to get around and visit the other islands which was reasonable enough. i avoided the gondolas at 80/100 euro for twenty minutes or so, seeing as there was only two of us we thought it wasn't worth it. took plenty of pictures mind you. yeah, the whole experience was a bit expensive but then again so is Rome or Milan or Paris, etc. Overall I enjoyed the experience and would recommend it.

I'm an American fortunate enough to live in Italy for 4 years now.
My family and I always go to Venice (Venezia), and I felt I should point out to you some simple tourist fact knowledge.

First, you do realize you went to Venice during tourist season, meaning most prices are hiked slightly. If you did research before you went, you would have known that. I am not sure if you stayed in a hotel within Venice, but many of them offer tourist packages that will include gondola rides. $100 for a gondola ride during summer tourist season is actually pretty good. Did you choose a small gondola business that was on one of the smaller canals? Or did you choose one of the better populated areas (on the grand canal)to purchase your gondola ride from? I say this because like in any city, there are certain entities that will scam the tourists if they can, and if you choose a not so populated gondola ride, you may get the cheap and not so nice scenic view.

Americans are under this misconception that every gondola driver will sing to them, they aren't paid to do that, and that is something that has been overly romanticized in Hollywood movies. If you choose one of the better services located on the Grand Canal, near the Rialto, or near San Marco Piazza you may indeed receive that type of grand service--and you will pay more for it.

And Americans do not contribute the bulk to the tourist industry here. Yes, a percentage, but don't flatter yourself as there are many more tourists from lots of different countries (Asian countries) that flock here during tourist season. You obviously went to Venic with common American stereotypes, and because of that you had a shabby time there.

You should have done your homework, a little research could have eliminated much of the issues you ran into, including pre-scheduling a gondola ride with a more prestige and quality service.

Hi Lazywalt:

They are a lot more money now when I was in Venice.

They took you for a longer ride and if the poler couldn't speak English there was a translator they handed out.

Ivor