First for all, because according to the Italian law you are supposed to.

In Italy, tourist guides are considered professionals and must be certified by passing an examination given by the state to perform their services. Pay attention: no matter how long someone may have lived in Venice or which University degrees he has, or if he is a teacher or whatever, if he does not carry his license or cannot show it upon request of the authorities, he is not a legal guide.

Then because it’s easier and authentic.

To lose oneself between calli and canals might be fun, but if you don’t have much time you  would pass most of it by having your nose always stuck in the tourist books or maps of the city, trying to find your way around and therefore simply missing out on the pleasures of seeing the city and enjoying the atmosphere.

A licensed tourist guide could be an important cultural interpreter who would open the door of delights of his or her city to let you get in touch with the real actual Venice.

True: so, it is useless to ask a hotel for a parking place!

Any kind of wheel must stop in Piazzale Roma: buses, taxis, private cars, trucks, scooters and even bikes cannot enter the city. And for an obvious reason…Venice is built on more than 100 islands linked together by more than 400 bridges, so the only possible form of transport, aside from your very useful feet, is a boat.

To move around in town, there are no public road means of transportation ,but big water buses,” VAPORETTI” that are quite well organized, though not exactly cheap.

Travelling by water, it can be a bit slow, this is sure, but please do not forget that you are on vacation and the fare includes a magnificent panorama that you are allowed to enjoy through its windows.

If you are a little bit “in a hurry” use the boats as the Venetians do…only for a short journey and then the rest by foot.

The ticket is quite expensive, but if you if you buy a valid 24 or 48 hour pass, a savings is ensured. For further information visit: www.hellovenezia.it

Remember that vaporetti are not reserved for tourists, on the contrary, the Venetians take them to go to work, so just do as they do: before boarding, let people get off of the boats and after boarding don’t stop close to the gate outside, proceed inside or  towards the outside seating areas.

Do not stop even in Summertime when it is hot, otherwise someone else will not be able  to get on.

In case you are an elderly or disabled person or if you are pregnant or a mother with a baby, you will be allowed to occupy the first row of reserved seats. But above all, remember that Venice is small: it is sometimes quicker to walk rather than to wait for the water bus.

That is it!

So if you are in a hurry, a taxi misght be more suitable to you: Fast and fun, this means of transportation represents the modern side of the city, but take my advice- ask the price before boarding. For further information: www.motoscafivenezia.it or  www.venezianamotoscafi.it

Unfortunately, acqua alta (high water) does not depend upon the rain, on the contrary, there are many reasons why part of the city sometimes gets flooded, especially in Autumn and Wintertime.

This event does not last long, after 3-4 hours the situations goes back to normal but never the less causes great inconvenience and sometimes damage above all in St. Mark’s Square, the lowest area in Venice.

The inhabitants are alerted by an SMS and on the internet they can check the tide forecast (link: http://www.comune.venezia.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/EN/IDPagina/1748). Floods let the rhythm of the Venetian life slow down but the city is not paralyzed thanks to a network of wooden gangways (wide wood planks on iron supports) though Venetians can’t do without plastic boots in their wardrobe!

Put a pair of them in your suitcase if you’re coming to Venice during the critical time period.

If you arrive in Venice by plane, you can take a public water boat (see: www.alilaguna.it) or you can also travel on wheels: there are cabs or buses that can bring you to Piazzale Roma (the car terminal) from there you can walk or take a boat to your destination in town.

If you don’t like the “do-it-yourself” way and you think you might need support upon arrival, just let me know, I can provide you with a good professional tourist assistant to help you with your transfer.

Venice is the ideal city for children provided that their parents supervise: no danger to be hit by a car or a bike, you just have to pay attention not to lose them in the crowded calli!

As in any other city, it’s highly recommended to keep your bags closed and mind the pickpocketing. For the rest, serious crimes rarely happen in Venice and it’s mostly a safe place even at night.

Especially during the hot summer time, the lagoon water may sound quite inviting, but swimming is strictly forbidden in the whole historic center and not recommended indeed.

