Travel

Here you will find special offers relating to travel: Tours, trips, discounted airfares, lodging, auto rentals, bus tours, gear you must take with you — anything to make your travel more enjoyable.

We have invited our travelling friends to send along their “must-have-items” for travel whether it’s by car, bike (including motorcycles), bus, plane, train, cruise ships. And we’ll be asking for their “must-see-locations.”

As they send in their favorites, we will post them here with links to purchase in the event you aren’t near a sporting goods, luggage, or travel store. (If you can shop locally, please do; everyone benefits, especially our communities. If you aren’t able to find what you need locally, consider our recommendations . . . we are hand-picking items at online affiliate-marketing shops that we use.)

Collectively, this generation of our family has been to about 50 countries and most of the United States. People often ask: “What was your favorite place?” That’s impossible to answer because our world is amazing, we are passionate about travel, learning, being awestruck by people, flora and fauna, and man-made structures . . .

Personally, though, images from French Polynesia, such as the view from an inexpensive hotel above right, will always be part of the backdrop in my mind . . . as will this Road Hog, Polynesian-style.

If you have a favorite item, shop or location, please let us know! We’ll be happy to exchange links if your site is family-appropriate.

World Travel Guides from Sea World Orlando and Walt Disney World to “Running the World.

Included are routes, maps, stats, and cultural information you need to safely – and happily – run some of the world’s greatest cities. These are from Blaze Travel Guides, an international publisher of electronic guides for active travelers. Tips include “how to find the freshest, cleanest, and most hygenically-acceptable toilets in Europe’s favorite destinations. (Actually, we keep that in mind no matter where we go or how we travel. Toilet paper in Tibet, for example, is considered “mountain gold.”)

More than 100 Running the World Guides focus on cities around the world, including Riga, Sarajevo, Estonia, the Balkic States, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Romania, Russia, The Bahamas, France . . .

Running the World Guides are available for your Kindle.

The guides include “don’t drink this,” training before travelling, races, personal stories, such as that of Ryan who covered 2,300 miles and 20 countries averaging about 20 miles per day.

Timeshares are great for frequent travelers, but be very selective about the corporations that own/manage the timeshares.

After several fitful starts at timeshare ownership, we came across the Hilton Hawaiian Village; they are professionals in the lodging business, they are clearly not going to go out of business tomorrow, they manage properties and trades around the world.

So we figured how could we go wrong. So far it’s blissful . . . here is a view from our two-bedroom suite on Waikiki. Oh, and that week cost a grand total of $59 (plus round-trip airfare from the mainland.)

Upsides of timeshares:

• You won’t ever have to sleep in a broom closet, which I did once in London when nothing else was available. (As broom closets go, it was nice—it actually had a huge window overlooking a square and as it was snowing and I was cold, I remained in bed reading “The Hobbit.”)
• A week in a one bedroom condo in Cabo San Lucas which cost us nothing other than the food we purchased. (Information about that trip: Two Weeks in Cabo San Lucas
• Once our Hilton timeshare is paid off, travel is actually free for the next one-hundred years, with the exception of airfare, food and entertainment. (Most resorts also have annual maintenance fees which are around $1,000/year depending on the resort.)
• Rack rates on the deluxe accommodations provided by a timeshare of the caliber of where we stay would easily exceed $2000 per week.
• A great gift: If you don’t think you will be able to use your time, consider giving it as a gift to family, friends or clients. They will love you for it!

Downsides Include:

• You can’t always get reservations in cities that you would like.
• Some timeshares are inconveniently located; always check in advance to ensure that the location works for you!
  • We stayed in a timeshare in Phuket, Thailand that was miles away from anything, the resort did not provide transportation to/from the center of town, there were so few amenities that we moved to a Holiday Inn on the beach.
  • We stayed in our timeshare outside of Cairns, Australia. While it was somewhat inconvenient, the grounds were beautiful, a mother kangaroo with her baby in her pouch lived in the forest behind our suite, amenities excellent, transportation to/from Cairns and dive sites also excellent.
  • A frequent complaint about timeshares is that they are “too” luxurious, you don’t get a sense of travel or a flavor of the city being visited, etc. Not quite true. We still wander through questionable areas of every city and push edges. Because we do that it is comforting to know that we go back to safe, clean accommodations, sleep well, eat well, and start all over the next day.
• We’ve been told that we have to book a year out for Greece or Italy and because we never plan that far ahead, we opted to trade our timeshare for a cruise along Mediterranean coastlines and visited equisite port cities such as Mykonos (right). That worked!
  • Our Mediterranean cruise was purportedly $1500 off of rack rate because of the timeshare affiliation we had at that time. We’re not sure that was true. That particular timeshare is gone and was followed by a Caribbean.
• Our Caribbean timeshare trade included two weeks floating around the on the Caribbean Princess below. We happen to think these ships are too large — some small towns have fewer inhabitants. However, the ships are so well managed that one is seldom aware of the crowds. The views and the ports are stunning, the onboard dining superb, staff is great . . . Cruising is a great value and an easy way to travel. Click for Stories and photographs from that cruise.

