Kimkim Trip Reviews for Italy

I can't begin to describe how amazing this trip was. Andrea thought of everything. He really listened to what we wanted: where we wanted to be, activities we wanted to do. He thought about and coordinated transportation, which was extremely important to us since we did not have a car. He told us the "must sees" and took care of all the details to make this trip the most memorable and romantic anniversary trip. We really enjoyed our personal guides, their knowledge of the cities they live in and love so much. The hotels were all beautiful and very accommodating. We are already thinking about and planning our next trip! Cannot recommend enough!

Hotel Reviews

Raffaello Hotel Rome

Roma

Perfect location, staff were very accommodating and friendly, helped us hold our luggage and get taxis. The room was comfortable, clean, everything we needed.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Piazza Bellini & Apartments

Naples

Very big room! The hotel was beautiful. Exactly what we needed. Very comfortable and clean.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

There was only one instance where we were trying to rest where staff insisted to get in the room to clean, but it was not a big deal. Minor inconvenience.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Residence

Amalfi

This hotel was by far a favorite. Beautiful views, clean, comfortable. The staff were extremely nice and accommodating. The restaurant in the hotel was amazing, delicious and whimsical. Love!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Baglio di Scopello

Scopello

One of our most favorite experiences was here. The grounds are absolutely beautiful: the garden, the view, the pool, the outdoor bar and lounge all were incredible. We even took home some homemade olive oil!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

B&B Donna Teresa

Agrigento

We were only here a night, but we felt very taken care of and were greeted in the morning with a big breakfast and lovely conversation.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Porta di Castro

Palermo

This hotel had the most friendly and accommodating staff of all. Right upon arrival, they took great care of us, gave us treats and coffee, gave us a map of the surrounding area. They upgraded our room with no additional fee. They gave the best recommendation for dinner and even made the reservation for us. The history of the building was captivating. They even gave us a souvenir when we left. Would definitely stay again!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Rome Private Guided Walk

Rome

Vincenza is now one of my favorite people. I loved how much she loved her city, and she was so incredibly knowledgeable and excellent company.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Naples guided walk

Italy

Daniella was magic! She is such an enchanting person, and we really enjoyed walking around Naples with her. She was so easy to chat with. It felt like we had been friends before. she gave the BEST pizza recommendation!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Great guides, drivers and tours:
Elizabeth---Lake Como/Bellagio
Roberto--Amalfi coast
Nancy--Pompei
Suzanna/Faustra--Roma
Valentina--driver/Tuscany

Great overall experience--if anyone not mentioned, apologies as all arranged guidance was exceptional.

Hotel Reviews

NH Collection Milano President

Milan

in heart of Milano near Duomo and piazza. Very modern, clean, accommodating, Great breakfast. Staff helpful.

Authenticity & Character

its a modern building. Rooms were great, nothing wrong. Americans don't understand Europe shower in bathroom...made a water mess....LOL

Location

near restaurants and duomo piazza

Staff

accommodating and very good english

Cleanliness & Comfort

room, bath, lobby, restaurant bar

Albergo Posta Marcucci

Bagno Vignoni

Great character in hotel---very comfortable....loved the hot bath pools

Authenticity & Character

old charm feel to hotel lobby and bar. nice rooms, great view

Location

in Tuscany---with real hot bath pools

Staff

we did not feel welcome in the hotel restaurant at dinner. Waiter and (manager?) made us feel a bit not at ease. As if they did not care if we were there. We were late due to travel (drive called ahead and advised hotel). Breakfast staff was much more friendly and accommodating

Cleanliness & Comfort

spa and outdoor water baths/pool

Tree Charme Parliament Boutique Hotel & Bistrot

Rome

great location ... Like much of Roma--tight streets and access. Small reception area and restaurant. Close to eating options. Appeared to be a safe area. Hotel is in a 500 year old building that has been re-purposed---great rooms and good security. Great shower---American comfort.

Authenticity & Character

see above comment

Location

see above comment

Staff

front desk very accommodating for our group

Cleanliness & Comfort

room and bath very clean

Hotel Conca Park 4* Sorrento

Sorrento

wow!! from entrance via tunnels filled w/ art to modern lobby to great hotel room views of Sorrento. Excellent location and accommodation. Opera and jazz singer in bar area the first night--amazing only issue--3Euro per pool towel. really??

