Kimkim Trip Reviews for Italy

4.8
Based on 900 ratings
Read 900 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.

Dream trip to NA, Italy
Italy | Mar 18 - Mar 25, 2022

Fatima
Fatima A.
Kuwait | Reviewed on Apr 02, 2022
We new the company through our search in the internet, and started planning with Jesseca Our planning although took a long time and emails back and forth, Jessicca provided us with a very detailed plan that reflected what we wanted and more. Her suggestions were really what we wanted and we enjoyed all the activities with no exception. From day one in all the activities, the services were as she said they would be, all the drivers were on time, professional and extremely nice and helpful.... Read more

We new the company through our search in the internet, and started planning with Jesseca

Our planning although took a long time and emails back and forth, Jessicca provided us with a very detailed plan that reflected what we wanted and more. Her suggestions were really what we wanted and we enjoyed all the activities with no exception.

From day one in all the activities, the services were as she said they would be, all the drivers were on time, professional and extremely nice and helpful. Everything was planned to its every detail except for the meal time, because Italy closes at 2 for the lunch we faced some difficulty planning our lunch in time of the activity and I think this should be taken into consideration when planing the activities.

All the activities were amazing and they provided us with the best services and treatment. The people that we met became our friends from the drivers to the tour guides.

I felt safe with all the tour guides and drivers and they all provided us with information on the places and the history of it.

I did find the prices for the tours higher than the tour’s prices normally when I asked and compared with the local prices around in the country.

Many thanks to Kimkim the company that turn our dreams to reality.

Best wishes

Activity Review
Explore Pompeii Walking Tour
Explore Pompeii Walking Tour
Italy
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Jessica Proietti
Jessica
Jessica Proietti
Local specialist in Italy | Replied on Apr 02, 2022

Ciao Fatima!!

Thank you very much for your review!
We always try to provide the best value, we often do inspections and spend time in our destinations to carefully select the best suppliers ever, try on your own all services to ensure that the experience is great and to ensure your trip runs smoothly, providing on-the-ground support 24/7 as well.

We believe our prices are fair based on this, we feel extremely lucky to have been able to serve you on your trip to Italy and I'm glad to know we turned your dreams into reality!

Ciao from sunny Italy :)

Italy Dream Trip
Italy | Mar 19 - Mar 25, 2022

R
Rebecca B.
Fort Pierce, FL | Reviewed on Apr 01, 2022
Simply amazing! Our trip was everything I wished And More. Since I started designing the trip with Andrea he got a quick idea of what I was looking for and given that there were so many possibilities he helped me narrow down ideas and design an amazing experience specially that would cater to our seven and thirteen year old kids.
Even before departing Andrea took care of us and made sure we were set to enter Italy. Once we arrived at the airport in Rome, Mateo received us and took us to our...
Read more

Simply amazing! Our trip was everything I wished And More. Since I started designing the trip with Andrea he got a quick idea of what I was looking for and given that there were so many possibilities he helped me narrow down ideas and design an amazing experience specially that would cater to our seven and thirteen year old kids.
Even before departing Andrea took care of us and made sure we were set to enter Italy. Once we arrived at the airport in Rome, Mateo received us and took us to our hotel everything went on smoothly and every guide we encountered was incredible. Kiara in Rome was the best Roman guide we could have ever asked for! Then our amazing cooking class in Tuscany was my dream come true. The cooking experience in such an amazing place was a life-changing experience for me and my children.
Lucia in Florence and Enrico y Venice we also great. We enjoyed every detail they had with us specially the scavenger hunt in Venice which was a very different way of learning and touring the city. The hotels we were booked in we’re extremely good and complied with everything I requested I would definitely stay in those places again and recommend them. I wish Andrea could be our travel designer for all our trips!!
Looking forward to our return to Italy❤️❤️

Hotel Review
Lh Royal Suites
Rome
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
Rome Private Golf Cart tour
Rome Private Golf Cart tour
Rome

Chiara was amazing and pleasing! Amazing guide

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Andrea Gambino
Andrea
Andrea Gambino
Local specialist in Turin, Italy | Replied on Apr 01, 2022

Hi Rebecca,
thank you very much! Travelling is my passion and sharing my local knowledge with you it is what I love! So glad you enjoyed the trip I created and the unique experiences I selected.
It was a great pleasure working with you.

Andrea

No detail too small and really goes the extra mile
Italy | Mar 18 - Mar 23, 2022

A
ANGELA W.
Germany | Reviewed on Apr 01, 2022

Andrea was a pleasure to deal with , no detail was left out and the clients wishes were all taken into account each step of the way.
I would not hesitate to recommend anyone to deal with Andrea no request is too small and he really goes the extra mile for your clients.
I look forward to working with Andrea again in the near future

Local specialist: Andrea Gambino
Andrea
Andrea Gambino
Local specialist in Turin, Italy | Replied on Apr 01, 2022

Hi Angie,
thank you very much for your nice words. As traveler myself, I do know how important is to look after details and travel plans.

Looking forward to working with you soon.
Andrea

Italy 2022 - So many great experiences. Thanks, Alessandro!
Italy | Feb 26 - Mar 8, 2022

M
Melissa S.
Ann Arbor, MI | Reviewed on Mar 13, 2022
We figured this might be a once in a lifetime trip so we included as much we could in our 10 day itinerary. Our itinerary included the Amalfi Coast (including Pompeii), Florence, Cinque Terre, Rome, and Venice. These were all great places to visit and we would we would not change a thing with the benefit of hindsight. The COVID pandemic and Italian rail strikes complicated an ambitious trip that would have been challenging even under ideal conditions, but our local travel contract... Read more

We figured this might be a once in a lifetime trip so we included as much we could in our 10 day itinerary. Our itinerary included the Amalfi Coast (including Pompeii), Florence, Cinque Terre, Rome, and Venice. These were all great places to visit and we would we would not change a thing with the benefit of hindsight.

