Kimkim Trip Reviews for Italy

4.8
Based on 889 ratings
Read 889 verified reviews by travelers who booked their trip to Italy on kimkim. You can also read reviews about kimkim on 3rd party sites including Google, TrustPilot and Yelp.

Fantastic vacation!
Italy | Jul 4 - Jul 13, 2023

Leslie
Leslie L.
Cottage Grove, MN | Reviewed on Jul 20, 2023
I can’t thank Emi enough for planning a spectacular vacation. Our hotels were great. Our private tours and events were spectacular! Cooking class! Boat tour! When I had a question while in Italy, I received a response to my text within minutes, I have told multiple friends that they have to use KimKim to help plan their vacation. I can’t wait to plan our next trip with them. Read more

I can’t thank Emi enough for planning a spectacular vacation. Our hotels were great. Our private tours and events were spectacular! Cooking class! Boat tour! When I had a question while in Italy, I received a response to my text within minutes, I have told multiple friends that they have to use KimKim to help plan their vacation. I can’t wait to plan our next trip with them.

Activity Reviews
Pizza and gelato making class
Pizza and gelato making class
Florence

Vierri was amazing! He made this more than a class—it was an experience. He is so knowledgeable and a wonderful teacher. I can’t say enough about this evening. This was one of our favorite events of the trip.. Our pizza and gelato was surprisingly fantastic considering our skill level.

Quality of Experience
Vierri!
Private Gondola Ride
Private Gondola Ride
Venice

This is something that we felt we needed to do in Venice. While it was nice, it felt like a Disney ride—they take you through a preset course with all the gondolas in a row. If you want to take a gondola ride, make sure to schedule in advance. The line to buy tickets was really long.

TUSCANY'S GEMS: PRIVATE TOUR TO PISA, SIENA AND SAN GIMIGNANO
TUSCANY'S GEMS: PRIVATE TOUR TO PISA, SIENA AND SAN GIMIGNANO
Florence

Claudia was a wonderful driver for our day. We did not have a wine tour scheduled while we were in Tuscany, Claudia called immediately and got us scheduled for lunch and wine tasting. It was a fantastic day!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
AMALFI AND POSITANO DISCOVERY BOAT TOUR - SEMI PRIVATE (max 12)
AMALFI AND POSITANO DISCOVERY BOAT TOUR - SEMI PRIVATE (max 12)
Sorrento

We actually had a private boat tour with Theodoro. He was wonderful! We couldn’t have asked for a better guide around the coast. He was so knowledgeable. This was one of our favorite days of our vacation.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Emi Carletti

Forever thankful and infinitely grateful
Italy | Jun 12 - Jul 16, 2023

Kidianga
Kidianga T.
Biggs, CA | Reviewed on Jul 19, 2023
I had the most wonderfully memorable vacation in Italy and all credits go to Maria and her exceptionally talented team. Every single activity Maria and her team selected for me went without glitches and far exceeded my expectations. Maria and her first class team were instrumental in helpong me experienced and created indelible memories that will last me a lifetime and beyond. Thank you again Maria from the bottom of my heart. I do plan on returning to Italy in a near future and I will not... Read more

I had the most wonderfully memorable vacation in Italy and all credits go to Maria and her exceptionally talented team. Every single activity Maria and her team selected for me went without glitches and far exceeded my expectations. Maria and her first class team were instrumental in helpong me experienced and created indelible memories that will last me a lifetime and beyond. Thank you again Maria from the bottom of my heart. I do plan on returning to Italy in a near future and I will not hesitate to hire the services of arguably the best travel planner in the entire hemisphere, Maria Grazia Rubimo, and her talented team. Krazie Mille.

Activity Review
Napoli Vespa Tour
Napoli Vespa Tour
Naples

The guide was super nice, friendly, adaptable, and very accommodating. He took me to amazing places with incredible views of the city of Naples. I highly recommend his services for anyone wanting to discover hidden gems from the city of Naples.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
It was thrilling yet very safe. The guide took me places I would not have been able to discover on my own.
Local specialist: Maria Grazia Rubino
Maria Grazia
Maria Grazia Rubino
Local specialist in Italy | Replied on Jul 23, 2023

Ciao Robert,
thank you for taking the time to leave such a great review!
At Storywalking, we pour our hear into crafting a custom-made and unforgettable travel experience, and your feedback reaffirms that we are on the right track.
We take immense pride in our meticulous attention to detail and commitment to providing high-quality itineraries for our cherished clients like you.

I wish you all the best,
Maria Grazia

We worked closely with Fabio who over-deliver...
Italy | Jul 3 - Jul 15, 2023

Richard
Richard M.
Salisbury, MD | Reviewed on Jul 18, 2023

We worked closely with Fabio who over-delivered. He was prompt and clear in his responses and he curated an incredible itinerary for us in Venice and the Dolomites. Moreover, when we hit a foreseeable snag — a guide running delayed or a country-wide airport strike — Fabio provided exceptional service and insights by cell phone, seemingly 24/7.

Local specialist: Fabio Ilardi
Fabio
Fabio Ilardi
Local specialist in Como, Italy | Replied on Jul 19, 2023

Hi Richard,
Thank you so much for taking the time to write this positive review on your recent trip and for the kind words. It was a pleasure coordinating with you and I am so glad that overall you had a great experience in beautiful Italy! I am looking forward to helping you with your next Italian adventure. All the best, and a presto! 🙂
Fabio

3 days in Florence
Italy | Jul 8 - Jul 11, 2023

T
Tim S.
Wilmington, NC | Reviewed on Jul 18, 2023
Both local guides in Florence were very knowledgeable. Had to adjust some due to the heat and crowds at museum. But all in all great service provided. Read more

Both local guides in Florence were very knowledgeable. Had to adjust some due to the heat and crowds at museum. But all in all great service provided.

Hotel Review
Hotel Porta Faenza
Florence
Authenticity & Character
Location
Close to train station, but far from historical district, but still walkable
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Small room
Local specialist: Marianne Lopez

Northern Italy Trip
Italy | Jul 8 - Jul 14, 2023

M
Margaret S.
Ahwatukee Foothills, AZ | Reviewed on Jul 18, 2023

Aryiana was our trip specialist, and she did a perfect job. Each of the 3 boutique hotels were super clean and comfortable and very well located with helpful, friendly staff. And the included breakfasts were delicious.
Every driver and tour guide appeared exactly on time.
But Ariyana’s assistance to us when the train and air traffic controllers went on strike was the most amazing! We still can’t believe how fast she was able to make alternative transportation plans.
We will recommend kimkim to all of our friends and definitely use their services again!

Local specialist: Arianna Zampieri
Arianna
Arianna Zampieri
Local specialist in Italy | Replied on Jul 19, 2023

Dear Margaret, I am very grateful for your kind words and for taking time in reviewing your experience with us.
I'm glad to know you enjoyed your time with our guides and the hotels we selected. I'm also happy to hear that you deeply valued our 24/7 assistance service, we are extremely dedicated in providing a seamless travel experience so that you don't have to worry about the hurdles you might encounter on the trip!
Until the next time in Italy, and I will surely be thrilled to help you and your friends in the future.
Ciao from Turin :)
Arianna

My husband, daughter and I spent 9 days in It...
Italy | Jul 1 - Jul 10, 2023

V
Vidya S.
Plainville, CT | Reviewed on Jul 17, 2023
My husband, daughter and I spent 9 days in Italy in early July 2023 and had an amazing experience. During this time we were in Florence, Amalfi and Rome. We also stopped at Pompeii, Vesuvius national park and did a quick city tour of Naples on the way to Amalfi. Andrea was phenomenal and worked with me to plan out a detailed itinerary. I am used to planning my own trips in the past and have very specific expectations. Andrea was able to meet and exceed all of those, including specific... Read more

My husband, daughter and I spent 9 days in Italy in early July 2023 and had an amazing experience. During this time we were in Florence, Amalfi and Rome. We also stopped at Pompeii, Vesuvius national park and did a quick city tour of Naples on the way to Amalfi. Andrea was phenomenal and worked with me to plan out a detailed itinerary. I am used to planning my own trips in the past and have very specific expectations. Andrea was able to meet and exceed all of those, including specific requests such as stopping by at a good pizzeria in Naples for lunch. He also had wonderful suggestions to make our overall experience better. We had a good balance of private guided tours and small group tours. All of our guides were excellent in terms of the information they provided and how they interacted with us. Special mentions to Guiseppe, our guide in Pompeii and Naples and MariaPaola, our guide in Rome. We had a pretty packed itinerary and everything was very seamless with no delays or misses, despite this being peak season in Italy. I would highly recommend using Kimkim/ Andrea to plan your vacation!