Authenticity & Character

its a modern hotel in an old historic city---another great bath and shower

Location

Walk to heart of Sorrento and activities

Staff

we were welcomed!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palazzo Salgar

Naples

we were only there one night---last of our tour. Nice modern hotel---small but comfortable room. Nice breakfast. A difficult shower---another wet floor LOL Would have preferred a hotel near waterfront area. We walked there and there were a number of options, but assume cost would be higher.

Authenticity & Character

its modern, little character. appeared to be a business trip hotel

Location

appeared not to be a desirable area of Napoli (??) not much to do around hotel---needed taxi to get to activity and restaurants

Staff

lobby staff very accommodating when we interacted

Cleanliness & Comfort

very clean throughout.. lobby, restaurant, room

Activity Reviews

Lake Como and Bellagio – Full Day Trip from Milan with Cruise

Italy

great guide w Elizabeth. Beautiful boat ride...Bellagio fantastic. Guide took us to her favorite restaurant for lunch---amazing!

Quality of Experience

Beautiful area of Italy---Bellagio is a jewel

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Great assistance, patient, informative, appreciative

Transport

its a local train from Milan--be prepared for a slow trip to Como

Winery tour in Chianti Area

Italy

nice tour of a large volume winery

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Valentia--great english, engaging personality--helped us find a great restaurant for lunch

Transport

the guide--Valentina

Vineyard Walk and Tasting in an Umbrian Vineyard

Italy

small, family winery. intimate. the owner was our guide ! Very welcoming--great lunch and hospitality!

Quality of Experience

enjoyed the small, intimate atmosphere

Guides, Drivers and Staff

a family member of the winery ownership was our personal guide at the winery!

Transport

got us there on time

Private Evening Rome Walking Tour

Rome

Our guide--Faustra (sp??) was extremely knowledgeable and personable. Very good english. Gave us a great tour and insight of Roma within the limited 2-hour tour. We saw places we wanted to see.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Explore Rome in a Day

Rome

we saw what we needed to see in Roma. Fantastic guide...loved having headphones (provided) so we could hear the guide throughout the tour in very crowded areas. Our guide took us to a favorite restaurant and we had a great meal w/ her.

Quality of Experience

the guide

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

the transport from one area to another was prompt

Naples to the Amalfi Coast or Amalfi Coast to Naples - Pompeii en Route

Italy

Pompeii is a must see stop. Nancy was our guide--very informative

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Tour: Positano, Amalfi & Ravello

Italy

Beautiful area--sadly the weather was not good so the clouds and rain kept much of the beauty hidden

Quality of Experience

Roberto was a great driver/guide

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Roberto was great--engaging and friendly

Transport

due to weather, Roberto scheduled a visit to an olive oil factory--totally on his own and to help our day be filled

Limoncello Tour & Tasting

Amalfi Coast

WOW!!---great experience. Hands on demonstration. Included our group members in the process. Conducted personally by the chef and restaurant owner! Engaging, funny and a fantastic lunch.

Quality of Experience

everything! People, food, view, kindness

Food

WOW!! one of best meals on our entire tour week

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Truly felt like they enjoyed our group being at their establishment

Transport

Roberto

Naples Pizza Making Class

Naples

fun and engaging

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

the pizza guide/instructor was very good

Exclusive Capri Boat Tour from Sorrento

Italy

unfortunately weather cancelled this tour

Quality of Experience

We had the greatest pleasure of embarking on a once-in-a-lifetime journey through Switzerland and Italy with Kimkim Travel, and it wouldn't have been the extraordinary adventure it was without the exceptional guidance of our tour guide, Fabio. From the moment we touched down in Zurich to the very last day in Taormina, Fabio's expertise and passion for what he does shone brightly.

Fabio's expert assistance in planning our IT from the get-go and all throughout the entire trip, his attention to detail, as well as his in-depth knowledge of the regions we visited were nothing short of remarkable. His insights into the history, culture, and popular sites to visit made the planning process easy and and added a layer of richness to every place we explored. From the picturesque cities of Zurich and Lucerne to the breathtaking landscapes of Interlaken, Zermatt, and the majestic Mt. Pilatus & Mt Gornegrat, Fabio made sure we not only saw these wonders but truly experienced them. When we needed help at a very short notice to secure a booking for paragliding in Zermatt, Fabio delivered outstandingly! He phoned the hotel in Zermatt and looked for the paragliding company. His careful planning and coordination ensured it went off without a hitch, giving us an adrenaline rush like no other. His attention to detail and safety gave us the confidence to enjoy every second of it. The paragliding experience was one of the unforgettable highlights in our trip - -and Fabio helped make it possible!!