The COVID pandemic and Italian rail strikes complicated an ambitious trip that would have been challenging even under ideal conditions, but our local travel contract (Alessandro) expertly handled all of the planning details and dealt with unexpected issues that came up during the trip (such as 3 cancelled trains due to rail strikes). He called or texted us a number of times during the trip to ensure that things were going well and was very responsive to any inquires that we had. It was very comforting for us to know that he was a just call/text away.

The end result is that this was a fantastic trip with many experiences that will last a lifetime. We deeply appreciate the work that Alessandro and his team put into making this such a memorable vacation for us. He was extremely patient and responsive during the planning stage, but perhaps more importantly, was on really on top of things and readily accessible during the trip . I can't say enough about Alessandro and his attention to detail.

This was our first experience with KimKim and we were originally a little nervous about using them for planning and booking our vacation but now that it is over and was a huge success (probably our best vacation ever) we would not hesitate to use KimKim again.

Local specialist: Alessandro Bellaguardia
Alessandro
Alessandro Bellaguardia
Local specialist in Italy | Replied on Mar 13, 2022

Dear Ronald,
thank you very much for taking the time to write this review!

I truly appreciated your words, and I am glad to know you enjoyed your Italy trip!
It was an honor working for you!
Please, bring my regards to your family!

A big hug from Italy!

Alessandro

Memorable anniversary trip to Italy
Italy | Mar 1 - Mar 9, 2022

S
Sheila E.
Lumberton, NC | Reviewed on Mar 11, 2022

Andrijana made this trip as memorable as possible with careful planning. She was very responsive each time from the beginning of our contact to the end of the trip. The transfers were so easy; the hotels in great locations, the recommendations for dining were exceptional.
Andrijana is the best, and Mariana stepped when needed.
Nice group of people and highly recommended.

Local specialist: Andrijana Kovacevic

Custom trip to Sicily by Andrea
Italy | Feb 27 - Mar 8, 2022

Andrea
Andrea B.
Canada | Reviewed on Mar 10, 2022
Andrea put together a great personalized trip for us to Sicily. We strongly recommend his services. We were very happy with the locations and activities he picked for us and the time he allotted for each location. His advice and suggestions were exactly what we needed and he was always available and very responsive to any challenges or questions along the way. The local guides he selected were fantastic and the accommodations were outstanding. He jumped in quickly to solve COVID... Read more

Andrea put together a great personalized trip for us to Sicily. We strongly recommend his services. We were very happy with the locations and activities he picked for us and the time he allotted for each location. His advice and suggestions were exactly what we needed and he was always available and very responsive to any challenges or questions along the way. The local guides he selected were fantastic and the accommodations were outstanding. He jumped in quickly to solve COVID testing issues for us and was consistently looking for ways to aid our trip while we were in Sicily.

Hotel Reviews
Asmundo di Gisira
Catania

Wonderful welcoming staff. Glorious location. Room was amazing and breakfast fantastic.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Villa La Lumia B&B Suites & Apartments
Agrigento

Loved the location and views. We recommend taking in the family meal here. The room was fantastic and unique.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Temple valley guided visit
Temple valley guided visit
Italy

Lorenzo was wonderful. He is local and really did an amazing job of recreating an image of 460 BC Sicily. We strongly recommend him as a guide.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Lorenzo is amazing.
Cooking Class
Cooking Class
Italy

Daniella provided a very special experience for us. She welcomed us to her Baglio (17th century fortified farm house) like family. We had a great time learning about and preparing and eating Sicilian food. WE STRONGLY recommend this experience.

Quality of Experience
Daniella really is fantastic. The whole experience was fantastic.
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Andrea Gambino
Andrea
Andrea Gambino
Local specialist in Turin, Italy | Replied on Mar 13, 2022

Thank you very much Andrea for your nice words. I am a traveler myself and I know how is important to have a trip well planned and exciting. I am so glad you enjoyed the trip I designed for you and you could experience the best Sicily has to offer.

Excellent trip. The planning was very smooth and the hotels were INCREDIBLE!!!
Italy | Feb 26 - Mar 6, 2022

Tiffany
Tiffany K.
Canada | Reviewed on Mar 09, 2022
Excellent trip. The planning was very smooth and Monica thought of everything. My favourite part was the beautiful hotels and the easy transfers. I highly recommend using KimKim as they've got loal guides who can help with all the planning and then the transfers between cities if that's what you're doing.
Loved every minute!
Read more

Excellent trip. The planning was very smooth and Monica thought of everything. My favourite part was the beautiful hotels and the easy transfers. I highly recommend using KimKim as they've got loal guides who can help with all the planning and then the transfers between cities if that's what you're doing.
Loved every minute!

Hotel Review
Hotel Corona D'oro
Bologna

From the minute I stepped inside I felt like I was a movie star. The staff were incredibly helpful and catered to us the whole time. The room was incredibly lavish and huge and there was a free bar for Spritz's etc. I wanted to stay forever and live there. The breakfast was incredible with cold cuts from Bologna and parmesan cheese. I didn't even think I liked parmesan cheese until Bologna. The location is excellent and you're so close to all the action yet it was quiet in the rooms. The bathrooms were beautiful although the toilet was particularly high (my son even fell off one time). I honestly can't wait to go back and would leave 100 stars if I could!

Tips for future travelers

Definitely stay there if you can!!

Authenticity & Character
Beautiful room and the ceilings were incredible
Location
So close to all the action!
Staff
Lovely check in and check out
Cleanliness & Comfort
The bed could have been softer but it was all so beautiful that I didn't mind
Activity Review
Tour of Pisa
Tour of Pisa
Florence

Our tour guide was fantastic and knowledgeable and spoke perfect English. He made me fall in love with the region and what we saw. The tower of Pisa was quite incredible to see as well. I wanted to stay with the tour guide and have him show me all of Italy!

