When you think of going to Venice, at some point you know you are going to look into taking the famed gondola ride. In our little family of travelers I am the one who usually researches our excursions. When we began planning our first trip to Venice we knew we would want a gondola ride so I began reading reviews of the different gondola rides being offered.
I was a bit put off by the number of reviewers who wrote about what a bad experience they had with gondoliers. There were a lot of complaints about gondoliers who spent their time smoking or talking on their cell phones, ignoring their passengers and cutting the rides short so they could take on more passengers. Fortunately I came across the reviews of a gondolier on Tripadvisor named Lucky Luca.
It seemed that everybody who hired Lucky Luca had only positive things to say about him. Like the gondoliers on the Grand Canal he offered short rides, but he also offered longer tours allowing passengers to see more of the city. We booked a ride with him and quickly became members of his fan club. He departs from the Jewish Ghetto area of the city so this is great for anyone staying on the NW side of Venice. We got to see 3 different districts and enjoy an hour long ride as the sun set on the city.
Luca was punctual, polite and professional. He sang us a Venetian song and told us about the history of the buildings that we passed. He was very happy to answer our questions and to interact with us. If you are planning a trip to Venice and intend to take a gondola ride read the reviews and find the experience that is right for you. If you are looking for an excellent gondolier I would recommend Luca without hesitation.
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