Activity Reviews
Florence private guided walk including Accademia Gallery
Florence private guided walk including Accademia Gallery
Florence
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Tuscany Day Trip from Florence with Chianti, Siena & San Gimignano
Tuscany Day Trip from Florence with Chianti, Siena & San Gimignano
Florence

Excellent trip - lunch at the vineyard was so good, some of the best food we had in Italy.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Pompeii ruin visit with a private guide
Pompeii ruin visit with a private guide
Italy

Guide was excellent!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Day trip to Capri Island from The Amalfi Coast - small group
Day trip to Capri Island from The Amalfi Coast - small group
Italy
Vesuvius entrance ticket
Vesuvius entrance ticket
Naples
Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel skip the line ticket
Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel skip the line ticket
Rome
Quality of Experience
Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel - private guide
Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel - private guide
Rome
Naples guided walk
Naples guided walk
Italy

Guiseppe was great - learned a lot about the culture and history of Naples. And enjoyed good Napoli pizza for lunch

Colosseum and Roman Forum - Private guide
Colosseum and Roman Forum - Private guide
Rome
Quality of Experience
Rome Private Guided Walk
Rome Private Guided Walk
Rome
Quality of Experience
Colosseum & Roman Forum skip the line ticket
Colosseum & Roman Forum skip the line ticket
Rome
Local specialist: Andrea Gambino
Andrea
Andrea Gambino
Local specialist in Turin, Italy | Replied on Jul 18, 2023

Thanks so much Vidya for these nice words.
I am so glad you enjoyed your trip and we would be happy to assist you in the future.

Amazing Florence with beautiful self drive in Tuscany, but avoid driving in Italian riveria.
Italy | May 30 - Jun 8, 2023

J
juyee l.
Singapore | Reviewed on Jul 15, 2023
Organisation and booking of the trip through Kimkim and the help of Stephania was easy and straight forward. Kimkim gives you the flexibility to personalise our trip and leave out activities that are either too expensive or not interesting to us. We went on a 10 day trip to florence, tuscany and the italian riveria. Our favourite stay was in the bed and breakfast in tuscany at Villa di Capovento where the couple that runs the place prepares the best food we had during our trip, the house... Read more

Organisation and booking of the trip through Kimkim and the help of Stephania was easy and straight forward. Kimkim gives you the flexibility to personalise our trip and leave out activities that are either too expensive or not interesting to us.

We went on a 10 day trip to florence, tuscany and the italian riveria. Our favourite stay was in the bed and breakfast in tuscany at Villa di Capovento where the couple that runs the place prepares the best food we had during our trip, the house and surrounding environment was also so peaceful and I am so glad we got to experience their hospitality.

We were fortunate to also stay in Camogli, a small town along the italian riveria. Although this is not part of Cinque terre - we were honestly quite glad that we were booked to stay there instead. Cinque terre is a must visit but I will not recommend staying there as it is filled with tourist. Camgoli on the other hand has nice beaches and was a train ride away from St Margarita and Portofino which was worth a day visit each.

The only down side to our trip was the advice that we got from Kimkim on self driving in Italy . I felt that more local information could have been shared about the difficulty of driving around the italian riveria as we ended up just parking our rental car in Camogli for 2-3 days and taking the train around instead due to the extremely small roads and most roads were also not accessible to rental cars during the day. We only know about this when we arrived and was advised by the hotel staff and our guide when we were visiting Cinque terre. If this information was known beforehand, we could have saved a few days of car rental cost and take a train down from Florence instead.

Kimkim is unable to help you book your rental car, and in italy the other issue is car parking along the italian riveria is very limited - this also has to be booked in advance.

Hotel Review
Villa di Capovento
Radda in Chianti

Amazing homely bed and breakfast run by local couple. Best breakfast and food I had in italy. They have a very sustainable approach - growing most of their own ingredients and curating a menu based on local produce and season. Do not miss out on their daily dinner offers! The scenery, peacefulness and beauty of the estate is out of the world and you have to experience it yourself. They also produce their own olive oil and related products and also support local artists in their craft by using their items which you can purchase for yourself. I will definitely go back to Tuscany to just to stay here.

Authenticity & Character
Feels like you have been welcomed to stay in an Italian's family home
Location
On a hill with amazing view of Tuscany
Staff
Friendly, interacts well with guest, friendly cat!
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Stephania Abatis
Stephania
Stephania Abatis
Local specialist in Athens | Replied on Aug 02, 2023
HI JuYee, Thank you for your kind review of your trip to Italy! I am happy everything went smoothly and we were able to meet your expectations. I am glad to hear that you loved your bed and breakfast in Tuscany as well as your stay in Camogli. We appreciate the detailed comments about the hotels - as this will help us perfect our service and strive for the best. Driving could have given you some flexibility in timings however it is unfortunate that you had some difficulty and I have taken... Read more

HI JuYee,

Thank you for your kind review of your trip to Italy! I am happy everything went smoothly and we were able to meet your expectations. I am glad to hear that you loved your bed and breakfast in Tuscany as well as your stay in Camogli. We appreciate the detailed comments about the hotels - as this will help us perfect our service and strive for the best.

Driving could have given you some flexibility in timings however it is unfortunate that you had some difficulty and I have taken your issues into consideration. It was truly a pleasure creating this trip for you and I hope you will cherish your Italian memories.

Best wishes,
Stephania

I cannot say enough good things about Jessica and Storywalking
Italy | May 19 - May 30, 2023

Cathy
Cathy I.
San Jose, CA | Reviewed on Jul 14, 2023
I cannot say enough good things about Jessica Proietti and Storywalking. From planning our special trip to Italy to being with us every step of the way, during our vacation.
Jessica showed much patience with us as we changed the number of people attending, changing dates and changing cities we wanted to visit. We ended up with seven iterations of itineraries! We ended up having 8 people touring together from Rome to the Amalfi Coast, and then our vacation continued with 4 of us going...
Read more

I cannot say enough good things about Jessica Proietti and Storywalking. From planning our special trip to Italy to being with us every step of the way, during our vacation.
Jessica showed much patience with us as we changed the number of people attending, changing dates and changing cities we wanted to visit. We ended up with seven iterations of itineraries! We ended up having 8 people touring together from Rome to the Amalfi Coast, and then our vacation continued with 4 of us going north to the Dolomites and Lake Como. Jessica was able to coordinate our different flights schedules, price points and varying interests in activities. One month before our trip was to begin, my daughter decided to join us, and Jessica was able to include her in everything. And then, unfortunately, four people had to cancel at the very last minute and Jessica was able to provide some refunds and juggle around the cars and hotels.
We booked multiple private drivers and had many private transfers. All were wonderful, friendly, and professional. Our private driver and tour guide for Herculaneum and Pompeii were fantastic. I highly recommend the private guide. We also booked an Exclusive Capri Boat Tour from Positano. It was an 8-hour excursion with snorkeling and swimming, with a stop in Capri and another island for lunch. Again, the captain and guide were friendly, fun and professional. They also had a variety of snacks and drinks. The hotels Jessica booked for us met our needs and requests perfectly.
Once the itinerary was set, Jessica and Barbara were available to us, using their app AXUS, any hour of the day. They would respond in minutes to any questions or concerns we had. I have to mention one such issue that Jessica resolved by going above and beyond. The self-serve ticket kiosks were not working at the Bologna train station, and we were not able to get our tickets printed or downloaded. Jessica went to the Milan train station and sent me pictures of our tickets, so we did not miss our train!
In the end, Jessica took the worries of planning away from us and provided us with fantastic service, planning and guidance.