Quality of Experience
Tour guide!!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Absolutely excellent
Transport
Loved our driver!! Loved having a private van.
Local specialist: Monica Pellizzari
Monica
Monica Pellizzari
Local specialist in Florence and Venice | Replied on Mar 10, 2022
Ciao Tiffany!!!
How nice reading your review! Thank you so much!!
I am really glad you had an amazing time here in Italy (this is always our purpose!!) with your wonderful family visiting Venice, Florence, Pisa, and Bologna.
I am also happy that our services met your expectations and that you enjoyed our driver services, hotel choices, and guided tours. Vincenzo in Pisa is an excellent tour guide very professional and knowledgeable.
It was a pleasure planning your trip Tiffany. Thank you... Read more

Ciao Tiffany!!!
How nice reading your review! Thank you so much!!

I am really glad you had an amazing time here in Italy (this is always our purpose!!) with your wonderful family visiting Venice, Florence, Pisa, and Bologna.
I am also happy that our services met your expectations and that you enjoyed our driver services, hotel choices, and guided tours. Vincenzo in Pisa is an excellent tour guide very professional and knowledgeable.

It was a pleasure planning your trip Tiffany. Thank you again for traveling with us, and I am looking forward to welcoming you again to our beautiful country.
I wish you all the best!!
Ciao!
Monica

Italy - hiking the Dolomites and relaxing at Lake Garda
Italy | Sep 4 - Sep 12, 2021

Linda
Linda C.
Minneapolis, MN | Reviewed on Feb 08, 2022
Our family of 5 adults had a terrific trip to Italy with the help of Kimkim and our travel planners Sonia and Barbara. Our trip was very customized to fit everyone's interests. The first part of our trip was hut-to-hut hiking in the Dolomites. We had assistance planning our hiking route, and Sonia arranged for all the lodging and transfer details. After the 4 days of hiking, we spend 4 days in Lake Garda area for wine tasting, cooking class, city tours, and relaxation. It was a perfect trip... Read more

Our family of 5 adults had a terrific trip to Italy with the help of Kimkim and our travel planners Sonia and Barbara. Our trip was very customized to fit everyone's interests. The first part of our trip was hut-to-hut hiking in the Dolomites. We had assistance planning our hiking route, and Sonia arranged for all the lodging and transfer details. After the 4 days of hiking, we spend 4 days in Lake Garda area for wine tasting, cooking class, city tours, and relaxation. It was a perfect trip for our family - a mix of adventure and culture. We had a couple of small glitches and Sonia/Barbara were a phone call away with quick fixes. We are so impressed with Kimkim and plan to use their travel services again.

Hotel Review
Hotel de la Poste
Cortina d'Ampezzo

Excellent stay in the heart of Cortina. Lovely hotel, comfortable and clean rooms, and the restaurant is tops.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Sonia Vanzin
Sonia
Sonia Vanzin
Local specialist in Venice | Replied on Feb 08, 2022

Ciao Sutton family! How nice reading your review! Grazie!
It was a pleasure planning your trip and I am glad you enjoyed your time in Italy.
Wish you all the best and I look forward to welcoming you again.
Sonia

Amazing first visit for my son to Venice, Bologna to visit relatives, Florence, Tuscany, and Rome
Italy | Dec 28 - Jan 8, 2022

D
Dean C.
Washington, IL | Reviewed on Feb 04, 2022
We really enjoyed the pickup at the airport and delivery to our hotel in Venice at the start of our custom journey to Italy and the pickup and delivery from the hotel to the airport at the end in Rome. Kimkim even had drivers delivered us from hotel to the train station with tickets on time in the morning between all the cities we visited. The hotels were all first rate and either 4-5 star with exceptional free breakfast included. The first hotel Bauer II Palazzo in Venice the was perfectly... Read more

We really enjoyed the pickup at the airport and delivery to our hotel in Venice at the start of our custom journey to Italy and the pickup and delivery from the hotel to the airport at the end in Rome. Kimkim even had drivers delivered us from hotel to the train station with tickets on time in the morning between all the cities we visited. The hotels were all first rate and either 4-5 star with exceptional free breakfast included. The first hotel Bauer II Palazzo in Venice the was perfectly located and only a few blocks from Saint Marks Square and made it easy to walk everywhere and for us to pick up the water bus system to visit different islands like Murano for glass blowing and Burano for lace making items. Alessia our Concierge in Venice was amazing. She made sure we saw the sites and had a great experience in Venice and made sure of all our other visits to Bologna, Florence and Rome all went with out any problems. Our tour guide Dennis for the Colosseum and Roman Forum in Rome was amazing. His fold out pictures of the Colosseum and Roman Forum before and after and clear explanations made it very interesting. When it is time for us to return to visit Italy with the rest of the family we will be sure to use Kimkim again.

Hotel Reviews
Bauer Il Palazzo Venice
Venice

The breakfast was amazing. The location was perfect for walking to San Marco .

Authenticity & Character
Look and feel of old charm and heat in room was perfect for our stay after Christmas
Location
Easy directions and walking distance to San Marco square
Staff
Provided us with a power adapter to charge our iphones at no charge.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Warm towel over the heated radiator in the bathroom
Hotel Corona D'oro
Bologna

Location was in the heart of the city.

Tips for future travelers

Breakfast was

Authenticity & Character
small hotel with nice relaxing feel while in the lobby
Location
perfect location for walking to see the sites in the city center.
Staff
very helpful with any questions and provided a map.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Della Conciliazione
Rome

This hotel location at 163 Borgo Pio Street was close to a Farmacy to get our Covid test for return flight to the U.S. and a close walk for our tour of the Vatican Museum, Saint Peters Square and Saint Peters Basilica. Also the two restaurants we ate at on this street were all excellent.

