Evite las colas: Excursiones a la Basílica de San Marcos y Palacio Ducal

Our directions for the tour told us to go to the clock tower in St Mark's Square and look for a booth with TOUR written on it and tour guides in company shirts and pants. We went very early, found a huge tower in the square with clocks on the top and went and sat down watching the crowds grow. About 20 minutes before the tour was going to start we walked over to the tower only to see that there were no guides the way the instructions told us. Many Chinese guides with their groups and now a huge crowd had grown. We started looking but according to our directions we should have been in the right spot. Finally, way over in front of a building we saw just what was given to us, we went and lined up. When we got to the front of the line a very rude guide told us NO, OTHER LINE!!!!! We looked around and saw that there was another line right beside the one we were in so went to that one. When we got to the front of THAT line another rude guide told us, "NO, OTHER LINE!!!!!!" and waved us away. I cursed at him and asked "WHAT OTHER LINE??? WE'VE BEEN IN TWO ALREADY!" He just waved us away. We then noticed another line going in a different direction and went over to it. Many others in the line were complaining of the same thing. One North American guy came back to his family and we heard him same, "You aren't going to believe this but apparently the tower in the middle of the squrare is NOT the clock tower, this building here with a clock on it IS! A lot of very frustrated people complaining about the same thing we experienced. Poor organization and RUDE attendants. The tour was OK. Our guide Donnatella was OK. Her English was adequate but she had to stop and think quite often. A lot of awesome sights but a mediocre tour.

We scheduled the combo package to see the Basilica and Doge's Palace only to find upon our arrival to the meeting point that the Basilica was "closed" (it was a Saturday) and we could do it on Monday if we were still there (which we wouldn't be able to do.) Sad.... But the Doge's Palace tour was very good and we loved viewing the prison area and the Bridge of Sighs. The group leader gave much information not only about the Palace, but also about Venetian history and the Doges. Upon returning home I contacted Viator and they issued partial refunds for the portion of the tour we paid for, but couldn't due because the unforeseen closure of the Basilica for confirmations. We did go the day ahead to locate the meeting spot. The show up 15 minutes before to begin taking vouchers. There are many tours they lead so it is a bit crazy, but it all works out in the end.

This was a very informative tour giving the history of Venice and descriptions of all the magnificent paintings in the Doge’s Palace and St Mark’s Basilica.

Firstly we had issues finding our group because the guide was not holding up her sign. Secondly, her English was often hard to understand and she never seemed to be aware of whether people were with her or not both when it came to understanding or even with the group. We lost them several times and she often whizzed past things to fast. After the doges palace we gave back the headphones. We went along with the group to the basilica but we wound up standing online so long for the back of the church that the ticket people were about to not let us through. One got very rude. In the end, I would NEVER book a tour through Viator again.

Tour guide spoke horrific English, waaaayyyy too many people. Disorganized. But there is nobody else

This tour was marketed as "Skip the line." We thought that meant we would get better access, but not true! Plus, our guide talked way too much and the tour was way longer than it needed to be. We finally decided to skip the church part of the tour because of the time element and the crowds - yes, we missed seeing the inside of the Basilica, but we have no regrets about walking away! . .

It was a great experience. No waiting time, the process was very efficient and organized. My tour guide was very knowledgeable. I would recommend this tour!!

We got Stefania who has been giving tours for 20 years. Great tour overall but would have been better with a different guide. She’s the pushy Italian mother you never had is how I would describe her personality. Not warm and cuddly and a bit rude to a few people on the tour and to people who weren’t on our tour if they were in her way.

The tour guide really let this tour down. She was just getting through her day. She was not considerate about the group she would talk walk away and it was hard to follow her. She seemed to ramble on like she was giving a speech not talking to actual people. This was our last tour and it was a terrible hot day but she was not interesting at all.

Great tour, but avoid going in July if you can, too hot and too crowded.