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We just got back from 5 days in Venice and everyone who has been there will know, time there goes by fast because there is so much to see ... and you'll always leave feeling like you only scratched the surface. Guidebooks for travel can be very hard to write and organize ... and just as hard to read/use. I made a video showing some random features of this book.

For $20, it's priced similar to your average travel guide. It is organized decently enough ... it has some pretty interesting historical information, although maybe a bit light on a lot of the restaurants, hotels, shops and tourist tip type of stuff. We found that this book seemed better for those returning from Venice as it put historical context to the things we happened to pass while wandering around. If we used this before we went, or during, I am not sure how much helpful information it would have contained from a planning standpoint.

Having said that, for history buffs, this book gives JUST enough information to not be repeated on tours or plaques. We liked the little blue balloons that offered fun historic tid-bits and trivia-type information. The book was entertaining and fun to read from cover to cover. There were some good lessons on the people who lived in Venice throughout history, a smidge of information on neighborhoods and tons of information and history on the buildings. Don't buy this book if you want to know where the best gelato or Murano glass is sold ... buy the book if you want to know the history of gelato or Murano glass in Venice.

You could buy a worse guide that is confusing and boring ... this is entertaining and laid out well. I am not sure if its the all-inclusive guide I'd pick if I wanted to travel around Venice but its a decent supplement and is entertaining and interesting.

The only thing I wasn't thrilled about is the little fold up map/wheel with the spinner seemed pretty useless and because it ships tucked into the back cover, it ripped the cover and bent it. Not the end of the world but that spinner sheet is not very necessary.

Overall, lots of nice photos ... good historic information and laid out so its easy to read and understand. Don't buy this looking for restaurants, shopping or hotels. Buy it if you like history and reading. It's kind of the opposite to a Messy Nessy Chic travel book ... but, the upside to that is it won't go out of date as fast as if it was loaded with restaurants.

A few of our tips for Venice, as a bonus for this review ...
- Make sure to have your hotel call any water taxi in Venice and pre-arrange the rate. Water taxis are notorious for charging 3, 4 or 5 times+ what the fair should be if they think you are a tourist.

- Most of the restaurants with the best views have the worst food and vice versa. Anything on the water, overlooking a bridge or on a canal with gondolas whooshing by are not going to have great food. Search where the celebrities have eaten in Venice for your best spots.

- When taking a Gondola ride, don't take the first stop. Ask about the route. If you want to spend time in the Grand Canal (can be more of a rocking boat experience) ... or in the romantic ally canals, you'll want to know ahead of time. Each gondola has a different route.

- Enjoy Venice! There's no other city like it .. as this book will convey through pictures and stories.

Brand	N/A
Rating	4.4 (47 ratings)
Price	$19.95
Category	Travel

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