Crossing over to Italy, we marveled at Milan's fashion and culture, the serene & enchanting beauty of Bellagio & Varenna in Como, and the stunning journey aboard the Bernina Express to the magical St. Moritz. Fabio's choice of stops, restaurants, and experiences reflected a deep understanding of what travelers like us truly appreciate.
One commendable thing that Fabio did for us was planning the trip to Lake Como. There were transpo-related changes due to an event that was happening at that time in Lake Como. Fabio informed us straight away and organized alternative ways to get to to Bellagio and Varenna, and even purchased for us the train and ferry tickets in advance, and recommended the restaurant along the way, & the sites that we should visit. Our van driver and tour guide - Paolo - was excellent.
Fabio made sure that nothing would get in the way of our plans to visit the enchanting Lake Como - and he really delivered!

The culmination of our journey was the enchanting island of Sicily. Fabio's expertise in Sicilian culture and history turned our time in Palermo, Taormina, and Catania into an authentic Sicilian experience. His recommendations for local delicacies and hidden gems enriched our adventure even further.

Throughout the trip, Fabio's professionalism, warmth, and enthusiasm made us feel like more than just tourists; we felt like friends exploring the world together.
His commitment to ensuring our journey was not just memorable but extraordinary was evident in every aspect of our trip - - from the train tickets, hotel & airport transfers to the hotels and restaurants.

All in all - Fabio's dedication, knowledge, flexibility and charismatic personality made this holiday in Switzerland and Italy an unforgettable and fabulous experience. We can't thank him enough for the cherished memories that we have built and bottled up in these incredible destinations.

On another note, we would like to give our feedback as well on a few things that can be done differently next time.
1. All the hotels that we stayed in were excellent. However, the choice of hotels in Zurich in Milan can be improved, in terms of quality and location. The hotel in Zurich did not have A/C, so it was not very comfortable at night due to the warm temperature. The hotel in Milan was not really centrally located so it was not that easy to go to the Milan center. We would always prefer a location close to the main public transpo.
2. In terms of planning the train schedules - it would be better next time if the gap between the time - especially for connecting train trips - should be sufficient enough to avoid undue stress. For example - the train schedule from Zermatt to Milan was too tight in terms of the lead time in between each transfer. Specifically the time gap between the train from Brig to Milan was just 7 minutes!! And the platforms were quite far from each other. We had to literally run - with all our heavy luggage - from Platform 4 to Platform 11 (if I remember correctly). That was very stressful & exhausting.
It would be better to plan the train trips in such way that there is enough time in between to get to the next platform without rushing too much, and to give allowance to delays (e.g: if the 1st train is delayed, then it will affect the subsequent trips).

Those are just the 2 things that we thought we would mention to further improve the planning process in the future.

In sum - if you're planning a trip with Kimkim Travel, make sure you request Fabio as your guide - he truly goes above and beyond to make your adventure extraordinary. Grazie mille, Fabio! Ti apprezziamo molto :)!

My wife and I just returned from a 16-day trip to Italy, which was arranged through KimKim and their local travel affiliate, Meet & Greet, Italia. Highlights included Venice, Florence, Assisi, Orvieto, Rome, Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast region, and Pompeii. Thi trip was the first opportunity for my wife to experience the beautiful country, and for me, a special return after 40 years, when I lived in Rome for a year as an architecture student. Celebrating a special anniversary, l already had a good idea of the special regions and towns that would offer my wife a great sense of Italy’s beauty and ultimately enhance our romantic getaway. Working with Emi at KimKim hi later her business associate, Francesco, I could not have been happier with they expertise, courteous and friendly accommodations, and tremendous service over the course of 8 months, especially in our final weeks leading up to our departure. Emi continuously went out of her way to address my questions, concerns and/or changing itinerary priorities, in the most professional way. I never had to wait more than a day for updated responses / itinerary changes, and most times the response was immediate. Francesco’s efforts were equally impressive, including real-time updates to our online itinerary, which kept my mind at ease before and during the trip. Both Emi and Francesco were accommodating to our own requests, including one request to change our hotel in Sorrento, after reading FB posts from customers who were being relocated due to hotel renovations underway. They also changed a scheduled boat tour of the Amalfi coast to a driving tour at my request. In both cases, their accommodation was a huge help, especially when we confirmed the ongoing issues with the hotel, and realized that the original boat tour would have been canceled that day due to high winds. So Emi and Francesco planned the perfect getaway and the memories will last a lifetime! I highly recommend KimKim, especially Emi and Francesco for a beautiful taste of Italy!!

