A Month In Venice

When visiting any foreign country it is always advisable to at least understand the lay of the land before you visit. This is especially true in Venice. There are many wandering streets that you can become easily lost. Now for those who like to explore this way I say more power to you!

However there are others, like myself, that would like to know a city beforehand in order not to get lost on my first trip out.In the case of Venice finding high quality street maps can be a bit of a challenge. The maps handed out at the tourist office or those you may receive as part of a tour package are not necessarily the best. It may help you in navigating around the major tourist areas of the city but should you want to venture out and see Venice as the natives do these can be a bit of a disaster.

The most highly detailed and recommended maps are those from the Touring Club Italiano map. These maps come in a variety of formats and scales however they also tend to be the most expensive.

Now a trip to Venice should always incorporate a trip down the Grand Canal on a Gondola. Many claim that this is just too touristy or too expensive however in order to get the feel of the city this is a must! Not only is this the most romantic way to see the city it is also the least stressful, just not on your wallet though. Just make sure that you have negoatied a price beforehand and check each others watches to make sure you are not being cheated. If however you feel like you have been cheated or have a complaint then please call the Ente Gondola office that regulates this service at 041-528-5075 or through their website at www.gondolavenezia.it you would not want to have this ruined by some unsavory gondolier.

There is also another way of getting around Venice other than Gondola and that is through the Vaporetto system. This is the system that connects all the sestieri together and these lines are all operated by Azienda del Consorzio Trasporti Veneziano (ACTV) and this system can be reached on the web at www.actv.it or through telephone at 041-528-7886. The cost of a ticket can be a bit pricey as they start out at 3.50€ for a one way ticket and 6€ for a round trip ticket. However for the best deal if you plan on making multiple trips would be to purchase the 24 hour ticket at 11€ but this is only if your visit is very short. Longer tickets that are 72 hours and 7 days in length are also available for those that plan on staying and savoring the city.

Water taxis are available but these are just too over priced in my opinion and you can find more information about them through your hotel or other websites. My experience with water taxis was generally pleasant as they were not too rude and generally pleasant.

After I spend a month in this city I might have some better insights on how to really get around. I would love to know how the locals do it but since I do not know anyone from there I cannot give you any further insight.