Hotel Reviews
Goldenstern Townhouse
Bolzano

Great location, friendly staff and clean! Goldenstern Townhouse had a very unique layout and our room was spacious and had a full kitchen. It was close to everything.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel de Len
Cortina d'Ampezzo

Hotel de Len was probably our favorite location and hotel of our entire trip. The staff was amazing. Everyone was friendly, kind and professional. We had drinks in the bar, dinner at the restaurant and massages in their spa. We took advantage of everything and we were not disappointed. And the location... WOW... simply beautiful and our rooms matched the location with it's beauty.

Authenticity & Character
The hotel felt like it belonged in the mountains but with all the amenities.
Location
centrally located and beautiful
Staff
From checking in to checking out and everyone in between were fantastic.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Rooms were clean and spacious
Local specialist: Jessica Proietti
Jessica
Jessica Proietti
Local specialist in Italy | Replied on Jul 17, 2023

Dear Cathy, thank you very much for taking time in reviewing your experience with us.
It has been a great pleasure! As a boutique tour operator, we always experience in person all services before promoting them, to make sure they are great and your trip runs smoothly. I'm also glad to know that our app was helpful and you were able to handle all details easily.

Ciao from sunny Italy :) see you soon!
Jessica

Fantastic worry free trip to Southern Italy and Rome
Italy | Oct 12 - Oct 25, 2022

Fran
Fran s.
Wayne, PA | Reviewed on Jul 13, 2023
We had a fantastic two week trip to Souther Italy which we arranged with Maria Grazia. She was very knowledgeable and adjusted our trip for us several times to ensure we got to see everything we were interested in. Out trip started in Sicily in Catania, moved to Palermo via Train, then a small flight hop to Sorento and Amafi Coast and then another train ending in Rome. Our hotels were are very nice and the staff was excellent. They were perfectly located in each area and allowed us... Read more

We had a fantastic two week trip to Souther Italy which we arranged with Maria Grazia. She was very knowledgeable and adjusted our trip for us several times to ensure we got to see everything we were interested in. Out trip started in Sicily in Catania, moved to Palermo via Train, then a small flight hop to Sorento and Amafi Coast and then another train ending in Rome.

Our hotels were are very nice and the staff was excellent. They were perfectly located in each area and allowed us to walk to everything we wanted to see. They were also very convenient to local restaurants and all had fabulous breakfasts provided!

The Kim Kim team arranged transportation for everything. Not having to deal with driving made our trip much more relaxing. All the drivers were very good and provided us interesting information about the areas. I usually drive everywhere we go, but was surprised how nice this made the trip. Not worry about how to get to places and dealing with parking and the other issues.

As far as activities we did my favorite were the Story Walking tours in the towns and the private walking tour of the Path of Gods. We also had a great boat trip off Sorrento coast, Positano and Amalfi boat tour with Ieranto bay.

I should also mention that we had a local contact Jessica who provided us her personal number and was immediately responsive to any questions we had. She confirmed our drivers and helped with one issue we had. Best service I have ever had on a trip!

Thank you Maria and Jessica for a wonderful trip!

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Duomo Suites and Spa
Catania

Beautiful hotel in the perfect location for getting around town. Staff was very friendly and helpful. Breakfast was fantastic. And the view from the top was great. Would definitely stay here again.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Walking distance to everything
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Principe di Lampedusa
Palermo

Great location. Easy walk to many attractions. Staff was very friendly and breakfast was great. Very comfortable room.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Rivoli Sorrento
Sorrento

Was a very nice hotel, room was small but comfortable. Easy walk to everything. Nice breakfast.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Had an issue with hot water, staff wasn't very helpful. Otherwise they were very nice.
Cleanliness & Comfort
History Suite
Rome

Location was very interesting, had to prearrange meet time so we could get keys and get in. Owner was great though. The location is fantastic, basically in the middle of all the places you will want to visit. Room was very nice and we enjoyed our stay!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Owner and breakfast staff were very friendly
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
E-bike tour of Etna along Magma Trail
E-bike tour of Etna along Magma Trail
Catania

I don't think this tour was run well. It start out with us getting pickup up and then stopping to get gas before we went to another location to pickup his friend that was going to drive the truck back. We wasted a lot of time before we even headed to the mountain. This should have been done before picking us up. The ride itself was beautiful though unfortunately we would up having heavy rain and thunderstorms. We tried to group through but the guide was not prepared for the weather and kept telling us we should have been more prepared. We are travelers and can't pack tons of gear, he should have provided weather gear for us. Because of the weather and lack of gear we had to cut the trip short. We sat in a restaurant dripping wet and waited for an hour for someone to bring the truck to pick us up. A waitress felt so bad for us she brought us some towels and gave a blow dryer to try to warm up a little. He should have known he had to cut it short since he kept telling us we weren't prepared for the weather and planned ahead so we didn't have to sit shaking wet. I think this would have been a good trip if it had been planned better. Even with the weather if he had just had some rain gear for us it would have been fun.

Quality of Experience
Mountain was beautiful, ride would have been great. Would definitely find a similar tour.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Didn't plan well, blamed us for not be prepared. Unprofessional.
Transport
Crammed into a truck with gear, stopping for gas, picking up friends. No pleasant.
Private Valley of the Temples Agrigento Tour
Private Valley of the Temples Agrigento Tour
Palermo

Our guide was great and very knowledgeable! Valley was beautiful.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Loved our guide
Transport
Palermo Private Walking Tour
Palermo Private Walking Tour
Palermo

Our guide was very knowledgeable and customized the tour a bit for us since we had already wondered around quite a bit.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Marilu was a great tour guide
Transport
Walking tour, but we covered a lot of area
Sorrento coast, Positano and Amalfi boat tour with Ieranto bay
Sorrento coast, Positano and Amalfi boat tour with Ieranto bay
Italy

Loved this boat tour, we had a great crews and made some nice stops. Positano was our favorite little town.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Walking tour Path of Gods
Private Walking tour Path of Gods
Italy

Don't miss this tour, it was beautiful! Just a fantastic walk along the coast. Our guide was great!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Colosseum Tour with Underground, Arena & Gladiator Gate with Roman Forum
Colosseum Tour with Underground, Arena & Gladiator Gate with Roman Forum
Rome

The colosseum is an amazing structure. Getting to go under and get a real view into what it was like there was amazing. Without the underground tour you miss so much. We really enjoyed.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Evening Rome Walking Tour
Private Evening Rome Walking Tour
Rome

Nice tour. We had done a lot of sightseeing on our own before the tour so they customized it a bit for us. Guide was very knowledgeable and took us to see some things we had missed.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Bomarzo & Orvieto Day Trip from Rome
Private Bomarzo & Orvieto Day Trip from Rome
Italy

Orvieto is a beautiful little town with fantastic views, if you have the time it is worth the trip. And the Bomarzo stop was very nice as well. A very peaceful walk.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our driver on this trip was exceptional, very friendly! Some great recommendations for future vacations.
Transport
Local specialist: Maria Grazia Rubino
Maria Grazia
Maria Grazia Rubino
Local specialist in Italy | Replied on Jul 14, 2023

Dear Francis,
First of all I'd like to thank you for taking the time to leave such a glowing review about your travel experience with Storywalking. Your kind words and positive and constructive feedback are very important to us.

