Venice Guide Book

[cleobella]

Can anyone recommend a good guide book for Venice?

[mskaufman]

Rick Steeves Med CruisePorts.

[TLCOhio]

Can anyone recommend a good guide book for Venice?

 

From our previous travels to many great cities/ports of Europe, here are some of my book and research tips. You might grab, maybe from your public libraries or ask for them to do a book transfer they can process for you, such super excellent visual books such as Eyewitness, Insight, etc. Rick Steves, Fodors, Frommers, Lonely Planet, etc., can work well, too. In my opinion, no one travel book has it "ALL", perfectly and completely for all of your needs. Right now for our early 2014 Australia-New Zealand cruise, I have a big stack of all of the major travel books from the library for these two countries.

 

These resources, especially the visual ones, can help you better figure out your priorities, in advance, for what you want to do and see. That early research is very important. Don't wait until you get on the ship to "GUESS" what might be of interest. I always build a "file" on my laptop computer for each port stop with highlights from that reading and then pulling up stories/articles from the travels sections of the New York Times, Telegraph of London, Wikipedia, etc. All of those help to consider your many great options. Amazon can be very good in providing such books at reduced prices, plus some used books websites. Lots of great options!!! Especially in these days of the Internet, it makes things easier to research and plan ahead. You can use Google.com for great access to various text items, plus a wide variety of visuals and maps. One option for some private tour and other local options is to contract the tourism office in each of your ports. You can use Google.com and put in the search term such as "city/port name tourism office". Then follow-up to each of those office by e-mail, ask your questions, get their suggestions, options to consider, etc.

 

As you pull together this info, it easier to go back to read, re-read items, pull out key highlights using the cut and paste computer features, etc. Then, there are my photo files. I will search Google.com or Bing.com in the images section to look at visual examples for these key places we are going to visit for the first time. The visuals in both travel books and from the Internet really help get a "picture" for what you want to do and visit. On such cruises, our port time is limited and you need to consider the many good options.

 

Since Venice is one of your key stops, you might look at this earlier posting that I did on the Italy board that shows many options and visual potentials for this city that is so great for "walking around", personally sampling the great history and architecture. This posting has now had over 29,756 views and I appreciate those who have dropped by and tuned in. Don’t be shy in sharing any questions or comments.

Venice: Loving It & Why??!!

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1278226

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Did a June 7-19, 2011, Celebrity Solstice cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Enjoyed great weather and a wonderful trip. Dozens of wonderful visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc., on these postings. We are now at 141,926 views for this live/blog re-cap on our first sailing with Celebrity and much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474

[cruisemom42]

Can anyone recommend a good guide book for Venice?

 

How much information are you looking for? Just the basics? A good map? A more detailed description of the art and architecture?

 

I like detailed information. Some guide books I have for Venice include:

 

The Blue Guide: Venice

 

Knopf Map Guide Venice

 

The Companion Guide to Venice (older but worth reading)

 

Secret Venice

 

 

(any of these can be looked up and purchased on Amazon)

[Hlitner]

We think the Rick Steves Venice (2013) is probably the easiest, and the best, for most folks. You can get it at Amazon for under $10. The Steves books are very practical for the do it yourself cruiser although not as comprehensive as some larger books.

 

Hank

[Arubamoose]

I always build a "file" on my laptop computer for each port stop with highlights from that reading and then pulling up stories/articles from the travels sections of the New York Times, Telegraph of London, Wikipedia, etc. All of those help to consider your many great options. As you pull together this info, it easier to go back to read, re-read items, pull out key highlights using the cut and paste computer features, etc.

 

You sound like me.....I have folders on my computer of places I've been and places that I someday plan to go to. Some cities - like Rome - has dozens and dozens of documents and maps.

 

As a former travel agent - I tend to go over the top with information overload.

 

In fact - TLCOhio - most of YOUR reviews are cut and pasted in my files!!

[cleobella]

Like Terry and Arubamoose I tend to be a big planner/researcher too. Investigating attractions, reading up on the culture and planning shore days is my favorite hobby! I usually book trips months in advance so I can investigate and plan every aspect of our trips and we always have a great time. I'm gonna look up the guide book suggestions-thanks all!

[dpm321]

Can anyone recommend a good guide book for Venice?

 

Rick Steves' Pocket Venice. Exactly what the title suggests....great little guide.