I love Sorrento It was beautiful. I wished we could of gone to Capri and Blue Grotto but that means we can come back! Enjoyed Tuscany like to go back there and spend more time there. Loved the Roman Ruins and all the history in Rome.
enjoyed Pompei too.! The Amalfi coast was beautiful it rained but enjoy the limoncello tasting.
The hotels were great too! The Sorrento,Tuscany and Milano Hotels.

The guides were great!
Roberto
Susanna
Valenta
Nancy
Elizabeth
Foucha
Barbara
We will be using Kim Kim again !
It was also nice having the drivers.

Thank you again for an AWESOME vacation!

Cindy Johnston

Hotel Reviews

Star Hotel Rosa Grand

Milan

Loved it!

Authenticity & Character

Location

You could walk everywhere.

Staff

Very nice

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beautiful

Albergo Posta Marcucci

Bagno Vignoni

Hotel was very Quaint.I wish we could of had another day there.

Authenticity & Character

Loved it

Location

It had a beautiful setting!

Staff

They were not too welcoming in the restaurant

Cleanliness & Comfort

very good

Tree Charme Parliament Boutique Hotel & Bistrot

Rome

It was ok very hard to get to with our bags.

Authenticity & Character

Location

You could walk everywhere.

Staff

Very nice

Cleanliness & Comfort

It was very comfy

Hotel Conca Park 4* Sorrento

Sorrento

This was my favorite hotel. It had a beautiful scenery and very welcoming.

Authenticity & Character

Just beautiful !

Location

You could walk everywhere.

Staff

Very nice.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and comfortable.

Palazzo Salgar

Naples

It was ok .

Authenticity & Character

Not sure

Location

Find somewhere you can walk. We had to take cabs where we wanted to go.

Staff

Nice

Cleanliness & Comfort

It was clean and comfy.

Activity Reviews

Express Milan Duomo Tour with Terrace Access

Milan

Barbara

Lake Como and Bellagio – Full Day Trip from Milan with Cruise

Italy

Loved the trip

Quality of Experience

Beautiful

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Elizabeth was great!

Transport

Very easy

Winery tour in Chianti Area

Italy

Beautiful place

Quality of Experience

Great

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Valetina was great

Transport

Yes

Vineyard Walk and Tasting in an Umbrian Vineyard

Italy

Very informative

Quality of Experience

Everyone was very nice

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Evening Rome Walking Tour

Rome

Very good. Loved to hear about the history.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very good

Transport

Explore Rome in a Day

Rome

It was great. Enjoyed every minute.

Quality of Experience

Perfect

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Susannah was wonderful

Transport

Naples to the Amalfi Coast or Amalfi Coast to Naples - Pompeii en Route

Italy

Everything was great.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Roberto was great and very informative.

Transport

Loved having Roberto

Explore Pompeii Walking Tour

Italy

Loved it!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Nancy was great!

Transport

Limoncello Tour & Tasting

Amalfi Coast

This was great had so much fun!

Quality of Experience

Great

Food

Amazing

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Roberto was great.

Transport

Great

Full Day Tour: Positano, Amalfi & Ravello

Italy

Even though it rained. It was great.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Awesome

Transport

Roberto talked about the history.

Naples Pizza Making Class

Naples

It was alot

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Had to take a cab

Dear Maria
I can honestly say that Italy is an amazing place to visit. The three guided tours, the first in Sorrento and the second and third in Rome, were so interesting and I can't say enough about the guides you assigned to us. Our 8-hr Amalfi Coast/Positano tour was so beautiful and our guide explained everything to us and helped us understand the history of this awesome countryside. Not to mention he entertained us with his singing and his colorful personality.

In Rome, our experience with Laura who explained the history of the ancient Colosseum in such a passionate way was amazing. She related facts to us that amazed us and we came away from the Colosseum with a better understanding of life back then. All this despite the fact that she was feeling poorly and we hope she has recovered.

