Venice

Best and worst sights, experiences and destinations:

Best: ST Marks
Why: Incredible and breathtaking. This basilica exceeded all expectations. This place alone made our trip to Venice worthwhile

Worst: Hotle Riva
Why: I left feeling ripped off

Lisa in augusta, ga USA 06/22/2008

Best: The sites! Music at night in St. Mark's square
Why: Love it love it love it!

Worst: Restaurant Service
Why: The restaurants recommended by guidelines usually have very slow and RUDE service. At one of the restaurants from the guideline in Burano, we had to ask for our bill three times before they brought it to us, even though they were not even busy. They waitors sometimes also forget to bring our water/tea.

Tina in Cincinnati, OH USA 06/07/2008

Best: Hotel Riva- Venice
Why: Very friendly staff contrary to other reviews. Elena is sweet with great english and 2 other older staff members greet w/ smile and attempt to communicate. Great location and close to Piazza de San Marco. Ask for room #1 for a million dollar view of two canals. The rooms are small, but all you need when you are spending time discovering the streets of Venice. Great cappucinno's and spent time understanding why the breakfast was only bread and jam- as there is no evidence of refrigeration at hotel riva and all items (food, ice etc) is delivered to store fronts via boat or hand truck and very expensive. I would stay again- charming and affordable.

Holly Carpino in Dana Point, Ca USA 06/04/2008

Best: Checking a bag to get ahead of line at St. Mark's
Why: Brilliant suggestion to check a bag at the little church near St. Mark's and then cut to the front of the line. I did feel a little guilty, but it really is what you're supposed to do.

Worst: Gregorian mass at San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice
Why: Only 20 people attended the 11 am Sunday morning mass and the singing priest looked and sounded like Elmer Fudd. It makes a good story, but it's not what I was expecting.

Michael in Seattle, WA USA 05/31/2008

Worst: Doges Palace
Why: I can't describe it, but it just didn't do it for me.

Kate Buechler in Winnipeg, MB Canada 05/22/2008

Best: Skipping long lines at St. Mark's Basilica
Why: The tip about checking a backpack and getting a "head of the line" pass to the Basilica saved us hours. Also, your advice to buy tickets at Correr Museum was great -- saved time and money!

Worst: Directions to P. Contrarini Del Bovolo
Why: The directions on walking tour from San Marco to this area were fine except could not find the Bovolo. There was construction in that area and that could have been the problem (blocking the access you described).

Patricia Kendall in Houston, TX USA 05/09/2008

Best: Doges Palace
Why: Beautiful building, a lot of history, interesting to see and well worth the price of admission.

Eileen in Apex, NC USA 04/26/2008

Best: The recommendation to get out, walk around and explore.
Why: In spite of the cold (colder than normal even for November), we didn't get rain during the day and enjoyed exploring. Our primary reason for coming to Venice was not shopping, but we were able to compare prices and return for the good deals.

Karen Nagata in Redmond, WA USA 04/17/2008

Best: Cimitero island
Why: Truly interesting and beautiful. and spooky!

Worst: Campanile
Why: I can't believe that thing was ever built! It totally ruins the view of Basilica San Marco and Doge Palace from across the square. And it's architecturally out of place.

Kelly Luchtman in Chicago, IL USA 04/12/2008

Best: Locanda Leon Bianco, Venice
Why: While the entrance and lobby are a little sketchy, the room on the grand canal is huge and has all the quirky charm that makes Venice so special. Good rates, good service; good enough to make us forgive a serious hike up the stairs with our suitcases.

Johanna Coolbaugh in Seattle, WA USA 03/28/2008

Worst: Laundromat on Ruga Giuffa/(Shop on Murano/Sta. Lucia train station/
Why: We spent something like $22 to wash and attempt to dry a single load of clothes. Your book suggested that we wring our clothes out first, but they were not wet enough to wring. However, the dryer was horrible--at E4 for each 20 minutes, it kept pausing, never got remotely warm, and after 2 cycles, everything was still very damp. We gave up and took it all back to the hotel and put it on hangers, etc.

