Jan B
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Sep192011
Venice Grand Canal Boat Tour
Tour / Activity
My Rating: 
Location: Venice, Italy
My Review: We were a family of 5 - 3 teens - doing this tour at the end of the day. There was a huge group of people waiting and we found that the tour operators did not have their own boats - they used the local taxi service which meant we got whatever driver the taxi had. We were not impressed as the tour itself basically followed the route of the daily ferries that ply the waters of the Grand Canal. Information given by the tour guide was interesting but not worth the extra money paid. The speaker system was loud and often times the operator's voice was distorted. Would not recommend this tour unless you are staying in Venice and don't use the daily ferry system.
Sep192011
Murano, Burano and Torcello Half-Day Sightseeing Tour
Tour / Activity
My Rating: 
Location: Venice, Italy
My Review: This was a great intro tour to the area of Venice and its surrounds. Although it was rushed as a half-day tour (would have preferred a full day once you get out there and see what's around) it was still worth doing. Limited time spent on Murano (visit glass blowing shop for demo and purchase was all the time we had), but Burano was a little less rushed and very eye catching with the variety of brightly painted houses. Torcello was also pretty but limited in time. No complaints as I think this is a great intro tour and you can always go back via the ferry on your own for an indepth look over the islands. Highly recommend this tour!
Sep172011
Skip the Line: Vatican Museums Walking Tour including Sistine Chapel, Raphael's Rooms and St Peter's
Tour / Activity
My Rating: 
Location: Rome, Italy
My Review: This was a good tour for those who enjoy the art and beauty of the old buildings of the Vatican. We were given headphones so that we could hear the tour guide's commentary and there was a limited number of people on our particular tour - only 7 of us - which made things easier to move from room to room and area to area. Even at 8:30am the queues to get in were long and even though this tour was classified as "Skip the Line" we still had to line up in the group line to get in. Admittedly the wait was not long but certainly you had to wait.
Our tour guide was excellent in her presentation and enthusiastic about the subject matter. We found the art well worth the effort and inspirational as far as one of our daughter's was concerned. She is an artist in her own right but what she saw was an experience and as previously mentioned an inspiration. Would recommend this tour for those with limited time in Rome who want to see and experience the Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basillica.
Sep072011
Versailles and Giverny Day Trip
Tour / Activity
My Rating:
Location: Paris, France
My Review: Early start to the day - our family of 5 split up with the guys going to Normandy and the girls doing this trip to Giverny and Versailles. We had two guides - a gentleman with good humour and a woman with many facts and stories - good combination. Giverny was our first stop for the day and we were given plenty of time to wander through the gardens and soak up the atmosphere of Monet's house. Very peaceful and we arrived before the crowds which was great because we were able to get some great photos of the lily ponds and surrounding gardens. Travelled somewhere else for lunch and that was lovely to sit by an old mill and see the countryside for which France is renown. Lunch was not rushed either so we were able to enjoy. Versailles was amazing - we got cricks in our necks constantly looking at the amazing art on the ceilings of nearly every room we entered. commentary by tour guide was excellent and we learnt a little more about the art and politics involved in certain paintings we had previously viewed at the Louvre in Paris. Versailles was not rushed but definitely you could spend all day at this one place just studying the works of art and architecture. This is definitely an art lover's tour, but those who enjoy history would also benefit from this day away from Paris. Highly recommended - possibly a little too much for young children but teens would get a lot out of it.