And of course our tour with Tiziana (not sure of the spelling) of the Vatican and St. Peters was truly magical and inspirational. Her knowledge of the history and her manner of imparting all this amazing history was so appreciated.
All in all, this trip created memories that will be with us for a long time to come.

Our only issue was that I wished you would have suggested flying one way to Naples to see the Amalfi coast and Positano and then go to Rome and leave to come home from Rome. While it would have involved two one-way flights, it would have been less tiresome, especially the first leg of the trip when we arrived in Rome and were then brought to the train station (which was very crowded and confusing), and then the so-called "high speed" ride to Sorrento which was one hour late in leaving and was anything but high speed.

I am sure Lori and Lisa will agree that we created memories that will last a lifetime. Perhaps our next trip will include more of Italy. I want to thank you for your suggestions and for helping make our trip so beautiful.

Our first trip to Sicilia - Taormina and Ortigia/Siracusa - was wonderful because of the planning from Arianna and the Storywalking team! Arianna listened to our feedback and planned a trip that balanced some guided tours and a lot of free time. She shared detailed suggestions on site seeing and places to visit in the free time, so we always had ideas on how to spend our time. We aren't really big on lots of tours, so she created an itinerary that incorporated a few planned activities including Mt. Etna/wine tasting, a boat excursion and a cooking class. The only one we didn't love was the cooking class, but in general we had a great time with the other tours and just wandering around the cities eating amazing food.

The access to the app and Barbara and Jessica once we were in Sicily was a game changer. They were extremely responsive, problem solved our minor issues very quickly (mostly about directions and meeting the guides). It was so helpful to know there was a person we could reach if needed. Luckily the upfront planning and information from Arianna was enough, but in the moments of immediate need Barbara and Jessica were right there to help.

I'd definitely recommend Storywalking and KimKim for trip planning! Grazie mille!

Wonderful trip, Vincenzo did a phenomenal job organizing and making sure that we were comfortable and got to explore what we wanted to.

The only issue we came across was trying to drive in Palermo. We didn't expect it to be as stressful as it was but we could have prepared better or looked into other options. Palermo is a beautiful city but we would not recommend trying to drive in it if you are not accustomed to driving in a city like that.

Wonderful trip overall, everywhere we went was beautiful.

Activity Reviews

Mount Etna Tour

Italy

Our tour guide was wonderful and the whole excursion was great

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boat tour of Isola Bella

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wine Tasting in Mount Etna

Italy

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day trip to Zingaro Natural Reserve, Scopello and San Vito lo Capo

Palermo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip was wonderful! It was exactly what we were looking for. Everything was planned for us each day and we have no worry or stress about transportation or waiting in lines. Highly recommend Eleni for all of your Italy trip planning. It will be a vacation you remember forever! Thank you Eleni!

Hotel Reviews

Art Hotel Commercianti

Bologna

We stayed two nights here in October and it was lovely! The uniqueness of this hotel really has a special feel. Also the location could not have been better. There was an issue with our air conditioner, however staff was quick to assist us and help to make us comfortable!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Capo d'Africa—Colosseo

Rome

We stayed one night in this hotel after flying into Rome. It was very nice and clean. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful. They assisted in getting us dinner reservations and it happened to be the most amazing meal we had on our entire 9 day trip! Highly recommend!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Orto de' Medici

Florence

We stayed three nights in this hotel and were very pleased. The staff was helpful and the rooms were very spacious and clean. We were in a corner room with a balcony and it was wonderful to be able to sit outside in the evenings or leave the door open to enjoy the breeze. Highly recommend!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palazzo Alabardieri Hotel Napoli

Naples

This hotel is fabulous! We stayed two nights here and were more than pleased! We had an early morning and ordered room service for our breakfast meal. It was delivered exactly at the requested time and was delicious. The morning we left for the airport, they had breakfast boxed and waiting to send us. Staff was extremely helpful! Very good experience!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Cinque Terre Day Trip from Florence

Florence

This tour was wonderful! We had a blast with our tour guides Marco and Ellenora. Viewing the villages of Cinque Terre by boat was amazing. The view was spectacular. We had lunch at a local restaurant in Venazza and the pesto was to die for! We hiked up the hillside to get a better view point and were able to take some amazing pictures!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Food, Music & Culture Day Trip