Just a note about Murano--we were enjoying the island and admiring the glass in the shops, but had a bad experience in the shop of Gino Mazzicatto--this was one of the shops on the section across the bridge after the vaporetto stop. We went inside and were looking around and the salesman came up and asked if he could help us and we said we were just looking. His manner was very aggressive. He came up again and asked and we said the same thing. Then he asked in a rude voice if we were American, and my husband said, yes, and then the salesman asked which state, and we told him. Meanwhile we were deciding, from his tone, that we were not welcome in that shop. We were heading for the door and heard him in a loud and sarcastic voice tell the other clerk that we were Americans and were just LOOKing and not SHOPping. It was very disturbing and it took me awhile to feel better. Not used to such treatment by shopkeepers. By the way, they were selling the cheap imported lampworked glass ornaments for E10 when we had seen them in a shop by the vaporetto stop for E1, the exact same thing!

About the train station in Venice: we arrived at 5:30 am to catch a very early train to Ferrara and then Ravenna. We got our tickets out of the machine and then were waiting by the big mechanical board for the bin (departure "gate" for our train). We were nervous because the departure time was approaching. Suddenly a woman came along and asked if we were waiting for the Eurostar to Ferrara and we said yes, and she said it had just left. Turns out that she and a few others were waiting too and the timetable board was not working!!!! Three of the Trenitalia workers stood there while we complained (and the Italian lady did the best job of this--boy oh boy did she give them an earful!) Meanwhile, the time for the next train to Ferrara was approaching so we asked one of the Trenitalia workers if we could get on the next train. He checked with the conductor, and even though it was a regional train, he ok'd it. So we got to our destination and back ok. When we returned to the St. Lucia station, we went to the Trenitalia office to complain about the malfunctioning timetable board and they sure did not want to hear it. I was told that because we had Eurostar tickets for the first part of the journey we shouldn't have gone on the next train which was regional, etc., and then there was some concern because the ink on the stamping machine was very faint and showed up on my husband's ticket but not mine (I shoved it in all the way and heard it stamp. Later, the conductor made a note of this on my ticket back). The customer service person had a complicated conversation with her superior but came back to say we could get no refund--the Eurostar part of the ticket was very pricey compared to the regionale. So, I filed a complaint and left the tickets with them. The person who assisted us did understand that it was the fault of the train station because the timetable was not working, but she seemed unable to do anything about it.

It was a bit of a mess and we felt bad because we probably shouldn't have taken the trip that had the Eurostar for the first leg of it, but didn't know that the Regionale would be significantly cheaper. Never mind the mess with the timetable board. So, I guess when mentioning the use of the trains to people in your books, can you mention if there is any other way to know what the departure gates are if timetable is broken? This was at 5:30 am, as I said, so it was hard to get help. I doubt that Trenitalia will ever issue us a refund or even respond to our complaint. The manager kept implying that it was somehow our own fault that we did not get on the right train (how, I don't know, I do not control the automatic timetable!!)

Cheryl Moody in Cheshire, CT USA 03/24/2008

Best: St. Mark's Basilica Tour
Why: Rick's tip on beating the line by doing the bag check was a gem! My wife and I are independent world travelers, and I do plenty of homework before we go, especially on the internet. Tip's like this ARE NOT AVAILABLE ANYWHERE ELSE! We wish we had his insights for all our Asia trips!

charles in loesch, ct USA 03/04/2008

Best: Murano, Burano, and Torcello
Why: These islands get you away from the tourist crowds and each have their own local feel, especially Burano with the multicolored facades and residential back lanes.

Worst: Rialto area and to St. Mark's Square
Why: Tourist shops, crowds, and yet more tourist shops. The Rialto bridge is best viewed from the Grand Canal anyway.

Brian Gulledge in Woodbridge, VA USA 02/11/2008

Best: A haircut at Benito's!
Why: They do require an appointment. That Said...I wanted to have a "Roman Holiday" movie moment and have my hair cut short. Benito's fellow stylist, a woman, gave me a great cut and a wonderful on the edge experience! It takes faith to have your hair cut when you are pretty much just giving direction with hand signals, not words!! Thanks Rick the right advice!!

Mary Ann Haven in Columbia, SC USA 01/10/2008

Best: San Giorgio Maggiore
Why: A beautiful Palladio-designed Cathedral just a few minutes vaporetto ride from the crowds at St. Marks, with the added perk of being quiet and peaceful. Instead of fighting the line at the Campanile, get a great view at the tower here - maybe better since you are looking at Venice (instead of being IN Venice).

Thomarob in Indianapolis, IN USA 12/09/2007

Best: Alloggi Barbaria
Why: We enjoyed staying in this very quiet neighborhood and were especially happy to be so close to the vaporetto stop and a grocery store. The rooms were clean and the staff helpful. Restaurants are a hike, though, and not the fault of the staff.

