The 7 Best VIP Bookings

1.Luxury Gondola Cruise with Drinks and Pastries

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 42 reviews · 45 minutes - 1 hour · from $98Our pick

Glide through Waikiki and Honolulu Harbor in Hawaii’s only Venetian gondola tour. Your gondolier, possibly Elliott or Larry, sings traditional songs as you pass three bridges, Magic Island, and Diamond Head with pastries, drinks, and a lei included.

“You must ride the gondola! The guides are excellent, funny. and entertaining. They took us all the way down the canal, provided sweets, water and a parasol for us. We waved to lots of onlookers and saw a couple who regularly wave a white flag as the gondola passes their house daily. It was a great, unusual activity in Honolulu. We highly recommend!”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Private, luxury Gold Coast Gondola cruise with cheese & wine

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 17 reviews · from $178Top rated

Meet at the Marriott marina in Main Beach for a 90-minute private gondola cruise. Sink into sheepskin-covered seats, enjoy opened drinks and a generous cheese platter, and pass waterfront mansions, islands, and the glowing Surfers Paradise skyline.

“Amazing views of the city, the ride was very calm and hardly felt like we were on a boat. Food was amazing, and the workers were friendly. 10/10 experience!!!!!”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Vip Semi-Private Walking Tour with Gondola Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 17 reviews · from $90Best value

Spend three hours walking Venice with a licensed English-speaking guide, hearing local stories from St Mark’s Square to Rialto and Castello. A 30-minute gondola ride through quieter canals completes the tour. Guide Lorenzo has earned praise for his history, friendliness, and personal touch.

“The guide (Lorenzo) was very knowledgeable and friendly. I really enjoyed learning from him all the interesting things about Venice and he customized the tour to what I was interested in (lucky for me I was the only guest). And he even helped make a reservation at an excellent restaurant. I learned a lot about Venice and had amazing food.”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Beautiful Luxury Picnic on a Docked Gondola Boat in Coronado

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 8 reviews · from $90

Arrive at 503 Grand Caribe Causeway for a private picnic already arranged on a docked gondola in the Coronado Cays. You get shade, pillows, a decorated table, conversation cards, a speaker, one food selection, and lemonade or water. Add wine or chocolate strawberries for an extra charge.

“The view and atmosphere was amazing! What an incredible experience! Thank you for creating such a fun and memorable moment for us. This is something we certainly won’t forget!”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Grand Luxury Venice Tour by Boat and Gondola – Skip the Crowds!

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $155

You’ll see Venice by private water taxi and on foot, with hotel pickup, a local guide, Frari, Rialto, San Polo, and St Mark’s Square. A private gondola ride is available, though the guide does not join that final portion. Guides have included Annalisa and Claudia.

“Amazing tour that really gave us a feel for the city! Our guide took some amazing photos for us too - definitely book!”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Venice LUXURY Private Day Tour with Gondola ride – from Rome

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · 15 to 16 hours (approx.) · from $2,144

Leave Rome at 6:00 am by luxury transfer and business-class fast train, then explore Venice with a private guide, water taxi, Murano glassblowing, colorful Burano, St. Mark’s Cathedral, Rialto Bridge, the Bridge of Sighs, and a 45-minute gondola ride. Francesco and Bianca are named guides connected with the service.

“My husband and I had a wonderful day with our tour guide and driver. It was our first time hiring a private tour and enjoyed our ability to control what we saw and how long we stayed. On a regular tour my husband kindly sits in the tour bus aisle seat allowing me to enjoy looking at scenery from a window. Touring in a private car allowed both of us to enjoy Tuscany. We also enjoyed both winery wines and were able to actually taste the wines and the charcuterie plates provided by the wineries.”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Grand Venice: Luxury Shore Excursion with Gondola from Ravenna

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 3 reviews · from $608

Travel privately from Ravenna to Venice for a guided walk through San Rocco, the Frari, Campo San Polo, Rialto, and St. Mark’s Square, followed by a private gondola ride. Guide Elena is praised for her warm, engaging style, but the long drive leaves limited time in Venice.

“I have no complaints about our Tour guide, Elena was the best, without a doubt. My disappointment comes from the short time we were in Venesia, we only saw the San Marco square and took a gondola ride and I think we paid a lot of money for so little, I almost feel like we weren't in Venesia.”

Check availability →Read our full review