Tips for future travelers

Breakfast was good and the hotel provided us with a bag lunch for our early trip to the airport. However, we had to pitch our drink they provided when we went through security at the airport.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Close to Vatican for our tour and on a street with good restaurants
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Fabio Fasone
Fabio
Fabio Fasone
Local specialist in Venice, Italy | Replied on Feb 08, 2022

Ciao Dean,
Thank you very much for your review we are really glad you had an amazing time here in Italy visiting our fantastic cities of Venice Bologna Florence and Rome.
We are also happy our services met your expectations and enjoyed our driver services, hotel choices, and especially our concierge service. I am happy also you liked our guide Dennis in Rome he is an excellent tour guide very professional and knowledgable.
Thank you again for having traveled with us, we wish you all the best and we look forward to welcoming you again to our beautiful country.
Ciao
Fabio

Just fantastic!
Italy | Nov 20 - Nov 27, 2021

Nicole
Nicole P.
Canada | Reviewed on Jan 02, 2022
We cannot say enough about Jessica, our local specialist for Italy with Kimkim, and Storywalking. We are seasoned travellers but with this being our first international trip since the pandemic, we decided to use KimKim for the first time. It was wonderful! With a short interactive questionnaire to start the process, we were able to dialogue back and forth with Jessica including a zoom call, to exchange ideas and options to make our trip perfect. Jessica found the perfect matches for us... Read more

We cannot say enough about Jessica, our local specialist for Italy with Kimkim, and Storywalking. We are seasoned travellers but with this being our first international trip since the pandemic, we decided to use KimKim for the first time. It was wonderful!

With a short interactive questionnaire to start the process, we were able to dialogue back and forth with Jessica including a zoom call, to exchange ideas and options to make our trip perfect. Jessica found the perfect matches for us including private airport transportation, hotel, city tours, excursions outside the city, a trip to a local farmer and formaggio maker, an olive oil tasting, and fine dining.

We hit the streets with a night walking tour with Susanna, a private cooking glass in the Ghetto, and walk with Sarah around Trastervere.

Not only where things organized well, on time and secure, Jessica kept in touch with us throughout the week to see if we wanted any modifications, any additions, etc. She was truly someone we felt we could reach out to in a minute if necessary. We even asked for what seemed like the impossible, a reservation at a fine restaurant that we had not booked in advance and was booked up. Jessica must have good connections because we were in (we were also flexible which is important) and had a wonderful afternoon on an otherwise wet afternoon.

Thank you so much Jessica! We had a wonderful trip thanks to you.

Hotel Review
47 Boutique Hotel
Rome

Great location, staff and hotel rooms!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
Michelin restaurant: a day trip from Rome
Michelin restaurant: a day trip from Rome
Italy

This was an amazing day! The visit with local cheese maker and sheep farmer was quite interesting and the couple (3rd generation family owners) were the sweetest! The olive oil tasting was new to us and certainly opened our eyes to another tasting besides food and wine. The restaurant, La Trota, was amazing: we completed a wine pairing of local wines with each course. The staff were great, the atmosphere lovely and we had a wonderful experience. And our driver was very professional and courteous.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Jessica Proietti
Jessica
Jessica Proietti
Local specialist in Italy | Replied on Jan 03, 2022

Hi Nicole, thank you very much for your kind words. It was a great pleasure to design your trip in Rome; I'm a traveler as well, and I know how important is that trip runs as smooth as possible. Thank you for the opportunity you gave me in designing your holiday :)

Happy 2022!!

Jessica

Thank you Eleni! I wrote a review on another...
Italy | Nov 23 - Dec 1, 2021

Mary
Mary E.
Dallas, TX | Reviewed on Dec 09, 2021

Thank you Eleni! I wrote a review on another email for this, I hope I'm not doubling up, just wanted to make sure you saw it. Our trip was wonderful and we couldn't have done it without your help!

Local specialist: Eleni Fotiou
Eleni
Eleni Fotiou
Local specialist in Athens | Replied on Dec 10, 2021

Thank you Mary and Travis for giving me the chance to plan for you your honeymoon!
And thank you for posting it here as well, as I did not have the chance to read your review. I am very happy you enjoyed the trip to Italy and I will be more than happy to plan one of you future trips again to Italy or Greece!

Slow Travel Honeymoon in Italy
Italy | Oct 8 - Oct 27, 2021

Rod
Rod S.
Framingham, MA | Reviewed on Dec 04, 2021
The goal of our honeymoon was to spend 3 weeks in Italy, starting in Florence and ending on the Amalfi Coast. But we needed help to organize a trip that would ensure we could truly experience Italy, spend quality time in each location, have smooth transitions from place to place, and incorporate down time along with the activities. We called it the “Slow Travel Honeymoon in Italy” and from the first day we were in contact to the final day of our amazing trip, Kimkim did a spectacular job for... Read more

The goal of our honeymoon was to spend 3 weeks in Italy, starting in Florence and ending on the Amalfi Coast. But we needed help to organize a trip that would ensure we could truly experience Italy, spend quality time in each location, have smooth transitions from place to place, and incorporate down time along with the activities. We called it the “Slow Travel Honeymoon in Italy” and from the first day we were in contact to the final day of our amazing trip, Kimkim did a spectacular job for us balancing the activities with the leisurely pace we desired.
The specific criteria, besides the start and end locations mentioned above, were 1) we preferred boutique hotels; 2) we wanted to experience the food, the culture, the wine (all of which are obvious for Italy, but still worth mentioning); 3) we wanted some tours scheduled, but mostly preferred to be self-guided with recommendations; and 4) we wanted to be worry-free with regard to transportation between venues.

Upon arrival, we were connected to the local Kimkim team via WhatsApp – this is an incredibly reassuring and comforting aspect of Kimkim. Whenever we had any sort of question or minor glitch (which were few and not worth mentioning because they did not impact our enjoyment at all) the Kimkim team was there to answer questions, clarify any planning, and resolve issues. We can’t say enough good things about their service during the trip. Kimkim provided a detailed itinerary with great information about all the places we were to visit, plus all the transfers they arranged (some via train, some private cars) with tickets, phone numbers/names of drivers, hotel addresses, etc. The itinerary was in a PDF, which we printed out and then had bound together like a booklet.