Dawn Dawsey in St Paul, MN USA 11/27/2007

Best: Gondola ride at night
Why: Ridiculously expensive at 100 euros, but the children (ages 9 and 11) loved it.

Michael Sherwood in Prescott Valley, AZ USA 10/29/2007

Best: Back streets
Why: We were more rushed last time and did not take time to just wander and see the city. It did, however; seem that everything was way high priced during the 1st week in October. Still there is no place like it.

Worst: Burano
Why: We were there 4 years ago and it was a nive preserved island. It is not filled with shops and looks more like San Marco. The atmosphere has been ruined.

Mike Williams in Tampa, FL USA 10/18/2007

Best: The Peggy Guggenheim Museum
Why: We went in the morning, before the crowds. The modern collection provides a much-needed break from religious art, and is small enough to view in a reasonable time. The sculpture garden provides greenery in a city where this is little.

Jim & Megan Taylor in Seattle, WA USA 10/09/2007

Best: Murano on a Sunday morning
Why: Not a whole lot open, quiet & peaceful with locals going out for family gatherings

John & Susan in St Petersburg, FL USA 10/08/2007

Worst: Albergo San Samuele
Why: Bugs! I was bitten on my arms, back, legs, neck, and face while sleeping. While I didn't see the critters, I think they had bed bugs. I let them know, but received no response.

Mary Consie in Mesa, AZ USA 09/30/2007

Best: St Marks Square, Basilica Companile
Why: Having seen this in pictures for years, finally being there was amazing. I even fed the pigeons twice (and am not a fan of birds!). We went up the Campanile - the view is astonishing. We enjoyed having Ricks book to point out stuff we might not have otherwise known in all our stops (Rome, Florence, Venice) and this was no exception. We took our gondola ride just before/at sunset - I was glad we did as you could see a lot more than I imagined we might see at night AND the lighting was so beautiful. We were urged by friends to see out a gondolier behind San Marco Piazza - off of some of the back canals and we were not disappointed, although while walking later near the Rialto, we did see a gondolier chase down a couple who must have been trying to get their ride for 100 euro and walked away when he wouldn't agree but wasn't willing to lose them either.

Tiphanie Benoit in Macomb, MI USA 09/08/2007

Best: Grand Canal Vaporetto Cruise
Why: So many interesting sights to see, relaxing, very informative and inexpensive. Also, getting tickets for Doge Palace Tour Great recommendation! We were there 8/07 and the line was huge! We got our ticket at the Correr Museum and walked right in. Saving time by not standing in time is priceless to us.

Bill & Pat Ernst in Sun City Center, FL USA 08/14/2007

Best: Doge's Palace
Why: Great, information in the guidebook. Never had to get an audioguide! Very interesting to see the workings of Venice's proud republic & the bridge of sighs. Also, great tip on going downstairs in the prison instead of following the crowd to the exit!

Worst: Murano
Why: Glass demonstration was very lame and short. The glass museum was closed.

Kate in Redondo Beach, CA USA 08/11/2007

Best: Grand Canal Tour and Doge's Palace
Why: The Grand Canal Tour on the slow boat got us aquainted to the city as we arrived. We went to Doge's Palace in the evening when it was nearly empty and enjoyed our self-guided tour and the views.

Devin in Olympia, WA USA 08/06/2007

Best: Venicescapes tours with Michael Broderick
Why: We'd like to highly recommend Venicescapes tours for travelers to Venice. We've just returned from our Venetian trip and found this tour to be exceptional. We took the "Splendors of Piety" tour, but Venicescapes offers many theme-based tours. Most tour guides point to a painting, give you a name, date, and some bits of information about the work: "notice the use of color in the Virgin's robe." Not so with Michael Broderick of Venicescapes. He is a first rate guide who integrates the art and artist with historical, cultural, political, social, economic, and theological ideas and events of the time. Equally impressive is Michael's ability to assess the group's background knowledge and offer meaningful context for everyone in the group. He keeps his tours small so that each member can have time for questions or comments, and the group can move quietly through a church or historical building. The pace is neither rushed nor leisurely, but exploratory, and we felt we were on an expedition to discover the wonders of Venice, its art and history.

