Port of call

JoeyandDavid · December 13, 2007

I was talking with a friend today and we were discussing the value of taking a private tour...I mentioned how much we enjoyed just "getting lost " and discovering our Venice...

What do you guys think... not taking into account the cost.... would you rather do Venice on your own or would you rather have a private guide/tour....

mercedes · December 13, 2007

We were in Venice for 2 days last year, and did afternoon excursions with the ship and walked around in the morning.

JoeyandDavid · December 13, 2007

We were in Venice for 2 days last year, and did afternoon excursions with the ship and walked around in the morning.

Carmen

Did you feel by taking an organized tour that you saw things you would not have seen if on you were on your own?

mercedes · December 13, 2007

We were in Venice for 2 days last year, and did afternoon excursions with the ship and walked around in the morning.

Carmen

Did you feel by taking an organized tour that you saw things you would not have seen if on you were on your own?

Yes, places we would probably be hesitant to go to, the tour guide would be more familiar with these places and I feel more comfortable going with them. My DH is the adventurous type, I am not :smile: .

JoeyandDavid · December 13, 2007

We were in Venice for 2 days last year, and did afternoon excursions with the ship and walked around in the morning.

Carmen

Did you feel by taking an organized tour that you saw things you would not have seen if on you were on your own?

Yes, places we would probably be hesitant to go to, the tour guide would be more familiar with these places and I feel more comfortable going with them. My DH is the adventurous type, I am not .

gotcha ... thanks

terumim · December 13, 2007

i think there is an advantage to both... i would like to take a private if i go ( oooppsss when i go back ) just to see some things and then go back explore what i didn't have time to enjoy more...i have so much i want to see next time....

Tonia

JoeyandDavid · December 13, 2007

tonia if you did do private tours... how would you find them....

RNSANE · December 14, 2007

I've only been to Venice once....that time I just wandered around with my girlfriend. If I go back to Venice, I plan to actually stay there for a few days. I think there are many websites listing private tours in Venice. I would do one on my return and then, after some other internet research, take off on my own ( of course, I'll probably go with a forensic nurse pal ).

TheSkipper · December 14, 2007

We have been to Venice several times. Most recently in June of this year. Usually for a couple days on a cruise, but we did spend three days post cruise when we sailed on Silver Seas' Silver Wind.

A good map and guide book is all you really need. We like to set our own pace and see what truly interests us and move on when we are ready rather than at the pace of a tour guide. Also, Joey, we like to pick our place to eat while touring.

Now, all that having been said I have hired private tour guides in a few spots. In Dublin I hired a stretch limo for a morning overview of the city. Returned to the ship, had lunch and then headed back into town to do some in depth touring, including the Book of Kells. In Falmouth, I hired a very nice lady with a Mercedes Benz van (there were 4 of us) and had a fantastic full day tour. In Lavorno, Italy hired another Mercedes and toured Florence and Pisa for a full day. In Rome this year I hired a private car to pick us up at the airport and take us to our hotel. Am I ever glad I did. When we arrived, the Rome cabs were on strike!!

Used the same company the next day to take us to the ship which was about an hour away.

All of these guides, cars, limos, etc. I hired over the internet and all of them went flawlessly.

If you return to Venice, I'll give you the name of our favorite resturant.