We are glad we had the opportunity to be part of your Italian adventure. Should you decide to embark on another journey to Italy in the future, we would be thrilled to assist you once again.

Also, thank you for sharing these beautiful pictures you took during your trip! :)

I wish you and Kimberly all the best.

Maria Grazia
Storywalking

Our ‘trip of a lifetime’ was exactly that, ab...
Italy | May 16 - May 29, 2023

Angela
Angela C.
El Cajon, CA | Reviewed on Jul 12, 2023
Our ‘trip of a lifetime’ was exactly that, absolutely amazing! Moreno and his team were responsive and supportive throughout our entire trip. Moreno executed the trip I had in my mind down to the details I could not have even imagined. One experience after the other continued to get better and better, blowing us away. These are memories we will remember forever. We are grateful for the experience we had in Venice, Florence, Amalfi and Rome and cannot wait to venture into more of Italy one... Read more

Our ‘trip of a lifetime’ was exactly that, absolutely amazing! Moreno and his team were responsive and supportive throughout our entire trip. Moreno executed the trip I had in my mind down to the details I could not have even imagined. One experience after the other continued to get better and better, blowing us away. These are memories we will remember forever. We are grateful for the experience we had in Venice, Florence, Amalfi and Rome and cannot wait to venture into more of Italy one day. When we do, I’ll be reaching out to Moreno and KimKim again!

Hotel Reviews
Arcadia Hotel Venice
Venice
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Alfieri9 Boutique Hotel Florence
Florence
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Bellevue Suite
Amalfi
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Charme Spagna Boutique Hotel
Rome

A bit disappointing due to construction happening in front of the hotel.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Hands-on Cooking Class & Farmhouse visit in the Amalfi Coast
Hands-on Cooking Class & Farmhouse visit in the Amalfi Coast
Italy
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Venice Walking Tour with St. Marks Basilica and Gondola Ride
Venice Walking Tour with St. Marks Basilica and Gondola Ride
Italy
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Florence architecture and culture highlight Uffizi gallery tour - the essence of Renaissance
Florence architecture and culture highlight Uffizi gallery tour - the essence of Renaissance
Italy
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Winery tour in Tuscany countryside
Winery tour in Tuscany countryside
Italy
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Capri and the Amalfi coast boat tour with the Blu Grotto
Capri and the Amalfi coast boat tour with the Blu Grotto
Italy
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit Positano + Sorrento - Pizza Making Class
Visit Positano + Sorrento - Pizza Making Class
Amalfi
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Vatican & Sistine Chapel Tour
Vatican & Sistine Chapel Tour
Rome
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Galleria Borghese Tour
Galleria Borghese Tour
Rome
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Moreno Moretti
Moreno
Moreno Moretti
Local specialist in Italy | Replied on Oct 05, 2023

Dear Angela,
thank you so much for your review and for letting us plan your trip to Italy!
We are so pleased we helped make some of the memories you have made and we can't wait for your next trip to Italy!
Thanks again from myself and the team!
Ciao,
Moreno

Fabulous trip to Italy
Italy | Jun 25 - Jun 30, 2023

Melinda
Melinda F.
Herriman, UT | Reviewed on Jul 12, 2023
Our trip to Italy was wonderful! It was so incredibly convenient to have drivers waiting for us at each of our locations and tours already scheduled and prepared. Honestly, the driving in Naples was a little scary, so we were so happy not to have to try to navigate that! :D
Fabio was our tour guide to Pompeii, and he did a fantastic job. He helped us to understand the history and culture surrounding this fascinating city.
From there we took the train to Rome, where again we had a driver...
Read more

Our trip to Italy was wonderful! It was so incredibly convenient to have drivers waiting for us at each of our locations and tours already scheduled and prepared. Honestly, the driving in Naples was a little scary, so we were so happy not to have to try to navigate that! :D
Fabio was our tour guide to Pompeii, and he did a fantastic job. He helped us to understand the history and culture surrounding this fascinating city.
From there we took the train to Rome, where again we had a driver waiting to take us to our hotel which was only a couple of blocks from the Colosseum. Our tour of the Colisseum and Roman Forum with Chiara was excellent. It is so helpful to have someone experienced and knowledgeable to explain the history and sites. Likewise the next day at the Vatican with Donata. All of our tour guides and drivers were fantastic.
From Rome we took a train to Florence and from there we branched off on our own, renting a car and exploring northern Italy. While the rest of our trip was still fantastic, we missed the ease and convenience of having Kimkim and Ina take care of everything for us. They did a wonderful job!

Hotel Reviews
Palazzo Alabardieri Hotel Napoli
Naples

Beautiful hotel, delicious breakfast. Located right in the heart of the action in Naples.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Capo d'Africa—Colosseo
Rome

Beautiful hotel in a prime location in Rome. The staff was incredibly helpful and we had a great stay. We chose not to get the hotel breakfast, but there was a fantastic 'bar'/bakery just down the street and around the corner where we were able to get fresh pastries. Being able to walk two blocks to the Colisseum was incredibly convenient!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Orto De' Medici
Florence

Fantastic hotel with wonderful breakfast (my husband was especially impressed by the fresh orange juice machine). Ideally located in Florence, we had a wonderful stay.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Colosseum & Roman Forum Tour
Colosseum & Roman Forum Tour
Rome

Chiara was our guide for the Colosseum and Roman Forum and she did an amazing job! Our tour included the underground of the Colosseum, which was fascinating. Chiara was able to maneuver us through the crowds with ease. She helped us to understand the history and archaeology of the area while keeping us engaged and entertained.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Chiara was fantastic!
Transport
N/A. Hotel was close enough we could walk to the tour.
Private Pompeii Tour
Private Pompeii Tour
Pompeii

We absolutely loved our private tour of Pompeii. Fabio, our tour guide was amazing! As an archaeologist he was able to inform us about the history and culture of Pompeii and answer all of our questions. We were really able to understand the life in that city before its tragic end. I would 100% recommend this tour, especially with Fabio as your guide!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Fabio and our driver Pasquale were wonderful!
Transport
Vatican Guided Tour
Vatican Guided Tour
Rome

Donata did a fantastic job with our tour through the Vatican. She was fun and engaging while sharing with us the cultural and artistic history of the museum. We were able to go through a restricted portion of the museum, and it was wonderful to see some of the sculptures and mosaics without the crowds. Donata did a great job preparing us with things to look for and notice within the Sistine Chapel. Otherwise it can be an overwhelming experience!

Quality of Experience
The museum was very crowded and most of it isn't air conditioned. Definitely not anything the tour has control over, but it did decrease the quality of the experience.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Donata was fantastic!
Transport
Useful Information
Italy

We received great guidelines for our time in Florence.

Local specialist: Ina Gaydarova
Ina
Ina Gaydarova
Local specialist in Athens, Greece | Replied on Jul 12, 2023

Dear, Melinda and Scott!

Thank you so much for all the 5 stars and additional comments. I'm so happy you had a fantastic time in Naples, Rome and Florence and even though you continued on your own after that I'm so glad you had the chance to see Northern Italy as well. There is so much variety of nature and scenery in this beautiful country, it would have been a pity not to see it. It was a great pleasure working with you! Safe travels!
Ina

Thank you for a worry-free Italian holiday!
Italy | Jun 29 - Jul 8, 2023

Bethany
Bethany S.
Storrs, CT | Reviewed on Jul 12, 2023
Thank you, Chris, for an amazing Italian adventure! From the beginning planning stages all the way through the end, Chris was highly communicative, very accessible, and really understood what I was looking for on this trip (namely, a mix of planned tours and free time, plus seamless transportation that I didn't have to think about). Chris checked in with me regularly and when one of my tours in Venice fell through, Chris worked behind the scenes to secure a refund. Each of my hotels was homey... Read more

Thank you, Chris, for an amazing Italian adventure! From the beginning planning stages all the way through the end, Chris was highly communicative, very accessible, and really understood what I was looking for on this trip (namely, a mix of planned tours and free time, plus seamless transportation that I didn't have to think about). Chris checked in with me regularly and when one of my tours in Venice fell through, Chris worked behind the scenes to secure a refund. Each of my hotels was homey and boutique and in fantastic locations, and all of the tour guides were an absolute wealth of knowledge. Working with Chris took all the stress and anxiety out of planning my first vacation in five years, and I would work with him again in a heartbeat!