Angie Corbet in Wayland, ma USA 07/17/2007

Best: Lagoon tour and non-tourist areas
Why: Lagoon tour great time to relax on the vaporetto and see the islands. Walk away from the tourist area and "get lost" exploring quiet campos. Enjoy prosecco outside a bar and watch the kids play and the grandmas talk

Craig in Salt Lake City, UT USA 07/11/2007

Best: The evening gondolla ride
Why: It sounds very cheesy but it was magical

Mendy Droke in Bainbridge Island , WA USA 07/05/2007

Best: Doges Palace
Why: Very authentic in terms of what is perserved, very colorful history.

Worst: The Guide named Rafaella
Why: She was nasty to many people in our group (we were all unrelated to each other). She sneered at children (one left the tour early in tears), lectured grown men, and wouldn't answer questions. If you reserved your tour in advance (recommended)ask who your guide will be. If it is Rafaella, ask to wait for the next tour.

stephanie c in towson, md USA 06/29/2007

Best: Venice
Why: Venice is clean, fresh, mysterious and exciting. I am so glad we saved her for our last destination. We happened upon a month long art festival and saw Sargent's Watercolor showing at the Correr Museum.

Worst: Siena
Why: Crowded, noisy and over run with tourists. Even though Florence and Rome were crowded, they are larger. Maybe I was disappointed because I expected a small quiet town. ChiusArelli Hotel was wonderful with a nice terrace and rooms at the back are quiet. But the crowds in town and at the square were overwhelming. 11 June 2007. I did find the small balcony at the Bar Paninoteca San Paolo and was delighted. The bathroom there is a fantastic light show!!

Megan Murphy in Austin, Tx USA 06/20/2007

Best: Doges Palace
Why: So much to see and learn

Craig Caldwell in Kaysville, UT USA 05/09/2007

Worst: nuovo venier in murano
Why: in March 2007 I purchased a chandelier from this factory for 3200 Euro. When I recieved it it was in a hundred pieces without instructions and I am not sure yet if it is even wired. I have tried to contact them through email whick they do not respond. I have called them and they said they would send the instructions. That was two weeks ago and not to my surprise nothing. I continue to email them and will call them again this weekend. It would be my recommendation for people to stay away from this place in the future. It looks like I may have learned the hard way and am not happy about it. If anyone knows how I do something about this please let me know. Thanks

louis cutalo in smithtown , ny USA 04/26/2007

Best: Basilica San Marco line skip and gondola ride
Why: Definitely check your bag to skip the Basilica San Marco line. Worked like a charm-the guy at the bag check actually said, "Now you can skip the line to get in!" Amazingly, we saw someone in the monstrous basilica line (1-2 hr wait) with the RS guidebook tucked under his arm. Guess it helps to read the book BEFORE you get in line! For a gondola ride on a chilly night, we walked away from the gondolier who quoted E160. He chased us down and we finally got the evening 1 hr tour for E100, cozy blankets included. Worth every eurocent.

Angela in Sammamish, WA USA 04/15/2007

Best: Venice
Why: The city is amazing. If you are in Venice for more than a day, get away from the Grand Canal. Go into the neighborhoods. The neighborhoods are charming and you might just be the only tourist you see for a couple of hours.

Worst: Grand Canal in Venice
Why: If you are in Venice for more than a day, please get away from the Grand Canal to see more of what Venice has to offer. The restaurants on the north side of the Rialto on the Canal are a total rip off. It's disgusting. Near the Rialto, avoid any business, restaurant, gelato stand, trinket shop, or whatever, that is on the Canal in this area. I hate to make a blanket statement like this, but your experience will be better by avoiding the businesses in this area. For the restaurants in particular, the quality might ok or so-so, but the prices are high even for Venice. If you eat at the restaurants on the north side of the Rialto on the Canal, the restaurants under the red tents right on the canal, you are going to get ripped off. They scam experts. Go into the neighborhoods. There are many places that serve excellent food. Within a three or four minute walk of the northside of the Rialto there are maybe six or seven osteria, trattoria, or restaurants. Enjoy these places.

phil in seattle, wa USA 04/01/2007

Best: Domus Orsoni
Why: It is a small b&b in the Canerreggio with only 5 rooms. They appear new and are very comfortable. The Orsoni family creates mosaics and the rooms are decorated with mosaics. It was very quiet at night and in the morning was near several markets where the locals shop. Plus it was near a 51/52 vaporetto stop and not too far from a 1/82 stop.

Sherry in Hernando, MS USA 03/27/2007

Best: The Venice Pass
Why: We bough an orange pass before we arrived and it was so convenient. We didn't have to stand in a huge line to buy tickets to the water bus from the airport, could hope on any public transportation, and enter a lot of museums. We probably could have used the blue pass since we never had to use the public toilets.

