We weren't sure about doing this ride but really pleased that we did. We booked and paid for it online earlier in the day (about £100), went to the travel office in Campo san Luca at the allotted time, where we were issued with a voucher which we took to Bacino Orseolo to give to any of the gondoliers there. Three of us enjoyed having a gondola to ourselves (although we probably could have arranged a ride for just 3 of us on the spot earlier in the day at one of the quieter gondola stations), and booked for 6pm so we enjoyed sunset on the Grand Canal. The gondolier hardly spoke to us but that was fine, we just enjoyed the sights from the water.

Hard to find meeting place - it's pretty much next to H&M - so just ask for directions for there & it's a couple of doors down. Gondola was not as "tricked out" as some were & gondolier didn't say one word to us. There were only 4 of us & I don't think we could have had 2 more join as there would not have been anywhere for them to sit. I would book again hoping I would get a better gondola. I will say that if you have any mobility issues the boats are very hard to get in and out of.

Venice doesn't work without a gondola ride

We had booked a gondola ride at 7.30pm only for the two of us. Since we had read in the reviews that the office is not so easy to find, we left earlier. With Googel Maps that was no problem at all. Since it was our turn earlier, the employee asked us if we wanted to drive earlier and where we were we said yes. She wrote a new time on the slip of paper we went to the stop at the Hard Rock Cafe where there was a long line but we were led straight to the next arriving gondola and off we went. It was a special experience from time to time we saw or heard the gondola with musicians. So I enjoyed it very much, I enjoyed it and it would not have occurred to me to look at the watch for how long we were on the road.