Our overall itinerary included: Florence, Cinque Terre, Sienna, Amalfi Coast, Naples

Florence – We landed in Rome and were met at the airport by our driver (Andrea), who drove the 3 hours to Florence – he was pleasant and informative throughout. Upon arrival, we spent a few days in the city before our wedding. Kimkim booked us in the Hotel Continentale, which is on the River Arno next to Ponte Vecchio and a perfect fit. In addition to the great location and extremely attentive service staff, the room was large and had a really nice romantic feel to it. Breakfast is included each day at an outdoor café a couple doors down, where you can people-watch along the Arno and really soak in that part of Florence. In addition, their spa services were outstanding – we both took advantage of several of their spa treatments, including massages. The roof deck is a great place to get a late afternoon drink, and the views of the Arno and Piazza del Signoria are awesome. After the wedding, which was in the hills of northern Florence, we were back on our Kimkim itinerary – back into the city for a couple nights to stay at the Palazzo Niccolini al Duomo, which as you might imagine is right next to the hustle and bustle of the Piazza del Duomo. This 4-Star hotel was much more of an elegant property – whereas Continentale is more modern, this hotel is in a historical structure. Its location was wonderful, the staff terrific, and included was breakfast top notch, but the room was a bit of a disappointment in comparison to Continentale – i.e. although it was perfectly fine, the room did not possess the charm and romance of the former.
Cinque Terre – we took the train from Florence to La Spezia and then a taxi to our accommodation in Levanto: La Sosta di Ottone III. This boutique hotel is set atop a hill with beautiful views of the surrounding hills and of the sea not too far in the distance. The room was comfortable and romantic. The staff were incredibly accommodating and friendly. The restaurant is not to be missed – only a few tables, and the service is top notch, with delicious food and excellent regional wines to choose from. We spent 4 days and 3 nights in the Cinque Terre region, doing day-trips to visit the five villages and we took advantage of both the trains and boats that ferry tourists between Riomaggiore, Manarola, Vernazza, Monterossa and Corniglia. We shopped, walked, and dined along the way in perfect October weather. The one standout experience was a wine tour in Manarola (arranged by Kimkim) in which we were guided by a local winemaker, as he talked about the history of wine in Manarola, the process of winemaking, etc. He walked us through his vineyard and at the end we tasted some of his excellent local wine.

Siena – From Cinque Terra we took a private transfer back to La Spezia train station and then to Pisa, where we were picked up and driven to our accommodation in Sienna. The drive was great, through the Tuscan countryside, as our driver (Massimo) described some sites in the distance that we would eventually visit a couple days later: Monteriggioni and San Gimignano. We stayed at Il Battistero, a beautiful hotel in Piazza San Giovanni. There’s so much in Sienna to do – we wished we’d spent more time there and can’t wait to go back. Kimkim arranged two really nice tours for us here: a wine tasting at the Tuscan Wine School, where Georgia talked to us about five excellent regional wines, incorporating some points around food pairings as well. The next day, Georgia’s colleague Davide drove us on a tour through the hills of Chianti, to Monteriggioni, San Gimignano and finally to Volterra where we met Omero, an aged alabaster sculptor who exuded such warmth and charm that we still talk about him. Between San Gimignano (which is not to be missed!) and Volterra, Davide brought us to Il Castagnolino, an organic farm where they grow saffron and olives. Their olive oil is special—we brought some home. We had lunch there, prepared especially for us by the proprietor, and learned a lot about saffron. The views of the Tuscan countryside all day were breathtaking.

Amalfi – from Siena we headed south to the Amalfi coast. We had a private transfer to Florence train station, where we boarded the train for Naples. From there our driver Giuseppe (who would also drive us from Naples to Rome a few days later) delivered us on the only rainy day of our 3 weeks in Italy to our accommodation in Porto d’Amalfi – Residenza Luce, which is situated in the heart of the village. The proprietor Vincenzo was great, and immediately made us a dinner reservation at a nearby restaurant L’Abside (which happens to be owned by his sister) – dinner was fantastic, and we were given a great table by the window overlooking the piazza. Our days in Amalfi were spent walking, exploring, eating, shopping. All of it was great, and we found a particular restaurant worth mentioning simply because the food was outstanding and the owners (a husband and wife – Antonio and Adele) are just wonderful. Enoteca e Gastronomia il Protontino is a 3 minute walk from Luce, and has both great food and an amazing wine selection. We had dinner there two nights in a row, and we drank some great wines. We also purchased a mixed case of Chiantis, which Adele shipped to us within a couple weeks of our return to the States. Every single bottle so far has been outstanding.

Naples – we took a private transfer from Amalfi to Naples as our trip finally was nearing the end. Pasquale drove us out over the mountainous terrain of Amalfi on a beautiful sunny day. As we drove north through the winding roads with hairpin turns, we were greeted by the site of Vesuvius on a clear day. Even from a distance it’s an amazing and somewhat foreboding site to see – given we were heading first to Pompeii on our way to Naples. We spent 2 hours exploring Pompeii, which for anyone who is interested in history and archeology is a must-do. From there we had lunch at Cantina del Vesuvio, which is the restaurant run by the Russo family on the grounds of their vineyard. We had great food and tasted their excellent wines. From here, Pasquale drove us to our accommodation in Naples, the Caruso Place Hotel. This is a nice hotel, but the one note of caution is its location relative to the nearby street traffic and restaurant. Our particular room was street level, and we were just feet from tables of people enjoying their meals and motor scooters driving by. The staff, as with all the hotels, were great and we enjoyed massages in our room. We were met early morning of our departure by Giuseppe who safely drove us to Rome – a long drive to be sure, but easiest for us to do the roundtrip from Boston to Rome.