Worst: St. Mark's Square
Why: We were in historical costume and could barely walk because everyone stopped us to take pictures. That was ok...what wasn't ok was that during the picture taking, somebody reached inside my bodice and replaced about 15 Euro with a sunglass case and I never felt a thing (I even had it in a Rick Steve's pouch). Very creepy experience, though I have to say they sure had some skill!

Anita Elder in Seattle, WA USA 03/03/2007

Best: Scuola Grande & Frari Church Area
Why: You see some uncrowded and picturesque areas of Venice on the way to this area and yet you are treated to a lot of shopping and places to eat. Once you get there, you must go inside the Scuola Grande and the Frari and enjoy art by Tintoretto, Titian, Bellini and Donatello.

Luis Balcita in Naperville, IL USA 02/26/2007

Best: Haircut from Benito
Why: He is warm, friendly and kind, and gives a terrific haircut!

Kiersten in Elia, PA USA 12/07/2006

Best: Hotel Albergo Marin
Why: This was a quaint & simple hotel located in the Santa Croce district of Venice. All of Venice was extremely easy to get to from the hotel. It is very close to the terminals (buses, cabs, trains) on the mainland & a 5 minute walk to the vaporetto. The staff were superb..couldn't have been friendlier or more helpful. I really found my stay there to be pleasant & would certainly return. The rates are inexpensive, the rooms are plain but clean & there are phones in all the rooms. By one of those insane phone cards, where you get 500 minutes for only 10 euro & you're all set! I loved the place for 50 euro a night. It includes breakfast..rolls, jams, cereal & great cafe! You can't beat it. I noticed a bad review of this hotel dating back to 2002... the good news is there are no monsters there named Nadia or Bruno, so it's safe to return to Hotel Albergo Marin! Say "hi" to Gianpietro & Gabrielle for me!

Ruth Baldwin in New York City, NY USA 12/03/2006

Best: Grand Canal Cruise
Why: A very reasonable way to see Rome. Various boats pass carrying mail, food, etc. Fun!

Sue Hall in Wilson, WY USA 11/29/2006

Best: Walk and walk until you are lost knowing that you are on an island.
Why: This advice freed us to wander and discover and thoroughly this magical city.

Lisa Goldsmith in Seattle, WA USA 11/18/2006

Best: Grand Canal vaporetto tour is swell. Also "Original Venice Walk" is a best way to get a quick walk without a wait through St. Mark's Basilica
Why: Best buy tour in a VERY expensive city. We were charmed by our guide for the "Original Venice Walk" guide who repeatedly told us about merchants offloading their "goats" at their water-level warehouse/palaces.

Irene Schubert in Alexandria, VA USA 11/10/2006

Best: Scuolo San Rocco
Why: I've visited every other venue in Venice and had saved the Friari Church and Scuolo San Rocco for last. Wow! This place should have been at the top of my list. I was amazed at the quantity and quality of Tintoretto's work in the Scuolo. the RS Venice book and audioguide (free) together did a great job of explaining. Next time I'm in Venice I will go back so I can see more of this incredible place.

Worst: The Vaporetto
Why: Too crowded.

Shana Woodfield in Calistoga, CA USA 10/25/2006

Best: your advice to simply "get lost in Venice."
Why: My wife and spent 5 days in Venice from October 9th to 14th and we walked everywhere. In so doing, the charm of Venice slowly enveloped and seduced us! We also found your tours and museum/gallery descriptions very useful. There is no doubt that our enjoyment of Venice was greatly enhanced by your Vencie 2006. As an aside, we saw so many other tourists carrying your book as well! Next Fall, we're off to southern Germany and Austria and will certainly use your guide books for the way we also like to travel.

Worst:
Why:

Ian Nicol in Sherwood Park, Al Canada 10/22/2006

Best: Venice apt: cross-pollinate.com booking
Why: Exceptional location and extremely pleasant owner. Elisabetta Cuomo at Casa alla Fenice, S. Marco 3701 - Rio Terra degli Assassini 30124 Venezia t 041 5280105, www.casaallafenice.com

Dale Harwood in Danville, CA USA 10/05/2006

Best: The Accademia Gallery
Why: Rick's descriptions of the priceless works of art we saw here brought me to tears. We went from room to room and century to century as if we were there with the artist themselves.