Hotel Reviews
Royal Suite Trinita dei Monti
Rome

This hotel is so cool. Located near the top of the Spanish steps, it is truly boutique with a vintage feel. My room had a small balcony that looked right out over the steps, and even though you're in the center of the action, it doesn't feel unsafe. The staff is lovely. The woman at the front desk when I checked in escorted me to my room, recommended a spot for dinner, and insisted I take an umbrella with me on a day when rain looked likely. The breakfast set-up is a bit odd -- they give you a voucher to bring to the cafe across the street -- but it's a good breakfast with lots of options. There's a small elevator, or you can go in and out through a side gate on the steps.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Roma
Florence

This hotel is located in a great location, very close to the train station and to Ponte Vecchio. My first night, they informed me that the air conditioning in my room was broken, so they had moved me into this annex they own next door. It was on the 3rd floor, no elevator, dark stairwells, but the AC worked and a porter brought up my bag, so it felt like part of the adventure. The next day, I asked about the status of my room, and I'm glad I did -- it was ready and they said I could move in there if I wanted to -- but I had the sense that had I not proactively mentioned it, they would not have and I would have ended up in the annex room the whole time. The new room was more comfortable and with a bigger, softer bed than the annex room. There was no window, just a skylight, but it lit the room well. The bathtub was large and they provided complimentary toothbrushes. Breakfast was good, though the dining room was not air conditioned.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Antiche Figure
Venice

The staff here was so nice, and the room was adorable. When I checked in, the woman at the desk gave me a map and provided detailed directions on how to reach certain landmarks (which was great, as Google Maps and Venice don't always get along). She then escorted me to my room and helped me with my bag. The room itself was large, comfortable, and quiet, and breakfast was good. The location was convenient -- right across from the train station -- but be warned that there's a large bridge with no ramp you'll need to cross to get there. There's a spot for a private water taxi pickup to the airport right next door, which was also super convenient and easy to find.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Chris Gravas
Chris
Chris Gravas
Local specialist in Athens, Greece | Replied on Jul 12, 2023
Dear Bethany, Thank you so much for your kind words and your appreciation of my help. It was an absolute pleasure to work with you on this, and you were very nice and so cooperative and understanding throughout the planning process and during your trip. I'm super glad you enjoyed seamless and stress-free transportation arrangements, while enjoying a mix of planned activities and free time, hotels with a homey feeling and hospitable staff, as well as guides with vast knowledge to share. Your... Read more

Dear Bethany,

Thank you so much for your kind words and your appreciation of my help. It was an absolute pleasure to work with you on this, and you were very nice and so cooperative and understanding throughout the planning process and during your trip. I'm super glad you enjoyed seamless and stress-free transportation arrangements, while enjoying a mix of planned activities and free time, hotels with a homey feeling and hospitable staff, as well as guides with vast knowledge to share.

Your specific comments regarding the hotels and some details are more than welcome, and will be put to good use for our future travelers, so that we make their experience even better.

I would love to plan another trip for you, next time perhaps in Greece (?!) why not? You know where to find me :)

Wishing you a wonderful remaining of your summer and all the best!

Safe travels,
Chris

4 cities, 11 days in Italy
Italy | Jun 29 - Jul 10, 2023

David
David M.
Scotch Plains, NJ | Reviewed on Jul 11, 2023
The booking process was easy w the help of Irene. We loved the guide Giorgia in Siena. We didn’t know the back story of the horse race and it was fascinating. She also got us right into the thick of the parade. All of the drivers were excellent. We really liked Guillermo who drove us to Siena from Terre di Baccio. We loved all the hotels. The service, breakfasts and locations were all great. Our favorite experience was the private boat ride in Sorrento. I think the skipper’s name was Luigi... Read more

The booking process was easy w the help of Irene. We loved the guide Giorgia in Siena. We didn’t know the back story of the horse race and it was fascinating. She also got us right into the thick of the parade. All of the drivers were excellent. We really liked Guillermo who drove us to Siena from Terre di Baccio. We loved all the hotels. The service, breakfasts and locations were all great. Our favorite experience was the private boat ride in Sorrento. I think the skipper’s name was Luigi and he was perfect. I highly recommend using Irene and the kimkim team for a vacation.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Splendid Venice - Starhotel
Venice
Authenticity & Character
Location
It was an easy walk to shops and the pier. A water taxi pulls up to the hotel
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Terre di Baccio Hotel Tuscany
Greve in Chianti

Great staff. Amazing food. Gorgeous views. There are alpacas and dogs to pet at breakfast. Are you kidding me?!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
VOI Donna Camilla Savelli
Rome

Great location for Rome. Excellent staff. Great breakfast.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Grand Hotel De La Ville
Sorrento

Great location near center of Sorrento. Great staff. Loved the pools. Rooftop bar and a rooftop pool w great views.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Siena Walking Tour
Siena Walking Tour
Siena

Giorgia was an excellent guide. She’s lived in Siena for 25 years and gave us lots of great insight into the town, culture and horse race, which we were lucky enough to catch as it is only twice a year.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guillermo the driver has a wonderful personality. He was a pleasure.
Transport
Tuscany Tour & Lunch
Tuscany Tour & Lunch
Italy

This tour was a favorite, especially for Christina. We visited a winery where we had the pleasure of interacting with an older gentleman who was a painter. The winery visit was followed by a delicious lunch. Our driver was knowledgeable about wines. The lunch wasn't a full meal but it was enough to eat, and we enjoyed wine throughout.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Vatican Guided Tour
Private Vatican Guided Tour
Rome

Our tour guide, Matteo, was exceptional. He was very good at navigating us through the Vatican, even skipping the line of the skip line people. He was quite knowledgeable about the history and explained things very well about the Sistine Chapel and the shrines. His expertise ensured we had a thorough tour without it taking too long.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Amalfi Coast Boat Tour From Sorrento
Amalfi Coast Boat Tour From Sorrento
Sorrento

The family absolutely loved this tour. Our boat driver was great and the stops at two towns were enjoyable. The highlight was when he stopped and threw some fish food into the water, attracting beautiful blue fish. The kids were thrilled to snorkel among the fish. The views were breathtaking and the overall experience was unforgettable.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Sorrento Sea Kayak Tour
Sorrento Sea Kayak Tour
Italy

This was quite an adventure, especially for my 13-year-old who found the waves challenging. The guide helped by tying his kayak to hers and we managed to reach a small cave area where we took a break. We took some beautiful pictures there. The experience was a bit challenging but still enjoyable.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Irene Lappa

Moreno and Team was fantastic
Italy | Jun 25 - Jul 2, 2023

Indera
Indera W.
Flagami, FL | Reviewed on Jul 10, 2023
Many thanks for making our Italian vacation incredible, everything was great, our driver and also our boat captain was incredible and made the experience that much more enjoyable, everyone was very knowledgeable and helpful. We had to make a few time changes and everyone was very accommodating. We will definitely use KimKim again for our future travels. Read more

Many thanks for making our Italian vacation incredible, everything was great, our driver and also our boat captain was incredible and made the experience that much more enjoyable, everyone was very knowledgeable and helpful. We had to make a few time changes and everyone was very accommodating. We will definitely use KimKim again for our future travels.