Cautionary Notes:

• Be careful of timeshare sales people. It’s worth researching the offer and resort on Google. We were thinking of a new resort in Mexico and were stunned to read nightmarish reports of untruths told by that timeshare’s staff. We also were excited to learn about a timeshare in Hawaii which we almost purchased. We did our homework and learned that numerous complaints were on the Internet; when we followed up on the complaints we learned they were valid.
• Never never pay their first asking price. Timeshare sales prices are amazingly negotiable by thousands of dollars.
• Most timeshare sales people will tell you it’s easy to sell your timeshare outright or sell your weeks to others if you don’t need them in any given year. Neither statement is true. If you buy a timeshare, odds are you will have it for life. So, again, please do your homework.

Princess offers more cruises to more destinations than any other cruise line and she currently has a long list of cruises out of San Francisco (our home base). We dislike flying from Point A to Point B so much now that we decided to see what ships sailed from the City.

Princess now has the following sailings from San Francisco:

• Mexico (10 days roundtrip, April and September): San Francisco, Catalina Island, Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas (overnight), San Diego, San Francisco
• Hawaiian Islands (15 days round trip April, October, November): San Francisco, Hilo, Honolulu, Kauai (Nawiliwili), Maui (Lahaina — which is an old whaling port), Ensenada, San Francisco
• Hawaii, Tahiti and South Pacific (29 days from Sydney to San Francisco): Sydney, Fiordland National Park, Dunedin (Port Chalmers), Akaroa, Auckland, Suva, Pago Pago, Bora Bora, Tahiti (Papeete – overnight), Moorea, Honolulu, Maui (Lahaina), San Francisco.
  • Isabella L. Bird was a passenger on the Steamer Nevada, Captain James H. Blethen in 1875. She writes of her trip from New Zealand to Hawaii in the Letters of Isabella Bird, well worth reading if you decide to undertake such a voyage.
• Alaska Inside Passage (10 days roundtrip San Francisco voyages from May through August): San Francisco, Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Tracy Arm Fjord (scenic cruising), Victoria, San Francisco
• Pacific Coastal (2 days cruising between San Francisco and Vancouver in May and September): If you have the time and need to get from San Francisco to Vancouver, this is not much more than flying and far more enjoyable. Oceanview rooms start at $109 per person and Mini-suites are only $199 per person. If you are thinking of cruising and want to just test the waters, this would be an excellent way to begin your at-sea journeys.
• Circle Pacific Segment (August 21, 24 days): Beijing to San Francisco: Beijing (Tianjin), Busan, Vladivostok, Tokyo (Yokohama), Anchorage (Seward), Hubbard Glacier, Sitka, Juneau, Glacier Bay National Park, Vancouver, Victoria, San Francisco.
• Circle Pacific Segment San Francisco to Sydney (September 13, 26 days): San Francisco, Maui (Lahaina), Kauai (Nawiliwili), Honolulu, Hilo, Tahiti (Papeete), Bora Bora, Apia, Auckland, Bay of Islands, Sydney
• Circle Pacific Segment Sydney to San Francisco (July 27, 49 days): Sydney, Darwin, Singapore, Ko Samui, Bangkok (Laem Chabang), Ho Chi Minh City (Phu My), Nha Trang, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing (Tianjin), Busan, Vladivostok, Tokyo (Yokohama), Anchorage (Seward), Hubbard Glacier, Sitka, Juneau, Glacier Bay National Park, Vancouver, Victoria, San Francisco
• Hawaii, Tahiti and South Pacific (September 20, 27 days from San Francisco to Sydney): San Francisco, Honolulu, Kauai (Nawiliwili), Tahiti (Papeete), Bora Bora, Pago Pago, Auckland, Christchurch (Lyttelton), Dunedin (Port Chalmers), Fiordland National Park, Sydney
• Andes and South America (December 5, 17 days from San Francisco to Santiago – Valparaiso): San Francisco, Cabo San Lucas, Acapulco, San Juan del Sur, Puntarenas, Quito (Manta),
  Lima (Callao – overnight), La Serena (Coquimbo), Santiago (Valparaiso)