Italy

We adored this tour. We started at the acetaia and learned all about the production of balsamic vinegar. The tasting was a wonderful experience, as was the tour itself. Then we moved on to tour Casa Museo Luciano Pavarotti. My husband and I being very into the musical arts, we very much enjoyed this tour. The self guided tour with the headset was perfect and allowed you to tour at your own speed. Next was lunch at an amazing little restaurant not far from Pavarotti's home. There was a table for two set for us on arrival and the services was amazing. The food even better. We finished the day with a trip to the Ferrari museum. This was my husband's favorite portion of the trip! Overall it was a wonderful day!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Naples Street Food Tour

Naples

This was out favorite tour of our entire trip. Maria was our tour guide and she was amazing. There was never a dull moment and she ensured that we saw everything we were interested in. The food choices she made for us per our preference and expectations were right on point. We sampled pastries, fried pasta, fried pizza... just to name a few. We ended our tour of The Chapel of San Gennaro. Maria shared the entire history of San Gennaro and explained the meaning and ritual behind everything in the chapel. She was so informative and truly excited to share this experience with us!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Pompeii Tour & Mount Vesuvius visit with lunch and wine tasting

Pompeii

This was an adventure filled day! Our tour guide Giuseppe was wonderful! He was very knowledgeable about Pompei and was able to lead us through Pompei without getting stuck in any large crowds. Next we went to Mt Vesuvius where we hiked to the top of the crater! The view is amazing! Lastly we had a wine tasting at Cantina de Vesuvio. Both the lunch and the wine were spectacular!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tuscany Day Trip from Florence with Chianti, Siena & San Gimignano

Florence

This trip was a very busy day! Siena was a very quick walking tour due to an accident on the freeway that required us to take the long way around the our lunch in Chianti. The lunch was a winery and it was amazing! The last stop was San Gimignano. Our guide, Sandra, was very knowledgeable and gave us great information!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The kids really enjoyed the Florence city tours, the Artisan Workshop tour was great, and the hotel was good. All the restaurants throughout the trip that we used KimKim recommendations for were great!

Our Montepulciano driver was amazing, as was the winery and truffle hunt. I would not recommend the Dimora nel Corso hotel.
The hotel was good in Rome.

We would definitely book through Kim Kim again. Lorenzo is awesome. Thank you.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Il Guelfo Bianco

Florence

Hotel Il Guelfo Bianco was great. We didn't want any luxury as we needed to get three rooms for the kids, and this hotel met our expectations.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Raffaello Hotel Rome

Roma

Hotel Raffaello in Rome was good. It met our expectations of a three-star hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Florence private guided walk

Florence

The private guided walk through Florence was a great experience. I wasn't able to make it but my kids enjoyed exploring the city with our guide and learned so much about its rich history.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Florence bike tour (small group)

Florence

The Florence bike tour was a unique and fun way to explore the city. My kids were able to see many sights that we wouldn't have found on our own.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Oltrarno Artisan workshops guided walk (private guide)

Florence

The Oltrarno Artisan workshops guided walk was a standout experience. It was less touristy and gave us a unique look into the local culture. We really enjoyed this.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Truffle Hunt and Cooking Class in Tuscany Countryside

Italy

The truffle hunt and cooking class was a definite highlight. The family running the farm were warm and friendly. The dog was great, and the pasta we made was delicious. We had a beautiful lunch on the terrace with a stunning countryside view. It was a lot of fun.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cheese farm visit and tasting in Pienza area

Italy

The cheese farm visit and tasting was okay. It was interesting, but not as engaging as the other activities. The farm was crowded that day, and we didn't get to see the vegetable gardens. The tasting was great, but overall, it wasn't a highlight.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a great trip to Northern Italy. The trip included 2 nights in Florence,Bologna,and Venice.
We traveled between these cities on rail. The transfers from train to our rooms were flawless.
The Tuscany day trip including wine tasting and meal, visit to Siena and San Gimignano were terrific and our tour guide Stephanie was remarkable and made the whole experience so memorable.
Our next stop in Bologna featured a whole day tour to Parma. Again, transfers were flawless and the tour to Parmigiano,Prosciutto, and Balsamic factories were informative and well hosted by very knowledgeable tour guide.
Last stop was Venice and featured a half day walking tour to many of the major sights but more interesting were the side trips thru the winding, narrow alleys of Venice . Our tour guide Rita was so knowledgeable and shared her own personal experiences of her hometown of Venice.