Covid – although the pandemic was obviously part of the experience, it didn’t deter from our enjoyment of Italy. We felt safe at all times, and appreciated the consistent safe measures taken at most restaurants and all museums we visited. Kimkim also arranged for our pre-departure Covid test, making an appointment for us in a nearby Naples location. Everything worked out great.

Summary - If you’re still reading this long review, then the last and most important point I’d like to make is that our Kimkim team, led by Eleni Fotiou (who is the best!) was great all the way. We can’t wait to plan another trip with Kimkim.

Local specialist: Eleni Fotiou
Eleni
Eleni Fotiou
Local specialist in Athens | Replied on Dec 06, 2021

Dear Rod and Francine,
creating for you a perfect honeymoon is the reason for which I am doing this job; that is helping travelers plan trips in which they create lifetime memories. I am honored to have the opportunity to do this for you, and I will be very happy to host you again in Greece or Italy.

Italian getaway I highly recommend Kim Kim and specifically J...
Italy | Nov 5 - Nov 16, 2021

J
Janet C.
Oakland, TN | Reviewed on Nov 17, 2021
I highly recommend Kim Kim and specifically Jessica with “Storywalking”. We are a well traveled couple and will definitely use this agency again. Jessica helped us navigate the COVID requirements and kept in touch with us the whole time. She even filled out a form for us that we couldn’t figure out.
All hotel and car rental arrangements went smoothly and we were very pleased with everything. She made great suggestions as we went along our journey. She was not intrusive (which we liked)...
Read more

I highly recommend Kim Kim and specifically Jessica with “Storywalking”. We are a well traveled couple and will definitely use this agency again. Jessica helped us navigate the COVID requirements and kept in touch with us the whole time. She even filled out a form for us that we couldn’t figure out.
All hotel and car rental arrangements went smoothly and we were very pleased with everything. She made great suggestions as we went along our journey. She was not intrusive (which we liked) but offered just enough help at make everything very nice.

Hotel Review
Hotel Centro Florence
Florence
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
Big Bus Rome: Hop-On, Hop-Off Bus - Ticket 48h
Big Bus Rome: Hop-On, Hop-Off Bus - Ticket 48h
Rome
Quality of Experience
Hard to findb
Local specialist: Jessica Proietti
Jessica
Jessica Proietti
Local specialist in Italy | Replied on Nov 17, 2021

Dear Janet,

thank you very much for your kind words. It was a pleasure to share my personal insight to ensure your trip was great. Thank you again, see you soon!

Ciao from sunny Italy :)

Unforgettable Honeymoon
Italy | Oct 3 - Oct 16, 2021

N
Nicholas W.
Cumberland, RI | Reviewed on Nov 05, 2021
Andrijana planned us an unforgettable honeymoon in Italy. Our week in Rome and week in Tuscany were absolutely fantastic. The private tour guides were some of the best I've ever experienced, and we learned a lot of insider knowledge directly from locals. Our accommodations were perfectly located in each location, and the drivers they hired for us were reliable and professional. Every detail was worked out ahead of time, and they were there to support us when we had questions. She even... Read more

Andrijana planned us an unforgettable honeymoon in Italy. Our week in Rome and week in Tuscany were absolutely fantastic. The private tour guides were some of the best I've ever experienced, and we learned a lot of insider knowledge directly from locals. Our accommodations were perfectly located in each location, and the drivers they hired for us were reliable and professional. Every detail was worked out ahead of time, and they were there to support us when we had questions.

She even helped us get COVID tested for our return trip per US requirements, making what could have been a difficult trip stress free.

Everything was perfect and I would highly recommend both Andrijana and Kimkim.

Local specialist: Andrijana Kovacevic
Andrijana
Andrijana Kovacevic
Local specialist in Athens, Greece | Replied on Nov 09, 2021

Dear Nicholas,

I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed your honeymoon this much! Quality of the services we choose for our travelers is one of the most important things in building an unforgettable experience and I'm so glad everything went smoothly, with a local touch!
Whenever you wish for another romantic Italian episode of your life, I'll be there for you!

I wish you all the best!!
Andrijana

I have to say this was the best trip I have t...
Italy | Oct 19 - Oct 29, 2021

V
Vince S.
Clermont, FL | Reviewed on Nov 03, 2021
I have to say this was the best trip I have taken. My friend and I planned this trip to Sicily over two years ago and due to covid had to postpone twice. The team at Kimkim were amazing to work with us and get us back on track. We spent two weeks driving all over Sicily planned out perfectly by Kimkim. We were never disappointed in anything planned. I do have to say the hi light of the trip for me was the cooking class...it was wonderful! Every hotel and B&B we stayed at were fabulous, our... Read more

I have to say this was the best trip I have taken. My friend and I planned this trip to Sicily over two years ago and due to covid had to postpone twice. The team at Kimkim were amazing to work with us and get us back on track. We spent two weeks driving all over Sicily planned out perfectly by Kimkim. We were never disappointed in anything planned. I do have to say the hi light of the trip for me was the cooking class...it was wonderful!

Every hotel and B&B we stayed at were fabulous, our tour guides were great and so helpful. Milena and Mario... Any time I had any questions I could call Simeon and it was taken care of. I will definitely recommend Kimkim to anyone traveling and looking for a trip designed just for them...I will use them again!
Vince Santo

Hotel Review
Hotel Villa Belvedere
Taormina

This hotel was amazing...the room was very comfortable and we had a beautiful view of the ocean. The staff was very friendly and helpful getting us dinner reservations and suggestions. The breakfast at this hotel was fabulous. They really went all out and the dining room was beautiful as well. Great hotel. Great staff. Thank you for arranging this hotel for us.