Hotel Reviews
La Bussola Hotel
Amalfi

Absolutely love this hotel, if we end up in Amalfi, this is my spot.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Del Mare
Sorrento

Did not love our stay here, our room needed a bit more cleaning, we also requested to have sea view rooms which we did not get, no water in the rooms, but you can purchase at the front desk, also charges for coffee if you did not make the breakfast time and also charges for beach towels.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
 Full Day Island Tour in Capri and Anacapri from Amalfi
Full Day Island Tour in Capri and Anacapri from Amalfi
Amalfi

Everyone loved the boat tour. The lunch was amazing, staff helpful and accommodating. Unfortunately time ran out before we could make it to Capri or Anacapri, but we went another day.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Day trip to Positano and Ravello
Day trip to Positano and Ravello
Italy

We had a wonderful time, after Ravello, we had the most incredible lunch on the beach, which took most of our day, so we never made it to Positano, but we were fine with that.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Food Tour - Sorrento ( Olive Oil Tasting + Pizza Cooking Class)
Food Tour - Sorrento ( Olive Oil Tasting + Pizza Cooking Class)
Italy

Again, this was so much more than we expected, everyone loved this experience. We enjoyed tasting all the incredible oils and vinegars. We would do this again.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Moreno Moretti
Moreno
Moreno Moretti
Local specialist in Italy | Replied on Oct 05, 2023

Thank you so much for your review!
It was an absolute pleasure for us to help you book your trip!
We look forward to your next trip to Italy!
Ciao!

Everything that Francesca planned for us was ...
Italy | Jul 1 - Jul 9, 2023

Chris
Chris H.
Tysons Corner, VA | Reviewed on Jul 10, 2023

Everything that Francesca planned for us was highly enjoyable from the drivers to the accommodations and especially the tour guides she assigned to us.

I highly recommend Francesca and KimKim. We traveled at the peak of the season and would never had been able to accomplish as much as we did had I planned this on my own.

Local specialist: Francesca Cichella
Francesca
Francesca Cichella
Local specialist in Abruzzo, Italy | Replied on Jul 17, 2023

Ciao Chris & family, I am so happy to know your trip went great! Thank you for taking the time to write this review! Not only sharing your overall experience keeps me motivated in pursuing with my mission but I'm sure it's gonna be very helpful for other travelers who are considering organizing their vacation with a Travel Specialist. Thanks again and all the best!

This is the second trip we have planned with ...
Italy | Jun 12 - Jun 21, 2023

Jaime
Jaime S.
Ann Arbor, MI | Reviewed on Jul 10, 2023
This is the second trip we have planned with Tasos at KimKim. We did a 50th anniversary trip for our parents in 2019 to Greece with the immediate family of 5. This year we traveled to Italy with grandchildren as well. Both trips were outstanding! We highly recommend Taso’s services for he is patient, knowledgeable, extremely accommodating, and timely in his responses,. We have referred KimKim to family and friends! Read more

This is the second trip we have planned with Tasos at KimKim. We did a 50th anniversary trip for our parents in 2019 to Greece with the immediate family of 5. This year we traveled to Italy with grandchildren as well. Both trips were outstanding! We highly recommend Taso’s services for he is patient, knowledgeable, extremely accommodating, and timely in his responses,. We have referred KimKim to family and friends!

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Modigliani
Roma

The hotel was clean and comfortable. The staff was friendly and accommodating.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Olimpia
Venice

This hotel was beautiful and historical looking. We enjoyed our stay here

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Residenza Luce
Amalfi

Resident Luce in Amalfi was beautifully decorated and the family that owns and runs it was absolutely wonderful! To enjoy their incredible breakfast on the beautiful rooftop deck was an absolute delight! They really did make you feel like you were part of their family. A truly magical place. A great recommendation!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Villa Sabolini Tuscany
Colle di Val d'Elsa

Villa Sabolini was exactly what we had hoped for! Beautiful grounds and views overlooking the Tuscan countryside. On our first night, we enjoyed dinner in the bar area with their very accommodating staff. The pool offered a quiet reprieve after a day of cooking and touring. Breakfast had so many delicious choices and the staff were wonderful! Both of our rooms offered nice views and amenities. Unfortunately, the air conditioning in the two-bedroom suite was not working during our 3 night stay.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Private Colosseum & Roman Forum Tour
Private Colosseum & Roman Forum Tour
Rome

Our guides were excellent and accommodating to our diverse group. The kids were engaged throughout and we felt that the experience was personalized to our needs.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Vatican Guided Tour
Private Vatican Guided Tour
Rome

The Vatican tour was impressive and our guide was very knowledgeable.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Rome Food Tour
Rome Food Tour
Rome

The food tour was fun and we enjoyed trying out local cuisines.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Rome Walking Tour
Private Rome Walking Tour
Rome
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Cooking Class in Chianti
Cooking Class in Chianti
Italy

The cooking class in Chianti was a highlight. We had a great time learning to cook Italian dishes.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Sunset & Aperitivo Gondola Ride
Private Sunset & Aperitivo Gondola Ride
Venice

The Gondola ride at sunset was an unforgettable experience. The prosecco was a nice touch.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Pompeii Tour & Mount Vesuvius visit with lunch and wine tasting
Private Pompeii Tour & Mount Vesuvius visit with lunch and wine tasting
Pompeii

The Pompeii tour was fascinating and Mount Vesuvius was thrilling. The lunch and wine tasting was a nice touch.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Tasos Mylonas

Everything was great. We liked the hotels and...
Italy | Jun 24 - Jul 7, 2023

Jessica
Jessica L.
Sacramento, CA | Reviewed on Jul 10, 2023
Everything was great. We liked the hotels and appreciated the reliableness of the transportation. We also very much enjoyed our local guides.
It was nice to know Roberta was available if we needed anything.
Our guide in Lake Como (name?) was a little much. She talked a lot.
The rest of our guides are the trip were more easy going and we enjoyed that.
Sergio in Lake Garda was very easy going and enjoyable.
We also really like Serena in Siena. She did a good job of concisely...
Read more

Everything was great. We liked the hotels and appreciated the reliableness of the transportation. We also very much enjoyed our local guides.
It was nice to know Roberta was available if we needed anything.
Our guide in Lake Como (name?) was a little much. She talked a lot.
The rest of our guides are the trip were more easy going and we enjoyed that.
Sergio in Lake Garda was very easy going and enjoyable.
We also really like Serena in Siena. She did a good job of concisely explaining a lot to us. We learned a lot from her.
Sara, our hiking guide in Greve was great. We had a very nice, relaxing hike.
Andrea is Cinque Terre was also great. He took us on good hike and was able to get us acquianted with all the villages in one day.
Overall it was an amazing trip and everything went smoothly.
Really, the only complaint we had was the seat arrangements is the van. We did not like the seats facing each other. We preferred to have the seats all facing forward. It got fixed for a couple rides but then went back to facing each other for the last two rides.
Thanks for everything. We will defintiely recommned KimKim to our friends and family.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Villa Flori
Como

The view at this hotel was amazing. It was also our favorite breakfast and the staff at breakfast were so friendly. The only downside to this location was you couldn't walk to very many things.

Authenticity & Character
Location
The view was amazing but we couldn't walk to much.
Staff
Breakfast staff were so friendly, the front desk not as much.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Olivi Thermae & Natural Spa
Sirmione

The location of this hotel was great. The staff was not very friendly and seemed to be a bit of an older crowd.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Athena Siena
Siena

It was a good location. The breakfast wasn't as good as some of the other hotels.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Palazzo Leopoldo
Radda in Chianti

This was a really neat hotel to stay in. We really liked the rooms. The staff was not very friendly.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Porto Roca
Monterosso

We really enjoyed this hotel. The views were amazing. We enjoyed hanging out at the pool talking to other guests.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Star Hotel Rosa Grand
Milan

We had very little time in Milan and this hotel was perfect because of the location.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Guided Tour by public ferry of Lake Como - Explore Bellagio
Guided Tour by public ferry of Lake Como - Explore Bellagio
Italy

I think if we were to do this again, we would do a private boat versus the ferry. Our guide was very knowledgeable but she talked too much. We were a little overwhelmed by her.