Cruising
is a dream vacation: Sailing to fascinating ports ‘o call; enjoying leisurely fine dining served with Italian flair; applauding nightly Broadway-style entertainment; and choosing from an array of activities on board or during day trips through port cities.

Much to our surprise, we found that everyone in the family enjoys cruising around the world. Our love-affair with sailing started when we realized we did not have to pack up and figure out how to get from city to city. After each day’s outing, we return to the ship, slow down, and the captain with his crew takes care of our logistics.

Cruising is being pampered and Princess has had much practice with doing just that from morning to night.

Current offers from Cruise Direct include their ongoing Online Exclusives, Last Minute Cruises, Honeymoon Cruises and . . .

If you travel as much as we do, and if you are always seeking ways to help cover your travel costs, consider freelancing by writing articles AND submitting them with quality photographs.

International Freelancing

When our editor was laid off in 2008 and was unable to find a “real” job, freelancing took up the slack . . . freelancing from anywhere in the world at any time, even during vacations on cruise ships off the coast of Italy or Greece (such as this image while docked at Corfu).

Photography can play a huge role in your independence, but there is a lot of competition and stock agencies have high standards. Shots with a small hand-held camera generally won’t get through their walls as they need huge RAW files rather than smaller jpeg files. If you have interest in pursuing that line of work, get up to speed with classes and/or with magazines such as Outdoor Photographer.

Making sufficient income freelancing can provide new wonderful dreams and goals: Basically, freelancing means taking your skills and providing them to a variety of buyers instead of working for just one employer.

Because we build Web sites, write and take photographs, we have a great deal of freedom such as mentioned above. Cruise ships are ideal as you are in port 6-10 hours each day and on board the rest of the time. The larger ships all have computer rooms. It’s easy to work on projects while gliding through the Caribbean, Mediterranean or anywhere else in the world. Our clients generally never know when we are out of the country. We built a Web site for real estate agents while at sea between ports for clients who never really knew we weren’t home.

To be sure, freelancing is a dramatic brain shift; it is more difficult to juggle schedules between 5 or 10 “employers” rather than 1 or 2 in an office. It requires some psychological balancing to be sure. It will probably be difficult to adjust to NOT having a check directly deposited into your account each week.

We are taking classes on digital cameras to get to speed on the latest gimmicks, in part to figure out if a new camera is in the future. After giving up our Nikons and going digital, we never really dug into the new cameras, which are actually mini-computers.

In line with our new goal, we’re going to take a few photo walking tours somewhere in the world to learn from experts who know their cities inside out and will help improve your photography technique. Shooting with a group helps you to see more as everyone has a different perspective and different level of expertise.

Photo Walking Tours
Professional guides around the world lead photo walking tours in ancient, dramatic, culturally-rich cities such as

• Amsterdam: Amsterdam is an easy city to navigate on your own, however, there are places you might be reluctant to go as a single traveler, such as the backstreets through the Red Light District — which you really do NOT want to miss.
• Athens: Ancient Footsteps
• Berlin
• Cairo: Souqs, Mosques, Palaces.
• Dublin Cultural Photography Tour
• Florence, Italy: This tour around the exquisite City of Renaissance includes a focus on light and shadows, colors, forms, photographic techniques, “how to get the best photos in every situation,” and “how to be always ready to capture the moment.”
• Istanbul: Beyazid Square, the Covered Bazaar, Sultanahmed Mosque, Eminou, Galata Bridge on Golden Horn . . .
• Milan
• Prague Castle Walk: Photograph medieval streets that few tourists know about.

In the event you’ve never kayaked, this would be a great year to start . . . we don’t have any rain, so might as well play in/on the water.

This just came in from Sea Trek Kayak in Sausalito: “There are more birds, seals and sea lions in Richardson Bay than we have seen here in 30 years. You really don’t want to miss it. Come down any day 9-4pm and get on the water.” (Note: The photo of brown pelicans with Tiburon in the background is by Bob Cooper.)