Mike & Bernie Dwyer in Leonardo , NJ USA 08/20/2006

Best: St. Marks Walking Tour
Why: As I was reading through the section on the pigeons in St. Marks, one of the pigeons made a huge deposit on my open Rick Steves Venice guidebook. We had a good chuckle about this unexpected "protective" benefit of the guidebook, even though we had to quickly throw away those pages.

Georganne Haswell in Morrisville, NC USA 08/14/2006

Best: taking a ride on the entire Grand Canal
Why: It was a fun experience although not quite as spectacular has it sounded in the book. Glad we did it though.

Suzanne Alotta in San Diego, Ca USA 08/14/2006

Best: Doge's Palace tour & Peggy Guggenheim Collection
Why: D.P.-We found it to be the most interesting of all of the government buildings that we visited on our trip. P.G.- It was such a refreshing visit after three weeks of looking at churches and Renaisance art. We really enjoyed seeing her beautiful home, listening to a fascinating lecture about her life, and seeing the art that she collected.

Julie in Santa Barbara, CA USA 08/07/2006

Best: Gondola ride
Why: Although expensive, a romantic gondola ride is a must for anyone who visits Venice.

Worst: Murano
Why: Seeing glass blowing is interesting but it is not worth the 30-45 min vaporetto ride. There is not much else to do on the island if you don't want to buy glass and I would have rathered spent the time exploring the main island.

Arielle in Great Neck, NY USA 07/23/2006

Best: Tragi Comica mask shop
Why: Along masks are available thoroughout Venice, this shop sells the real thing. It is a visual wonderland at 2800 S. Toma - definitely worth finding. Doge's palace is a good musuem-type place that will interest older kids (ours is 8).

T. Koons in Forest, VA USA 07/22/2006

Best: Everything!
Why: Venice is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. We just walked around at random, getting lost and enjoying the beautiful homes and canals.

Summer Trentin in Cedar Rapids, IA USA 07/16/2006

Best: BURANO
Why: After the constant hustle and bustle of Venice, this was a quiet, pretty island to just stroll with a gelato.

BARB HOUSEWORTH in ST. LOUIS, MO USA 06/14/2006

Best: Seeing some of the other islands.
Why: The prime tourist areas just get so crowded... Take a day (or 2) and go to some of the other islands... sames loveley venitian feel, without the crowd.

Jack Barnett in London, UK 04/26/2006

Best: St. Mark's Cathedral
Why: We first saw it when it was lit up. The gold glass mosaics looked as if they were all plated with gold. It was breathtaking, the single most memorable sight on a month-long trip around Europe. The kids loved the pigeons in the square, they could have skipped everything else and been satisfied feeding birds for one Euro a bag bird-feed.

Worst: Parking our Car
Why: We used Rick's recommendation for parking and waited around two hours for a spot (in October). The car was secure so we didn't have anything stolen which might not have been the case if we had parked in the other lots. Once we were "stuck" in line for the recommended parking, we watched literally thousands of cars stream into other parking lots without waiting. It was also expensive. I would recommend parking on the mainland and taking the train in, you'll save time and money and experience a nice view from the train.

Brad Benson in Spokane, WA USA 03/28/2006

Worst: Murano glass factory tour
Why: Took the "free" water taxi ride to Murano. The sales tactics are similar to buying a used car. You are shown the high end items first, then the more affordable. You are then offered a special because of your visit to the factory, etc. The prices were very high even after the "discounts." The worst part was when we got home, one of the six wine glasses packed by the factory and hand carried by us, broke. It took over five months to get a replacement by the Nuova Venier glass factory. It took many international telephone calls and emails to finally get satisfaction.

Now I know what "buyer beware" means.

s.naka in San Carlos, CA, CA USA 02/19/2006

Worst: Murano Glassware
Why: We took the "free" water taxi ride to Murano to visit the glass factories. The "free" ride is one way, you must take the vaporetto back.

Be cautious when buying glassware from the factory in Murano. We went in September 2005, upon our return home, we found one of six wineglasses broke in transit. After numerous telephone calls and emails, we were contacted by the factory. We were promised a replacement glass promptly. It is the last week of January and we are still waiting for a replacement glass. When going to Murano, buyer beware. The glassware is beautiful, but if you have a problem with it, good luck. The sales experience was similar to buying a car, lots of wheeling and dealing. Be sure to use a credit card with buyer protection.

scooter in San Francisco, CA USA 01/23/2006