Barbara and Massimo truly went above and beyond what we expected. They were constantly in contact with us and resolved any questions or issues we had. I would highly recommend them in planning your next trip.

Activity Review

Lake Como Food experience

Italy

Valentina and her family were so warm and kind. It was really a unique experience to go into their home to cook. My only advice might be to improve on the menu selection a bit.

Barbara planned an amazing vacation for us across Italy and on short notice. It ended up including a gondola tour in Venice, riding a Vespa through wine country, and cruising along the Amalfi Coast. Barbara got us to four cities without a rental car. All pickups, whether it was by boat, train or car went seamlessly. The hotels she picked were clean, comfortable, and in walkable areas. During the trip, Barbara and her collegues were extremely responsive and helpful. Any last minute changes we needed, they took care of it. A wonderful experience!

Activity Reviews

Venice Gondola Ride

Venice

The gondola ride was pretty, but it felt like we were in a gondola traffic jam. Each boat just a few feet apart.

Guided Tour and Accademia Visit (Michelangelo's David) - wine tasting

Florence

An extremely informative private tour

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Wine tour by Vespa

Italy

This was just the best. A patient tour guide taught us to ride the Vespa and then guided us out of Florence and into wine country. It was fun, beautiful and the wineries were gorgeous.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cooking class. Pizza and gelato making!

Rome

Fun, informative, and generous with the wine. But more people than we were expecting in what was called a small group (about a dozen people)

We were delighted with the trip that Jessica and her team planned for us. They suggested places that we hadn't considered, which proved to be great ideas. Their recommendations for hotels were spot on. The guides and drivers they found were reliable, informative and easy to communicate with. It was easy to communicate with Jessica and her team during the trip, and we appreciated the ability to track our plans using the app they provided. I love working with KimKim because their specialists are embedded in each country, giving them unique insights and connections.

Elena and Andrea made the trip to Italy so very easy. It was the first time I had travel to Europe so was a little nervous. But with both their help everything went fine. Andrea helped us out when the e-bike chain came off. They called the company and had them send out a different bike. Transfers to different site seeing places was made easier by having a driver already booked. Our vacation went smoothly and will definitely use Kimkim again

Hotel Review

Relais Osteria Dell'Orcia Tuscany

Castiglione d'Orcia

Love this place, staff was exceptional. The only thing is out in the country so make sure you have a car or a driver to use.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Florence cooking class with Market Visit

Italy

Barbara was a fantastic teacher. Took us to the fresh market and then we went to her house to cook. She taught us how to roll the dough for gnocchi. My daughter and I both loved the market and the lesson

Fabulous experience with Moreno and his counterpart. Had an excellent time in Italy

Activity Reviews

3 Hours private tour Lake Como from Cernobbio

Lake Como

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Historical Rome walking tour and Colosseum guided Tour

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ravello, Amalfi & Positano

Sorrento

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Vatican & Sistine Chapel Tour

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Irene was fantastic. Was very easy to work out various details and modify the trip to our preferences with hotels, travel and different activities. The best part was the ease of travel as we visited various cities throughout Italy including Rome, Siena, Florence, Sorrento, Positano and Amalfi Coast. Between cities while we saw other folks trying to figure out how to get to hotels, waiting in line for taxi service we had private drivers already setup to take us from city to city. It not only made travel easy (but helped with the wife's luggage) :) !!
I know some people just plan the trip on their own, but it is nice to have a resource that knows the region you are traveling to and the worries are completely removed. I would absolutely recommend the travel service. We are already looking at where to go next year!
Ciao!!

Where to Begin? We had the trip of a Lifetime for our first visit to Italy! It was all because of our Travel Agent, Giulia! We worked with her over a few months to craft the best possible trip tailored to our requests and desires. Everything Giulia recommended and set up for our trip went off with out a hitch! We visited Rome, Venice and Lake Como! It was a great combination of wonderful places to sample some of the best sites, food, wine and excursions that Italy has to offer!
The tours, hotels and transportation while in country were all top notch--all thanks to Giulia!
Thanks Giulia!! We will be coming back soon!
Ciao!