If you’re trying to figure out what you can do different on this year’s vacation, try kayaking Baja trips . . . also with SeaTrek. Check out the adventures below and give them a call. (415) 332-8494. They would love for you to join them and you will have an experience you will never forget.
I went with on a Sea Trek-Baja trip some years ago, didn’t think I’d like Baja (too hot/dry), but ended up loving the whole experience of living out of a kayak paddling from beach to beach. Sea Trek has this wired: You show up with a tent and a toothbrush and they care of everything else. Kayaking is great for family travel. It’s also excellent for people with strong upper body strength who may be having knee problems . . . you’re sitting, not walking. (These pelicans are in Baja. I took that shot. Notes from Kayaking Baja with Sea Trek.)

In the event you’ve never been around kayakers, know that they are the nicest people on the planet — probably from a combination of getting lots of excercise, fresh air, and negative ions from the water.

LUXURIOUS ISLAND CAMPING – KAYAKING – WHALES – DOLPHINS- BIRDS SPECTACULAR SUNRISES AND SUNSETS – SNORKELING – FRESH SEAFOOD – CAMARADERIE . . . and ask them about phosphorescent seas.

• March 2-8: Kayak Yoga with Diana Estey – $1595
• March 9-15: Meditation Retreat with Mark Coleman – $1595
• March 9-15: Classic Island – $1195
• April 6-12: Family Base Camp – $1195
• April 13-19: SUP Classic Island – $1195
• April 27-May 3: SUP Yoga with Leigh Claxton – $1450

The Passport Book: The Complete Guide to Offshore Residency, Dual Citizenship and Second Passports, Robert Bauman

Bob Bauman reveals why millions of people already have their second passports and how you can join them by removing the government’s vise-like grip from around your neck and how you can become an independent, “world citizen” — free to live, work, and acquire property anywhere in the world, without Big Brother always watching over your shoulder.

Never in the history of the United States have working people had so much of their hard-earned incomes stolen from them through exorbitantly high income taxes that seem to increase every year.

Never before have people had to live according to so many complex statutes, laws, and regulations, many of which are useless and many of which are frequent changed and/or ignored. They keep thousands of lawyers, bureaucrats, and government workers fat and happy in their jobs.

Our rights as U.S. citizens and our civil liberties are being eroded and our personal privacy violated, all in the name of “national security.” You and I know that more people are killed in the United States each year by automobile accidents than by acts of “terrorism.”

“They who give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.” ~ Benjamin Franklin

It’s been well over 200 years since Benjamin Franklin said that, and it holds just as true today. After practicing law for over 40 years, the author of The Passport Book is convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that you can have a life full of personal freedom and abundance by learning the latest strategies contained in his best-selling book.

Here are just a few of the dozens of powerful and life-changing secrets that you will discover in this information-packed, 722+ page essential “field guide” to international traveling and living.

Secrets like…

• The top websites and contact information for over 80 foreign embassies and consulates that will take the hassle out of “going offshore”.
• The shortest and easiest ways to obtain an EU Passport so you can live and work permanently in any of 27 European countries without immigration troubles.
• Which foreign officials to contact to expedite all passport and citizenship documents.
• How to live tax-free in Canada for five years (no, that is NOT a misprint!).
• Five ways to acquire dual citizenship (you may qualify just because of your ancestors!) and how to reap extraordinary tax, privacy and business benefits from it.
• Discover the two beautiful Caribbean island nations that grant immediate citizenship.
  

  We just “had” to know this, so looked it up. Since 1984, the St. Kitts & Nevis Citizenship Act has allowed foreign investors who acquire qualifying real estate to obtain citizenship and a passport. This makes it the oldest existing citizenship-by-investment program. To apply for citizenship, you must invest a minimum of US$250,000 in real estate. In addition, government fees of US$35,000 or more apply, depending on the number of applicants. But this is hardly a sacrifice, because St. Kitts & Nevis has some of the Caribbean’s most stunning beaches.

• The four best countries for starting and operating a business.
• Where to find tax-free Alpine retreats with all the winter outdoor sports you can handle.
• Trading in your dress slacks for Bermuda shorts and relaxing on the white sand beaches of a secret residential haven.
• Learning how simply making a direct cash contribution to banana crops could lead you to the most private and reliable way to travel — without a visa — to more than 100 countries and territories.

