Fantasy: Venice, Italy

Venice, a city built like none other in the world. Venice is an ancient city that seems lost in time. Beautiful canals, incredible architecture and scrumptious cuisine make for a one-of-a-kind city.

Take a gondola ride through town and be serenaded by some of the most authentic entertainers in the world, then pop over to the famous Piazza San Marco for some shopping.

Reality: Venice, Italy

That romantic gondola ride is likely to be more like bumper boats than a scene from a movie. Not only are there a ton of them in the water, but the canals are used by more than just tourists looking for a fun time. They’re actually working routes of transportation.

Also, in a city with so much open water be prepared for some unfamiliar smells. Enjoy the smell of fish everywhere you go? Then you’re in luck. If not, made skip Venice.