Private guided boat tour on Lake Garda
Private guided boat tour on Lake Garda
Italy

We really liked the private boat, we felt like we could see a lot more that way. Our guide was very easy going and it made for a very nice relaxing day.

Walking Tour of Siena
Walking Tour of Siena
Italy

I'm so glad we did this do at the beginning of our stay. It was an amazing orientation to Siena. There is a lot to know about Siena and Serena did a great job informing us.

Day Trip to Volterra & San Gimignano from Siena
Day Trip to Volterra & San Gimignano from Siena
Siena

It was good to see these places but they were not a highlight of the trip.

Hiking on the Chianti Hills
Hiking on the Chianti Hills
Italy

We really enjoyed our hike with Sara.

Private transfer from Chianti to the Cinque Terre with stop in Lucca en route
Private transfer from Chianti to the Cinque Terre with stop in Lucca en route
Italy

We enjoyed our stop in Lucca.

Hike the Villages of Cinque Terre
Hike the Villages of Cinque Terre
Italy

Andrea took us a on hike we probably wouldn't have done on our own so that was great. He also gave us a good orientation of all the villages and how to take the train.

Local specialist: Fabio Fasone

Italian graduation trip
Italy | Jun 30 - Jul 9, 2023

L
Laurie P.
South Salt Lake, UT | Reviewed on Jul 10, 2023
Fabio put together a perfect trip for me, my husband and our grandson. It was just as we requested. We were very busy and saw all the fun and important sights. Everything went like clockwork.
All of our drivers were on time and very good. Some were friendlier than others but they all knew how to drive safely through the crazy, crazy Italian traffic. Our best drivers were Bruno who took us to Pompeii and then arranged a delicious pasta lunch at Cuomo’s in Gragnano and Stefano who took...
Read more

Fabio put together a perfect trip for me, my husband and our grandson. It was just as we requested. We were very busy and saw all the fun and important sights. Everything went like clockwork.
All of our drivers were on time and very good. Some were friendlier than others but they all knew how to drive safely through the crazy, crazy Italian traffic. Our best drivers were Bruno who took us to Pompeii and then arranged a delicious pasta lunch at Cuomo’s in Gragnano and Stefano who took us to Volterra, and Gimgnano plus a lunch at an unique winery in a beautiful setting.
The Hotel Kraft in Florence with the swimming pool, beautiful rooftop terrace with views of Florence and superior breakfasts was the best. The CC Palace in Rome was very nice as well. The Hotel Mignon in Sorrento was charming inside but lacking in attention to detail on the terrace and breakfasts.
We had such a great time which was due in part to arrangements and timing for tickets, tour guides and drivers.

Fabio was always available for any questions or concerns and responded quickly. I really enjoyed working with him.

Hotel Reviews
Kraft Hotel Florence
Florence

Clean comfortable rooms nicely decorated. Fantastic views from the rooftop terrace with a swimming pool and five-star breakfast and service. Centrally located and quiet.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Mignon Sorrento
Sorrento

Centrally located but on a very noisy street. The room was bright and cheerful and very clean. The breakfast was ordinary and adequate. The deck outside the bedroom was dirty and neglected. Staff was very helpful.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
CC Palace Hotel
Roma

Hotel was mostly located, the staff was very helpful and friendly, and the hotel and the rooms have been recently decorated and are very nice and comfortable and clean. Breakfast was good and the breakfast room was pleasant.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Tuscany Day Trip to Siena & San Gimignano  | Winery Included
Tuscany Day Trip to Siena & San Gimignano | Winery Included
Florence

Hilltop towns of Volterra and San Gimignano should now be missed.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Discover Pompeii Archaeological Park
Discover Pompeii Archaeological Park
Sorrento

Pompeii is fascinating.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Tickets to Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
Tickets to Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
Rome
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Florence Art Tour: Uffizi & Accademia
Florence Art Tour: Uffizi & Accademia
Florence
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Not applicable. We walked.
St. Peter’s Basilica Tour with Dome Climb & Papal Crypts
St. Peter’s Basilica Tour with Dome Climb & Papal Crypts
Rome

The Vatican and the Vatican museums are so unique and beautiful that they should not be missed.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Guided Tour of the Colosseum & Roman Forum
Guided Tour of the Colosseum & Roman Forum
Rome
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Not applicable. We walked
Self-Guided Day in Capri Island | Ferry Tickets Included
Self-Guided Day in Capri Island | Ferry Tickets Included
Italy

The blue grotto and Anacapri were fun and worth doing. The crowds were awful which made the day more difficult.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Fabio Ilardi
Fabio
Fabio Ilardi
Local specialist in Como, Italy | Replied on Jul 10, 2023

Buongiorno Laurie,
Thank you so much for taking the time to write a review and for sharing your thoughts on the services received. I am so happy that overall you and your family had a great trip through beautiful Italy, and it was a great pleasure helping you craft this itinerary as well as assisting you during your travels. I am looking forward to helping you again on your next Italian adventure! 🙂 I wish you and your family all the best!
Arrivederci,
Fabio

Italy Trip - Just what we wanted from Venice to Pompeii
Italy | Jun 24 - Jul 2, 2023

Kristin
Kristin C.
Bridgewater, NJ | Reviewed on Jul 08, 2023
Our trip was wonderful! Nine jammed packed days seeing the highlights from Venice to Pompeii from 3 different locations. Sonia listened to our requests as first time Italy visitors and filled our days with great experiences. Everything was incredibly smooth with all of the transportation at and between locations, and knowledgable and engaging guides/tours. My husband and two children (daughter-23 and son-19) agree that it was a great vacation. We were busy and came home exhausted - but that's... Read more

Our trip was wonderful! Nine jammed packed days seeing the highlights from Venice to Pompeii from 3 different locations. Sonia listened to our requests as first time Italy visitors and filled our days with great experiences. Everything was incredibly smooth with all of the transportation at and between locations, and knowledgable and engaging guides/tours. My husband and two children (daughter-23 and son-19) agree that it was a great vacation. We were busy and came home exhausted - but that's what we wanted. Sonia listened and put together the perfect itinerary for us.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Carnival Palace
Venice

Great location., nice amenities and service. Good breakfast with great coffee and large selection of food. Quiet neighborhood on small canal, but close to tourist areas, food and shopping. Would definitely recommend.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Palazzo Leopoldo
Radda in Chianti

Castle in quaint town. Lots of nooks and crannies with rooms. Great breakfast and coffee, and restaurant for dinner. We loved everything about it, but the WIFI. As to be expected, with 2 foot castle walls, the wifi was iffy at best.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
Private Chianti wine tour with cooking class and lunch
Private Chianti wine tour with cooking class and lunch
Italy

This was one of our favorite activities. It was a very special experience for all of us (myself, husband, daughter-23, and son-19. The organic vineyard and oil farm was beautiful. We enjoyed learning the history of the farm and about today's offerings. Making of local foods - tiaramasu, bruschetta, and pasta - with our instructor was fun experience. All followed by eating what we prepared with a variety of sauces for the pasta and tasting of wines, limoncello, and grappa. We left happy and satisfied!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Sonia Vanzin
Sonia
Sonia Vanzin
Local specialist in Venice | Replied on Jul 10, 2023

Wow! Thank you Kristin! It was a pleasure planning your family trip. You've always been responsive and clear and this helped a lot.
I am glad you all came home with great memories.
We look forward to welcoming to Italy again soon.