About Robert Bauman

After getting his juris doctor degree from the Law Center of Georgetown University, he practiced law and less than a decade later, he was serving as a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives (1973-1981). The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The National Review, and many other publications have featured his work.

His work in Congress took him on trade and diplomatic missions around the world — from Beijing to Panama and points in between. Since then, as Legal Counsel to The Sovereign Society, he has led offshore banking expeditions to dozens of countries on five continents.

Currently, he is a sought-after advisor, author, and lecturer on many aspects of wealth protection, offshore citizenship, and international residency.

Bob has truly been around the global block. And while he still believes the United States to be one of the best countries of the world…the sad yet undeniable facts are that the American way of life has continually gotten worse over the past 50 years. And the pace of decline is only accelerating.

The Passport Book also includes:

• The four countries that are the most affordable for retirees who live on a fixed budget.
• Discover the nation that provides the highest level of personal and business privacy in the world for investors.
• How to successfully protect yourself from “international identity theft” while avoiding passport fraud and counterfeit travel documents.
• How a second passport can save you from incarceration and possibly even your life!
• The five best countries for qualifying for government health programs and FREE prescriptions.
• Discover the nations that are ready to roll out the red carpet for you and offer you special financial and lifestyle incentives if you are a scientist, engineer, medical professional or other educated professional able to fill critical positions within their communities.
• Five countries that offer endless acres of beautiful, pristine landscapes for all of your outdoor adventures . . . for less than 1/3rd of what you’d pay in the US.
• Where you can live like royalty for less than $390 a week!
• How to own a resort rental just a few steps away from the beach in one of the world’s most exciting locations… with tax breaks and 50% savings as part of the deal.

 

Online Exclusives – Find the Perfect Cruise, including Family Cruises, Last Minute Cruises and featured deals from Norwegian, Carnival, Princess, Celebrity in popular destinations so that you can escape from the cold to the Bahamas, Caribbean, Hawaii or Mexico.

Princess is offering reduced deposits on most upcoming cruises and cruise tours. Many sailings also qualify for shipboard credits of up to $185 per stateroom.

Norwegian is offering shipboard credits of up to $200 per cabin on most 2012 cruises. Select sailings also qualify for a reduced deposit and a FREE upgrade within the same cabin type (ex., inside to inside, oceanview to oceanview). Click here for dates and prices.

Holland America is offering reduced deposits on many upcoming cruises and cruise tours. Some sailings also qualify for shipboard credits of up to $1000 per stateroom. So extraordinary is the cuisine aboard Holland America ships that the fleet has been inducted into the prestigious Confrerie de la Chaine des Rotisseurs, a gourmet society founded in Paris and devoted to promoting the pleasures of the table. Explore over 250 ports aboard the five-star fleet and enjoy a uniquely gracious onboard ambience.

All voyages lead to Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island. Disney Cruise Line is offering shipboard credits of up to $200 per stateroom on select cruises. Disney’s 7-Night Caribbean Cruises sail to the eastern or western Caribbean. Select the 7-Night Land and Sea Vacation that starts with all the fun and fantasy of the Walt Disney World Resort during its 100 Years of Magic Celebration before taking you out to sea on a magical voyage to The Bahamas. Or, for a getaway you’ll never forget, choose our 3- or 4- Night Bahamian Cruise getaway. For kids and teens, it’s Never Never Land. For adults, it’s Shangri-La. Disney’s Castaway Cay, is a magical place. Live out your Robinson Crusoe fantasies exploring secluded white-sand beaches on a bike. Or let Disney pamper you in one of their open-air massage cabanas. Enjoy a Bahamian barbecue, or kick back with your favorite cocktail. In true Disney fashion, this day-long island experience is one you’ll never forget.

Celebrity is offering our customers shipboard credits of up to $225 per stateroom on certain cruises and cruise tours. Some of these sailings are also eligible for reduced deposits. Click here for dates and prices. Celebrity sails with one of the youngest fleets in the cruise industry. Savoring cuisine that is consistently rated the finest of any cruise line, gaze at an emerald island in the sapphire sea, framed by 15-foot-high windows. Museum-quality works of art and bouquets of fresh flowers, hand polished brass railings and crystal clear glass. Piano music playing softly in the background. An air of understated elegance and a festive, carefree ambiance you feel from the moment you step aboard.

Crystal is offering shipboard credits starting from $320 per stateroom on select sailings. Click to view sailings and specials.

