Definitely agree on the snobbery - it is amusing that some tourists think they'll fool someone into thinking they're a local by dressing less comfortably. You'r

Definitely agree on the snobbery - it is amusing that some tourists think they'll fool someone into thinking they're a local by dressing less comfortably. You're not fooling anyone. Just be yourself and dress 'politely' and comfortably. As for the gondolas, that's a hard pass for me. I've been to Venice twice, and was definitely not there for the gondolas. Not even for 'great Italian food' - it's not really that great at my price point, unless I travel 15-20 min away from the usual tourist sights. I'm simply there for Venice. For the canals, for the layout, for the architecture, for the history. Canal-side, I can see all I need to see from the vaporettos.