To refresh yourself, just take a water bus to the Lido, the official Venetian beach:  less than 20 minutes by waterbus from St. Mark’s Square and you can go take a dip in the Adriatic Sea!

Venice is not a big picnic area: the whole city is a magnificent and delicate monument under the sky!
That’s why in certain very prestigious sites, such as St Mark’s square, you cannot have lunch sitting on the ground.

Venice might be surrounded by water but this doesn’t make it a beach: bare-chested gentlemen would be stopped by the police and seriously fined!  And don’t forget that you must be properly dressed to enter churches: no shorts, no miniskirts, no bare shoulders.

Venetians are normally very friendly and will be happy to help you in case you should get lost in the labyrinth of the Venetian calli, campi and campielli.

The only thing they ask of you, especially in the working days, is to keep to the right in the narrow streets in order not to hold up traffic.

In Venice, as in other big cities of the world, some streets are full of street vendors selling counterfeit designer purses, bags, sunglasses and belts at bargain prices.

Yes, you may save money at the moment, but be informed that you contribute to trademark infringement and tax evasion without considering that if the police catch you red-handed you might regret your purchase!

If you are thirsty you can safely drink the water of the public fountains: it’s good and free of charge!

Venice is well known to be a very expensive town. I can’t deny that, but if you pay attention you’ll find ways to save money.

Inform yourself about the discounts you are entitled to get on means of transport, museums and shops. For example, take a look at Venicecard- you may find it quite interesting.

And above all, before purchasing an item or a service, do always check the price label, or ask the vendor. Remember that in bars and restaurants, surcharges may be applied if customers are served at the tables, or if an orchestra is performing to customers, etc…

Unfortunately, public toilets are neither free of charge nor cheap. You might also find it difficult to run into one, especially when you really need it.

Be informed that many bars, in particular the ones with seats outside, are provided with toilets that only customers can use. Nowadays, it is still cheaper to have a coffee (at the counter) rather than to enter a public toilet!

In spite of the many polemics over the deal, the photographers of so numerous pictures in St. Mark’s Square received the notice to quit: the corn sellers have disappeared and tourists are not allowed to feed the poor pigeons anymore. The notorious birds are considered guilty for having dirtied for so many centuries the squares and its monuments.

This may not happen very often but if the police catches you feeding them, you could be given a fine. But don’t worry, the reckless surviving pigeons are still here, ready to let your cameras immortalize them.

The spirit of Venice is also in its flavors! From "cichéti", the local very traditional fish or meat tapas to the very refined cuisine of the great maîtres, there is a broad and ample range of opportunities to explore in the culinary delights of Venice.

Take my advice: don’t enter the first restaurant you see when you are already starving and don’t completely trust what you read up in an old guidebook, that might be not updated.

The best is to mingle with the locals and to find out where the gondoliers -who are notorious gourmets- have lunch. I will be glad to reveal to you some of my favorite restaurants during one of my tours.

Venice without a doubt has much to offer in the way of shopping: all the most famous fashion designers have an elegant shop in town, giving you the chance of buying the best clothes, shoes & accessories.

But if you are more interested in antiques, local handicrafts, glass blown works of art, laces, masks & more… you’ll be spoilt for choice! Of course, you need to be careful: If you want to purchase a souvenir but are afraid of returning home with the wrong object or having paid too high a price, I will be only too happy to give you a “dritta” (a ‘straighter’ as the Venetians would say) some good advice so as not to spoil your holiday.

Venice offers so much cultural entertainment, especially in the hot season: events, concerts, expositions, shows, museums. The Venice program is normally quite rich and is available in any Tourist Offcie (A.P.T.) or at meetingvenice.

However, Venice is not exactly well-known for its sparkling night-life, but you can always find a way to spend a nice evening: a classical concert at the opera house, a play at the theater, a cocktail in an exclusive bar and much more. And don’t forget Poker, Roulettes and company: the Casino of Venice is the oldest gambling house of the world, founded in 1638!