My husband and I just returned home from our incredible 8 day trip to Italy. Andrea helped customize our travel arrangements perfectly and communicated with us along the way. He arranged all of our hotels along with private drivers to pick us up from the airport, train station and to take us to each hotel of our journey. He scheduled private tour guides to walk us through Rome, Naples and Pompeii. If you visit Pompeii you must schedule a private tour with Antonio. Best tour guide ever!! From Sorrento, Andrea arranged a small group boat tour to Capri where we spent the entire day swimming, shopping and enjoying our time relaxing on the boat. Our tour guides were fantastic! For our last night, Andrea scheduled a private cooking class in the home of Emanuela Maraolo. Just an amazing, one of a kind experience! Andrea checked in with us throughout the week to make sure we were enjoying our time in Italy. I would highly recommend working with KimKim and Andrea when planning your dream vacation to Italy. I will absolutely work with Andrea to plan my next trip to Italy- hopefully next year!

Activity Reviews

Day trip to Capri Island from Sorrento - small group

Italy

A day on a boat in Capri- best time ever! Our tour guides were wonderful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pompeii ruin visit with a private guide

Italy

Antonio was our private tour guide. He was extremely knowledgeable and passionate about educating visitors about the history and importance of Pompeii. The best!

Quality of Experience

Antonio the tour guide was the best.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Cooking class with dinner

Italy

We had a private cooking class in the home of Emanuela Maraolo. I highly recommend!!

Quality of Experience

Food

We used Kimkim to plan our 30th wedding anniversary trip to Italy and they did not disappoint! Our travel specialist, Irene, did an excellent job selecting hotels, tours and experiences for us. In addition, all of the details like trains and transfers were booked for us. We received all the details about times, where to meet people and detailed itineraries prior to leaving for our trip and everything worked extremely well. When there were hiccups (only a couple over 3 weeks), the Kimkim team was right there to help. We were very well taken care of every step of the way.

One of the many highlights was arriving at in Venice to a private tour by water taxi to orient us. We arrived at our hotel, Corte di Gabriela, to a bottle of prosecco chilling in our room. The room was very comfortable, the staff was attentive and helpful, and the breakfasts were amazing. We had a wonderful walking tour of the city. Our guide from Liv Tours was very knowledgeable and we enjoyed learning about Venice's history and culture.

We chose to spend time in the Cinque Terre, which was very busy. Thankfully, Irene had recommended we stay in Levanto, a six-minute train ride from Monterroso. Levanto was much less crowded, but still full of history, beauty and things to do.

We loved Siena. The hotel, Residenza d'Epoca Palazzo Borghesi, was charming. We took two tours from there with Tuscan Escapes. Both were fantastic! We had an evening sunset tour of Tuscany, finishing with dinner at a winery. Danielo was an excellent guide, explaining the region and the wines. He was also a pleasure to talk with over dinner, as were the other guests. The next day we visited three Brunello di Montalcino wineries with Giorgia. We had lunch at one of the wineries, with all of the food made by the Mama--it was fantastic!

From there we went to Sorrento, which is lovely and a great jumping off point to visit Capri and the Amalfi coast. We hikes the Path of the Gods with Vincenzo. He was entertaining and very knowledgeable about the flora we encountered along the way. It was a joy to experience the passion he has for his work and to spend time with him.

We finished our trip with two days at the beach. It was the perfect end to a fabulous trip. We couldn't have done it all without Irene's help! We look forward to next time.

Hotel Reviews

Corte di Gabriela

Venice

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Orto de' Medici

Florence

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Palazzo Vannoni

Levanto

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Residenza d'Epoca Palazzo Borghesi

Siena

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Continental

Sorrento

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Venice Highlights Walking Tour

Venice

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Grand Canal Private Orientation Tour

Italy

Florence Highlights Walking Tour (Semi-private)

Florence

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Monterosso Wine Tasting & Lunch in the vineyards

Italy

There was a little miscommunication about what this would entail. When we arrived, the staff seemed surprised to see us. When we explained what we thought we had arranged, they told us what we would get instead. Despite this, we had a very nice time and the wines were good.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tuscany Sunset Tour & Dinner

Siena

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Brunello di Montalcino Wine Tour

Siena

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hiking the Path of Gods

Sorrento

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Amalfi Coast Driving Tour

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Aperitivo & Stroll around Sorrento

Sorrento

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff