Kimkim Trip Reviews for Italy

Hello;

Would like to mention the 2 drivers we had on this past trip, who were excellent. Unfortunately both names escape me. Secondly, the guide that took us through Pompeii was also excellent. The trip was made special by the KimKim team and their guides, drivers etc. All well planned out and were there for us every step of the way.

Highly recommend KimKim to anyone travelling to Europe.

Thanks for making this trip so special.

Mary-Ann Labrie

1. Alexandro the driver in Tuscany was superb. He was very friendly and helpful and always seemed happy to go above and beyond what was required. When he dropped us at the hotel in La Spezia he made sure we could get in. He should meet us with a sign with our name so he is easy to find when we first met him at the train station in Florence.

2. The guide, Elena, to the Uffizi gallery in Florence was wonderful. She was friendly and very knowledgeable and made the viewings much more meaningful than if we had been alone.

3. We should be instructed to have a cell phone with an Italian number or have roaming on our phone as it seems to be vital to communicate

4. We should be forewarned of hotel tourist taxes.

5. The First Hotel in La Spezia was not good. It is an electronic check in. There is no front desk. Your instructions were to go to the front desk and have them arrange a taxi. We tried calling the hotel and listened to a recording telling us that the next available operator would take our call. It then hung up. We tried several times as we also wanted to report that the air conditioning did not work. It made for a very uncomfortable two nights. It would appear that this hotel was not vetted before booking us there.

6. We also tried calling the 24 hour number for Espíritu and could not get an answer.

7. The driver who picked us up at the Naples train station was very difficult to find. Our train was approximately 15 minutes late. I naively assumed the driver would know this. When we got off the train there were approximately 10-12 people standing in the arrivals area with name cards. None had our names. We tried to call the number given in the Trip Plans app but it did not work at all. We looked around for a while and then contacted the Espíritu person via messenger. He sent us the location of the driver. As we were unfamiliar with the area we had great difficulty finding him. We had to message the Espíritu person several times. It seemed that it was somehow our job to find the driver rather than the other way around. When we finally found the driver, I asked him why he hadn’t been at the arrivals area. He said that instruction was not in his contract. He seemed to feel that it was our fault that he had to wait an hour. He was not aware that the train had been delayed which he could easily have known if he had gone inside and checked the arrivals board.

8. The hotel in Pompei was very nice!

9. The guide to Pompei and Herculaneum, Viviana, did an excellent job of showing us the important parts and explaining the history of the locations.

10. The hotel in Sorrento was good. The location allowed us to easily walk to where we wanted. There was difficulty finding our driver when it was time to leave Amalfi. He initially went to the incorrect location. He was then trying to call an incorrect number. We had earlier informed our Espíritu contact of the only number that should be used to reach us while we were in Italy. We naively assumed that he would pass along that information to all of our upcoming drivers, guides, etc. When we learned that our Amalfi driver was still using the incorrect number, we made the effort to instruct our Espíritu contact to make sure that he passed on that piece of information.

11. Some of the drivers often did not display the level of service we expected from a KimKim trip.

12. The trip to Capri was enjoyable although we found it to be very crowded in most areas.

13. The exclusive guide (Francesca) on our first night in Rome was very good and provided an excellent tour and historical background on some major sights.

14. The colosseum and Roman Forum were very interesting and the guide, Manny, was very good. He was very knowledgeable and was able to answer all of our questions.

15. The gastronomical tour went very well. Our guide kept the tour interesting by giving us commentary on the food we were eating as well as the history of the places we went. It would have been better if she had introduced herself as we never learned her name.

16. The Vatican including the Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Basilica are amazing but very crowded. Our guide hurried us through and had poor English. The radios we were given for the tour were not very good quality. She also did not introduce herself.

17. The location of our hotel in Rome was central to the places we visited and so was a good selection.

18. In every case on this trip where we had to meet a guide it would have been helpful if we knew the name of the guide and/or the tour company in advance. Several times we had to ask various guides if we were supposed to be with them. They would usually ask us for a registration number which we did not have.

19. When we investigated this trip with KimKim we were quoted a price which we agreed to pay. Later, we requested that additional items be added to the trip and were quoted an additional cost. We agreed to the quoted price. When we attempted to make a payment, the cost was found to have increased by $50 with no explanation. When we queried the additional cost, we found that the price had risen by another $6.52. A rather poor explanation was given for the price increase. Then the $6.52 disappeared but the additional $50 remained. We are very disappointed by this lack of professionalism. When we are quoted a price and agree to it, that is the price we expect to pay. This sudden switching of prices leaves us with a very bad impression of KimKim. If a mistake was made in the original price quote, it is too late to make a change. A professional organization would know this fact and ensure that the error was kept within KimKim. Because of this fact, there is little chance that we will choose KimKim services in the future or that we will recommend KimKim to others.

Hotel Reviews

La Spezia by The First

La Spezia

Very difficult to get into. No front desk. No person on duty. Impossible to reach anyone.

Authenticity & Character

Better signage

Location

Staff

It would have been helpful if there were staff.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The air conditioning did not work and the phone number of the hotel answered with a recorded message and then hung up.

Hotel del Sole

Pompei

Excellent hotel. A spacious room. A great location.

Authenticity & Character

Lovely and roomy with great decor.

Location

Close to the Pompei ruins

Staff

Friendly and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel del Mare

Sorrento

Great location within easy walking distance of everywhere we wanted to go. This hotel caters to the North American traveller.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Helpful and always available.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Navona Colors

Rome

We did not stay at this hotel.

Activity Reviews

Visit of Uffizi Gallery with an Art Historian

Florence

A superb guide who knew the gallery and its art intimately.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our driver was superb

Tuscan Day Trip to Siena and San Gimignano with Lunch & Wine Tasting

Florence

The towns are nice and worth a visit. The wine at the vineyard was mediocre.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wine Tasting and Typical Tuscan Lunch in San Gimignano

Italy

Lunch was good but the wine was mediocre

Quality of Experience

A better winery

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cinque Terre Sunset Cruise

Cinque Terre

A great experience. It included swimming in the Mediterranean and barbecued prawns and swordfish prepared on the boat. One of the best meals of the entire trip.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Visit to Pompeii with Archeaologist

Italy

A fascinating place with a tremendous amount of history learned. A knowledgable guide.

Quality of Experience

The guide observed that a cruise ship had docked that day and reversed the order of our excursion so that we were not so crowded.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Amalfi Coast Sunset Cruise

Italy

This was probably a great cruise for most but the sea was quite rough that day which made me seasick

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

After the trip the driver who came to pick us up went to the wrong location. He was trying to reach us at a number that was no longer in service even though we had instructed the trip organizer of the only correct number that should be used.

Colosseum & Roman Forum Visit: Arena Access, Gladiators Gate & Ancient City

Rome

A good guide although we had difficult finding him as the meeting point is for several different tour groups and we were not given any information as to the name of the company or person leading the tour. The colosseum and Roman Forum are very interesting to see although both are quite crowded.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We walked

Guided Visit: Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel

Rome

These are both amazing places but very crowded. We were rushed through much of the museums and did not get much time to appreciate all that was there to see. The Sistine Chapel is so crowded that it is difficult to move.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide did not introduce herself and spoke poor English. The radio transmitter/receiver systems we were given to use so that we could hear her explanations and instructions were poor quality.

Transport

We walked.

Exclusive Private Guided Visit of Rome Highlights

Rome

An excellent guide. On this occasion we were told the name of the company that was providing the tour and the guide met us at the designated location with a sign indicating who she was.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We walked.

Campo de’ Fiori, Jewish Ghetto and Trastevere Food Experience

Rome

Once again we were not given any information as to who our guide was or what company was providing the tour which made it difficult to find our guide.

Quality of Experience

Food

An interesting set of foods in various locations made this a worthwhile experience.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was wonderful as she gave us history lessons of the areas we visited as well as the food we were eating. She did not introduce herself.

Transport

We walked.

Our trip was fabulous! All of the hotels were really nice and their locations were close to all the attractions. Our tour leaders were great, and very knowledgeable on the subjects at hand. All of our transfers were on time, and the drivers were very cordial. All of the sites that Martina suggested were great, and we loved the different wineries she selected for us to visit. We would definitely use kimkim again in the future.

Activity Review

Private boat tour of Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre

This boat tour was one of our favorite activities of our whole trip. Our host was great, knew the area well, and his English was perfect. He even had bread, pesto, and wine made by his neighbor on the boat for us and it was all exceptional!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Susan and I had an amazing Italy experience. Our guides were so knowledgeable and very friendly. We were extremely lucky to have beautiful weather during our trip. All the excursions were so wonderful! The only thing I was taken back by was the amount of people in the Colosseum and the Vatican- it was difficult to listen to the guide, take pictures and stay with the group. But, I guess that’s to be expected… The only suggestion I have- would be to make visitors aware if they are going to the Vatican/Sistine Chapel, that they need to cover their shoulders and knees 😊..
I want to Thank you again, Francesco, for such an awesome adventure❣️🇮🇹

Hotel Review

Trevi Collection Hotel

Rome

Very helpful staff…Amazing breakfast…Great view

Authenticity & Character

Staff and views

Location

You are steps away from the Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Gondola Ride

Venice

Just a wonderful way to go through the back alleys

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

On his phone the majority of time

Transport

MURANO, BURANO AND TORCELLO EXCURSION

Venice

Love, love, loved visiting all 3 islands

Quality of Experience

The guide was super! Walking through the streets, visiting the shops

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pizza and gelato making class

Florence

Never made pizza or gelato before. The ingredients were basic, but the end product was delicious!

Quality of Experience

The chefs

Explore Pompeii on the way to Naples

Italy

Can’t believe how much has survived over the centuries. How the people lived, the politics, the businesses and the design of the city.

Quality of Experience

The history

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Anna was a perfect guide and great sense of humor!

Transport

Amalfi Coast experience from Sorrento

Sorrento

So much beauty in one place.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Roberto was a great guide- full of history and humor- lived him!

Transport

Capri self guided day-trip with hydrofoil tickets

Sorrento

Beautiful, narrow roads-but they know hiw to maneuver them😳

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We didn’t crash or get run off the road😂

Colosseum, Roman Forums and Palatine Hill

Rome

Unbelievable! Glad we had a guide- lots of people going through and lots of steps- wear comfy shoes..

Quality of Experience

Vatican & Sistine Chapel - Small Group Tour

Rome

Just overwhelmed! The beauty within these walls.

Quality of Experience

Sooo many people- felt rushed and stressed

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Vincenzo and Gabriele were fantastic! Very responsive and easy to deal with. Their help in organizing the tours, train rides and pick-ups/drop-offs was great. However, their ability to find and curate the right accommodations for our needs/wants was tremendous - we loved every hotel we stayed in - it was exactly what we wanted :) Thank you!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Il Guelfo Bianco

Florence

The Hotel Il Guelfo Bianco in Florence was lovely with a large room featuring a beautifully frescoed ceiling. The bed was very comfortable, the breakfast was nice, and it was within walking distance of the city center, making it very convenient. Easy access for taxis was an added bonus. Everything worked well, including the elevator and shower. Overall, it was a great stay with no complaints.

Hotel Miramare

Sorrento

Hotel Miramare on the Amalfi Coast offered a stunning view from the terrace, which we absolutely loved. We enjoyed leisurely evenings on the deck with takeout. It was quite a distance from the center of Sorrento, about a 25-minute walk with some hilly parts and limited sidewalks. It didn't deter us, but it's something to be aware of. The hotel met our expectations for a relaxing stay.

Relais Vignale & Spa

Radda in Chianti SI

Relais Vignale & Spa in Tuscany provided a fantastic view and a charming room with a little terrace. However, their restaurant was overpriced and underwhelming. Despite the dining disappointment, the overall experience in the hotel and Radda town was positive.

La Casa Di Lucio Hotel Relais

matera

La Casa Di Lucio Hotel Relais in Matera was truly special, featuring rooms built into caves. Although carrying luggage across cobbled streets was challenging, the unique room more than made up for it. The location highlighted the historical richness of Matera, making for a memorable stay.

Borgo d'Itria - Trulli Resort

Monopoli

Borgo d'Itria - Trulli Resort was charming, but not quite as spacious as previous accommodations. We faced an issue initially with the air conditioning, but it was resolved promptly. This wouldn't have bother us much, but the room was more compact than expected, lacking a window for air ventilation until the AC was fixed.

Activity Reviews

Visit a lemon grove & taste local Limoncello

Italy

The tour of the lemon grove was enjoyable and family-run, located about a half-hour walk from our hotel. While the setting was lovely, we were caught off-guard by mosquitoes and the tour duration change from one hour in our booking to two hours on the day. However, the opportunity to buy Limóncello at the end of the tour was great and we really enjoyed it.

Private Gondola Ride

Venice

The Private Gondola Ride in Venice was a lovely experience, offering views of the city from the water. Unfortunately, the ride was shorter than expected, lasting only 18 minutes despite a 30-minute booking. We're glad we did it, but this mismatch in advertised versus actual duration was a little disappointing.