Authenticity & Character
Beautiful hotel
Location
Far enough away from the city center but close enough.
Staff
Very helpful and friendly
Cleanliness & Comfort
Spacious room
Local specialist: Simone Scalas

Sonia put together a fabulous trip
Italy | Oct 9 - Oct 25, 2021

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Will M.
Portland, OR | Reviewed on Nov 01, 2021
Sonia put together a fabulous trip for us. We were particularly interested in Italian wine, and she was able to secure personal tastings at local wineries specializing in Barolo, Barbaresco, Brunello, and Nero d’Avola. The wine is Sicily was a particular treat, as we were not as familiar with it prior to the trip. The Gambino winery on Mt Etna was the biggest surprise. I even joined the wine club. Our trip covered the north (Piedmont) to the south (Sicily and Sorrento) over 18... Read more

Sonia put together a fabulous trip for us. We were particularly interested in Italian wine, and she was able to secure personal tastings at local wineries specializing in Barolo, Barbaresco, Brunello, and Nero d’Avola. The wine is Sicily was a particular treat, as we were not as familiar with it prior to the trip. The Gambino winery on Mt Etna was the biggest surprise. I even joined the wine club.

Our trip covered the north (Piedmont) to the south (Sicily and Sorrento) over 18 well-spaced days. Accommodations were interesting and excellent. No chain hotels. Drivers were always on time, spoke good English, and often provided helpful local knowledge. Our virtual concierge Mara was always available by phone when we wanted to reschedule an activity on our itinerary.

Local specialist: Sonia Vanzin
Sonia
Sonia Vanzin
Local specialist in Venice | Replied on Nov 04, 2021

Dear Will, thanks for your feedback.
It was a pleasure planning your trip and I am glad you enjoyed your time in Italy.
I agree - Sicily is fantastic!
Wish you all the best and I look forward to welcoming you again.
Sonia

What a God send Andrea was ! We had never t...
Italy | Oct 6 - Oct 15, 2021

Michael
Michael B.
Portland, OR | Reviewed on Oct 22, 2021
What a God send Andrea was ! We had never taken a trip to Europe before when we decided to just do it ! Once we purchased our plane tickets we realized we had no idea where to start next and how to get the most out of only 12 days. That is when we turned to Andrea for help. Within 2 days he had a perfect itinerary set up for us flying into Rome and from there to the Amalfi Coast-Florence and then Venice.
Andrea took care of everything! He purchased our passes to all the private...
Read more

What a God send Andrea was ! We had never taken a trip to Europe before when we decided to just do it ! Once we purchased our plane tickets we realized we had no idea where to start next and how to get the most out of only 12 days. That is when we turned to Andrea for help. Within 2 days he had a perfect itinerary set up for us flying into Rome and from there to the Amalfi Coast-Florence and then Venice.
Andrea took care of everything! He purchased our passes to all the private tours, booked our first class train tickets and arranged private first class private transportation to and from all destinations ( not once was a driver late) as well as top notch hotels.. He even recommended which restaurants to try as he had personally tried them himself. The truly amazing factor was Andrea himself. He literally messaged us daily to notify us of recommendations and to ensure all was going well
We highly recommend his services to you ! He made our trip a complete success

Local specialist: Andrea Gambino
Andrea
Andrea Gambino
Local specialist in Turin, Italy | Replied on Oct 22, 2021

Michael, I thank you so much for your very kind words. I am a traveler myself and I know how important is that when you are visiting a foreign country all trip run as smooth as possible and it is a lot of fun. To me travelling it is not only putting a flag on a map, but it is experiencing the destination and we try to assist our guest with this.
Hope to see you soon here.

Dream Vacation In Sicily
Italy | Oct 7 - Oct 13, 2021

Michael
Michael C.
Dover, NJ | Reviewed on Oct 15, 2021
James, our trip planner was easily accessible and pleasant with any of our questions.
Danielle, our Mount Etna guide was knowledgeable and attentive to our climb in the mountain.
Rosario, our Taormino guide brought that city to life.
Simone, our Syracusa guide, was delightful and so knowledgeable.
Vincenzo was a last-minute addition as a guide in Catania. He showed us so much more than just the city. You should definitely add him to your list of great tour directors.
The whole trip is one...
Read more

James, our trip planner was easily accessible and pleasant with any of our questions.
Danielle, our Mount Etna guide was knowledgeable and attentive to our climb in the mountain.
Rosario, our Taormino guide brought that city to life.
Simone, our Syracusa guide, was delightful and so knowledgeable.
Vincenzo was a last-minute addition as a guide in Catania. He showed us so much more than just the city. You should definitely add him to your list of great tour directors.
The whole trip is one we will share with our family and friends and would give it a 5 * rating.
Here are a few of my suggestions for future travelers:
Realize that driving yourself in Sicily is not easy. The city streets are very narrow and parking is almost impossible. Instead of traffic lights, they often use traffic circles which are poorly marked and often confusing, even with Google. On the Autostrada there are tolls which are like E-Z pass in the US. You have to be careful choosing your toll booth. In the future, we would hire a driver.
My last advice for future travelers would be to not expect an on-time departure from the smaller airports if you hope to continue on to the next leg of your flight. The smartest move we made was to book a reservation the night before our departure in Rome Hilton which is within walking distance of the airport. I believe you should share suggestions like these with future travelers.

Hotel Review
Hotel Villa Belvedere
Taormina

We loved this hotel. Nice big room, clean and airy. Staff was wonderful. The pool area was beautiful. The view of the water below and the mountainside was breathtaking. Couldn’t believe how they parked cars in their lot. Worth staying there just for that trick!