The best way to see Italy!
Italy | Jun 25 - Jul 4, 2023

L
Linda C.
Canada | Reviewed on Jul 08, 2023
We had the most spectacular Italy trip, all due to the excellent and detailed planning by Irene Lappa, and then aided by the Travel 12 Team.
Everything was perfect, from the transportation to the hotels to the tours and activities.
We were so impressed with the quick responses to our questions, right from the planning of the trip to the final day, when some changes had to be made, with no problem at all.
The specific tours set up by Irene were very educational and fun - truly enjoyable. We...
Read more

We had the most spectacular Italy trip, all due to the excellent and detailed planning by Irene Lappa, and then aided by the Travel 12 Team.
Everything was perfect, from the transportation to the hotels to the tours and activities.
We were so impressed with the quick responses to our questions, right from the planning of the trip to the final day, when some changes had to be made, with no problem at all.
The specific tours set up by Irene were very educational and fun - truly enjoyable. We now have wonderful memories of Rome, Florence, Siena, Venice and Milan. We have learned about Italy as the locals live and work, which is exactly what we wanted. We also now know how to make authentic Italian pizza and gelato!
We would absolutely recommend Kimkim, and particularly Irene Lappa, to anyone wanting to travel to Italy.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Alexandra Rome
Rome

This hotel is in a perfect location for walking around the neighborhood, with many cafes and restaurants. The beds were very comfortable and the buffet breakfast was excellent. We would definitely stay here again.

Authenticity & Character
It was not a standard hotel room, had lots of character.
Location
Walking to many restaurants, ambience of neighborhood
Staff
Very helpful in suggesting places to eat and how to get around
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very comfortable beds, very clean
Ottantotto Hotel Florence
Florence

One of our favourite! The history of the “hotel” was amazing- being a bakery and the a nobleman’s home -made us feel like we were living in the past with them. The breakfasts were delicious!

Authenticity & Character
As stated, the incredible history of the building was truly appealing. It was delightful having breakfast in the garden, or to just sit there.
Location
Easy walking to many places.
Staff
They were very helpful -explaining the entry system, getting us taxis and serving the breakfast.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Beds were very comfortable and the room was really clean.
Hotel Antigo Trovatore Venice
Venice

The location was terrific - easy walk to numerous restaurants and cafes, water taxis and water bus, and of course St.Mark’s Square.

Authenticity & Character
Being in a neighborhood setting made us feel like we were local! Our room had a balcony overlooking regular Venitian homes. The one drawback was the size of the room, as it was rather small and compact, but the wooden ceiling beams and decorative walls gave a lot of ambiance.
Location
Easy walking distance to many places.
Staff
Very helpful front desk - professional and friendly.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Only reason for 4 stars is the small size of the bedroom and bathroom.
Residenza delle Città
Milan

This is a self-catering hotel, meaning that it is an efficiency hotel. It has a fully equipped kitchen, a separate bedroom and a very spacious bathroom and living area.

Authenticity & Character
The spaciousness of the rooms was a very pleasant surprise. We didn’t use the kitchen at all, as we wanted to sample authentic Italian food in the local restaurants. There is an on site laundry, which came in very handy.
Location
This was exactly as we wanted - not in the main tourist areas with a regular type of hotel. We could walk to the train station and metro.
Staff
Very helpful front desk- explained how the entry system worked (if we came in after regular hours), helped us in figuring out the Metro system to get to the city centre - just very friendly and welcoming.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Beds were very comfortable. Everything was perfectly clean. We really liked the spaciousness.
Activity Reviews
Colosseum & Roman Forum Tour
Colosseum & Roman Forum Tour
Rome

Highly recommend this tour - we didn’t have to line up for hours to get in, and we went to the underground part where the gladiators and anime were kept. The history behind the Colosseum was absolutely fascinating and the tour guide’s explanation was exceptional. Our second tour guide was amazing as well, explaining so much of Roman history during the walking tour around the Forum.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Trastevere Afternoon Food Tour & Wine Experience
Trastevere Afternoon Food Tour & Wine Experience
Rome

This tour explained about the eating and wine pairing traditions of Italy. Absolutely delicious, informative and fun, throughout all the stops.

Quality of Experience
The tour guide was very knowledgeable, and made us truly enjoy the 4 hours. The owners of the different restaurants greeted us vey warmly and were delighted that we asked questions and enjoyed everything.
Food
Every stop had a different appetizer along with the Prosecco or specific wine. All delicious!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Very friendly, knowledgeable and made everything fun!
Transport
Our driver was very friendly, answered all our questions. The car was very luxurious!
Pizza and Gelato Making Class in Florence
Pizza and Gelato Making Class in Florence
Florence

Definitely something not to miss! Learning how to make authentic pizza and gelato was super fun. Eating our finished products was a great way to end this tour, especially as everything turned out well.

Food
Well, after learning to make our pizza step by step, it turned out perfectly & we were happy to eat our creations.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The head of the cooking class taught us so much, not only how to make the pizza and gelato, step by step, but all the history that went along with it. She was very passionate about teaching us, and her humorous comments just added to the fun. We are now experts at pizza making & knowing the difference in how to choose authentic gelato!
Transport
Very professional! Very friendly & again, very comfortable car.
Afternoon Florence Highlights Walking Tour (Semi-private)
Afternoon Florence Highlights Walking Tour (Semi-private)
Florence

Very informative and interesting walking tour. The highlight was definitely the Statue of David - something not to miss. Really enjoyed learning about the history of Florence.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
As with the other tours, the service, knowledge & friendliness of the people who we were assigned to were all excellent.
Tuscany Day Trip from Florence with Chianti, Siena & San Gimignano
Tuscany Day Trip from Florence with Chianti, Siena & San Gimignano
Florence

An awesome tour that touched on so many different aspects of life in Florence and the Tuscany area.

Quality of Experience
Siena was especially impressive, as we were there the day before their annual horse race. Parades start up at any place - we got behind one & had to follow it to be able to leave the town. The history of the 17 different groups in one small town - incredible! San Gimignano was an interesting place - a walled village with lots of history. The weather was very hot, and that’s the only reason we felt drained at the end and were happy to get back into our air conditioned van.
Food
The food served on the wine tour was delicious. We learned about how different wines are served with different courses and definitely did not need to have dinner on our return to Florence. Learning how this organic winery operates and how different wines are made was extremely interesting.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our group was split into 2 vans, with the tour guide being in the other van. So our driver answered all our questions - he was very proud of his country and gave us much background on everyday life. Plus he had a terrific voice - I asked him to sing & he played his recorded CD - such a talent in many areas!
Transport
Again, perfect.
Half-Day Murano & Burano Islands
Half-Day Murano & Burano Islands
Venice

Travelling to the islands by water taxi was a real treat! And refreshing! Watching how glass is made in 2 different ways was very interesting. It is a true art, with very specialized artists.

Guides, Drivers and Staff
It was always interesting talking to our guides and drivers, to learn about their everyday lives.
Transport
Water taxis through the canals - best way to go! The gondolas were interesting to watch - the skill of the rowers - but they were rather packed in along the canals, so we were glad that we had our own private transport already arranged.
Useful Information
Italy

It was very useful to have the suggestions, as we followed all of them.

Evening Aperitivo in Navigli
Evening Aperitivo in Navigli
Milan

A very interesting walking, wine tasting and aperitif tour. The area was where the locals “hang out”, so perfect for what we wanted to do.

Quality of Experience
Our tour guide knew all the local places to take us and have a history of everywhere we went. The food and drinks were delicious. Our group also got along famously! We were from 3 different continents.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our tour guide gave us a very welcoming - we were late because the directions were a bit confusing, as 2 areas were pretty much the same. We were in the wrong area! The group had to wait for us, but our guide was awesome about keeping us all relaxed & happy!
Transport
Milan Highlights With Duomo
Milan Highlights With Duomo
Milan

The Duomo and Castle were obviously spectacular, but the first hour of the walking tour was exactly the same area we had covered in the wine and food tour the evening before.

Quality of Experience
Not repeating the same walking tour part as the wine and food tour.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Irene Lappa