Royal Caribbean is offering shipboard credits of up to $300 per cabin on select cruises and cruise tours. Click here for dates and prices.

MSC Cruises is offering shipboard credits of up to $200 per cabin on select cruises. Click here for dates and prices. Also, kids 11 and under sail FREE on select MSC cruises when sharing a cabin with two adults. Click for dates and prices.

Cunard is offering reduced deposits, plus shipboard credits of up to $700 per stateroom on select sailings. Click here for dates and prices.

Windstar is offering shipboard credits of $200 to $300 per cabin on select sailings. Windstar is also offering special rates on select sailings. Teak-lined decks. Towering white sails. A voyage on a Windstar luxury cruise feels like your own private yacht — luxurious amenities, gourmet cuisine, exceptional service and the world’s most exotic and unique ports of call. Sail to the Greek Isles, Italy, Europe or warm waters of the Caribbean or Costa Rica. With less than 320 guests on board you’ll quickly discover a genuine freedom to escape and explore as you want, when you want. You’ll love this journey as much as — if not more than — the destination! Online Exclusives – Find the Perfect Cruise,

Paul Gauguin Cruises is offering customers shipboard credits of $200 to $500 per stateroom on select Tahiti cruises. Some sailings also qualify for an additional spa credit of $200 per stateroom.

Rome

Take a small group walking tour of Ancient Rome’s major sights; by joining this tour, you will skip the queues for the Colosseum and Palatine Hill. Perfect for first-time visitors, this guided morning tour is the ideal introduction to Ancient Rome, leaving you with the afternoon free to explore Rome at your leisure. Several major sites are covered in just three hours, and you’ll receive enlightening insights into Rome’s millennia of history, without wasting time waiting in line.

Tours begin atop the Colle Oppio with a panoramic view of the Colosseum (image right), Rome’s most recognizable landmark. You will be able to skip long lines and gain special access to the Colosseum. Once inside, your expert official guide will take you through the bloody past of the amphitheater as you listen to tales of gladiators, mock sea-battles and executions. (Entrance fees are included, tours are led by expert guides, and you will skip long lines.)

After a brief rest at the Arch of Constantine, the tour visits the Palatine Hill, the most famous of the seven hills of Rome where you will view the Roman Forum and Nero’s Circus Maximus where chariot races were held.

The last stop on this half-day tour is a walk along the Via Sacra or "Sacred Way," the main path through the Roman Forum that was used for triumphal processions.

Colosseum’s Underground Chambers

For the first time in history, in 2011 the Colosseum opened its underground level to visitors, as well as the Colosseum’s third tier, which hasn’t been open in decades. The 8:30 a.m. tour includes special access to both areas and see the tunnels where gladiators prepared for fights and where lions and tigers were once caged. You’ll also go up to the highest existing level of the Colosseum – the third tier (terzo anello). The view from the third tier includes not only a new perspective of the inside of the Colosseum, but also the surrounding Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.

Important Note Winter 2012: The underground areas of the Colosseum have been closed due to excessive flooding. Tours may include the third tier of the Colosseum with the smaller-groups (10 people). The underground may open by March; tour guides will notify guests upon commencement of tour.

Venice Walking Tour and Gondola Ride

Stroll around Venice’s cobblestone passages and take time to view its hidden treasures nestled amid its squares, bridges and narrow streets. This tour includes a gondola ride through the Grand Canal.

Your expert guide will lead you from the Piazza San Marco through the streets of Venice to lesser-known Venice sights. The exact itinerary on your Venice Walking Tour will be determined by your guide on the day. The half-day tour continues with a 35-minute gondola ride along Venice’s famous Grand Canal – undoubtedly a highlight of your trip.

This is the perfect way to get to know Venice as a must-do introductory city tour for new visitors, as well as anyone interested in the city’s colorful history. NOTE: The tour does not include interior visits so plan on another day.

Photography Tour in Venice

Venice Photography Walking TourGet to move around Venice not as tourist but as a Venetian photographing some of the most famous places in the world. Your guide will give tips on approaching people and capturing the spontaneous emotions, expressions and interactions among people that tell the story of Venice and the people who celebrate it with you from a photographic point of view. You will see the Venetians’ life, their markets, the bars and the mysterious and hidden places. Places visited will be Saint Mark’s Square, Mercerie, Rialto (Fish and Vegetable Market).