Tips for future travelers

Just how tricky it can be to reach the hotel.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Fabio Fasone
Fabio
Fabio Fasone
Local specialist in Venice, Italy | Replied on Oct 18, 2021

Dear Michael,
Thank you very much for submitting your review and for these fantastic words.
We are delighted that you were satisfied with the service of a personal concierge, James is very professional and pleasant. I am also very happy you liked the services of our tour guides, we strive to provide the best experience for our guests.
Thank you also very much for sharing your pictures I like them.
We look forward to welcoming you again in the next future.
Ciao
Fabio

Amazing
Italy | Sep 15 - Sep 26, 2021

D
Denis K.
Kensington, NY | Reviewed on Oct 05, 2021
Putting together a trip to Europe is stressful, when you're planning on proposing there... it's even harder. Andrijana stepped in to help and we had the entire trip wrapped up in a few weeks. Any worries or concerns I had before we boarded the flight should have been left at home: this was an amazing experience and everything went off without a hitch.
We had 4 planned stops on our trip: Cinque Terre, Chianti, Venice and Como. Andrijana suggested I abandon my initial idea of renting a car in...
Read more

Putting together a trip to Europe is stressful, when you're planning on proposing there... it's even harder. Andrijana stepped in to help and we had the entire trip wrapped up in a few weeks. Any worries or concerns I had before we boarded the flight should have been left at home: this was an amazing experience and everything went off without a hitch.
We had 4 planned stops on our trip: Cinque Terre, Chianti, Venice and Como. Andrijana suggested I abandon my initial idea of renting a car in favor for the trains and she was correct to do so. The trains were incredibly comfortable and easy to use, even with 4 suitcases. We had private transfers to and from our destinations, all arranged ahead of time, which made the transfer days some of the most relaxing I have ever experienced. A great opportunity to recharge between destinations.
Our stop in Cinque Terre was at La Sosta di Ottone III. Getting to this place was difficult, it's located outside of Levanto so you need to call a cab or get a car to get to the cities themselves, but they are only a short 10-15 minute drive away. The hotel itself is very rustic and quite, perfect for anyone looking to just escape from the world of technology and enjoy the beautiful scenery. Vernazza was by far my favorite place in the area. La Pirata Cafe, all the way in the back of the little town, had by far the best food I had in Italy, no Michelin star needed. That pesto changed my life.
Chianti was amazing as we are huge wine lovers. We finished at least a bottle or two per night while we were here during all our winery tours. Andrijana set up the most amazing visit to some micro-breweries where we got to meet and have dinner with the owner of Campocorto, Marco. His family welcomed us to dinner and we had a fantastic evening filled with great wine, food, and conversation.
Venice was my favorite stop. Andrijana set us up with an amazing hotel right on the canal, we had a great tour through the city and got to enjoy a lot of resturants. Walk around the city after midnight, wear some loud shoes, and you can really appreciate the beauty of the city and the amazing designs behind every street.
Our stop in Como was also amazingg, our hotel was right on the water with amazing balcony views of the lake. The food in the area was amazing but we particularly enjoyed a small walk in sandwich shop called Passion Como, in the city of Como itself. We went back twice that same day.
This was a fantastic itinerary and I am very happy with everything that we managed to put together. We made memories that we will cherish forever and I cannot wait to work with Andrijana again for our future trips.
Thank you!

Local specialist: Andrijana Kovacevic
Andrijana
Andrijana Kovacevic
Local specialist in Athens, Greece | Replied on Oct 06, 2021

Dear Denis,
Thank you very much for your feedback! I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed your trip with your girlfriend and now fiancée!! You got the best of Italy: stunning landscapes and unforgettable food and wine- as you said-the pesto that changed your life. And let's not forget the most important part, she said SI!! The entire team was so excited about it!
I wish you and Michelle all the best, love, laugh and many unforgettable glasses of wine!
I'll be here to plan together your future adventures!
Best,
Andrijana

Better Than Ever! BFFs head to the Amalfi Coast - Sept 2021
Italy | Sep 19 - Sep 26, 2021

Marty
Marty S.
Canada | Reviewed on Oct 03, 2021
My lifelong BFF and I decided to spontaneously get away in late August, with trip dates for Sept 2021. I work long hours and don't have the time nor desire to look for deals and reviews, especially so close to our trip date. I found KimKim online and it was the very best thing we've ever done! Our specialist, Andrijana, was better than we could've ever wished for in a travel partner. We only had 7 nights and no idea of where to go, do or stay; Andrijana curated the most perfect vacation for... Read more

My lifelong BFF and I decided to spontaneously get away in late August, with trip dates for Sept 2021. I work long hours and don't have the time nor desire to look for deals and reviews, especially so close to our trip date. I found KimKim online and it was the very best thing we've ever done! Our specialist, Andrijana, was better than we could've ever wished for in a travel partner. We only had 7 nights and no idea of where to go, do or stay; Andrijana curated the most perfect vacation for us. Working together we planned some structured days and some to be 'free' days, where she offered us ideas of where to go, and best places to eat. It completely took the stress out of vacationing, including where to get our Covid test to come back home. The hotels were exactly what we had hoped for. Our drivers were always prompt and courteous.
A couple of highlights (so hard to pick as it was all magical) was the hotel in Positano with the most spectacular view. Small-sized boat trip from Sorrento to Capri. Our private guide, Giuseppe, who took us to Pompeii and then on to a private winery for lunch, followed by the climb up Mt.Vesuvio.
I would absolutely recommend this incredible agency - the personal connection and knowing that the agents are just a message away, is exemplary and next to none.

Local specialist: Andrijana Kovacevic
Andrijana
Andrijana Kovacevic
Local specialist in Athens, Greece | Replied on Oct 04, 2021

Dear Marty,
I'm so happy you and your best friend had such a great time in the Amalfi Coast!! We made it: you've explored the most wonderful parts of the region and charged your batteries in the same time! Thank you very much for your kind words and your trust! Whenever you wish for another unforgettable vacation, I'll be there for you.
Until the next episode of la dolce vita, ciao bella!
I wish you all the best!
Andrijana

Why travelers love kimkim

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Kimkim’s local specialists ensure that you will have the best experience based on up-to-date local insights. On top of that, the vast majority of your money will go straight to support and grow local economies.

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You can always reach your local specialist with a quick message or call in case you hit a snag during your trip, or simply want some great local recommendations.