What an amazing trip! Our specialist Georgia and her team did an awesome job of coordinating all aspects of our trip and satisfying our wishes of great food, adventure, and iconic sites. Our guides Lucia and Alessandro showed us more than the sites …they shared off the beaten path stops and great stories! Would definitely recommend Kim Kim!

Hotel Review

Grand Hotel De La Ville

Sorrento

Beautiful hotel! Walking distance to all of Sorrento. The food and service truly 5 star!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Our server Antonio made us feel like we were the only guests in the hotel.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Neapolitan Street Food & Local Market Experience

Naples

The tour of Naples was great! We were able to get oriented so that we could easily explore on our own the next day. We weren’t prepared for so much fried and dough based foods however

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Vesuvius Volcano Adventure Guided Visit with Lunch and Wine Tasting

Naples

The experience was amazing! How many people can tell their friends and family they climbed Mt Vesuvius? Our drivers Eddie and “Peppie” were awesome!

Quality of Experience

Climbing an active volcano!!!

Food

Great pasta and wine pairing

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Their personalities

Transport

Day Excursion to Capri Island and Anacapri

Italy

Beautiful experience! Our guide Lucia was amazing! She shared history and stories that made the island come alive! She wanted us to remember our day and had us posing for pictures instead of us taking selfies all day!

Quality of Experience

Lucia!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

There was a lack of communication regarding who where and when to get our tickets for the ferry to the island. Should have had that information the day before

Explore Sorrento

Italy

Loved Sorrento! Clean, easy to get around, beautiful!

Quality of Experience

Amalfi Coast Sunset Cruise

Italy

Due to weather this excursion was cancelled

Private Full Day Amalfi Experience

Italy

Our guide Alessandro was amazing. He knew what we wanted to see and experience and took us to all those special places. He knew we loved to cook and took us to Gargiulo for an olive oil tasting! Another stope was Ceramiche Casola ceramics factory. Lunch at Calajanara Restaurant with a table overlooking the sea was breathtaking. And what’s not to love about Positano?

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Andrea was extremely helpful and really understood our requirements. It was very beneficial to have someone in-country to provide immediate assistance, which we did require a few times throughout the trip. He was helpful, as were the drivers and the person people who managed the AirBNB's.

All in all, we had a wonderful trip!

Hotel Reviews

Colosseum Luxury View Apartment

Our family of 5 adults were very comfortable in this apartment and if was very close to the activities in Rome.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa Lucienne

The apartment was in a perfect location. The apartment was clean and well decorated. My only piece of feedback is that for a family of 5 adults, the bedroom with the trundle bed was too small for an adult and the mattress was just adequate. The room is large enough to have a double bed, or if you are going to keep a trundle, get a better mattress and then it should not have a footboard, as tall people do not fit comfortably.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Piazza Bellini & Apartments

Naples

The family style room and the room for 2 were very comfortable and spacious. Staff was friendly.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Rome Private Guided Walk

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel skip the line ticket

Rome

Guide was amazing! We truly enjoyed this tour!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel - private guide

Rome

Our guide was amazing!!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Colosseum & Roman Forum skip the line ticket

Rome

Good to skip the line.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Colosseum and Roman Forum - Private guide

Rome

Tour was good. The original guide was swapped out the last minute, so the meeting place was very confusing.....

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Naples guided walk

Italy

Betta was a wonderful guide! She really listened to what we wanted to do, and helped us to get around the city!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Winery visit and wine tasting in Pompeii area including light lunch

Italy

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pompeii ruin visit with a private guide

Italy

Knowledgeable and passionate guide! I had been there before, but he opened more doors, and we saw new items of interest.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day trip to Capri Island from The Amalfi Coast - small group

Italy

It was a very rough ride with Jolly Boats and the captain was by himself, so it's extremely difficult to stop, dock and man the boat with just one person. Definitely should have had 2 people managing this boat ride.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cooking Class *****

Italy

Chef was very good and the location was fantastic. There is very little cooking involved; we got to prepare the food, but we didn't get to cook it....

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a very good experience with Rita from initial contact to planning and booking the various aspects of our trip. There were some aspects that did not meet our expectations. For the most part, guides contacted us through What's App to confirm and clarify. This was greatly appreciated as we had some communication failures on a number of occasions. There were also times with accommodations that may have been a great property but the room location and/or size/quality missed the mark. For example...
Accomodations
For the most part about half of the hotels met our expectations or more.
Accomodations that met or exceeded our expectations
- El Faro, Alghero
- Baunei, La Bitta (Room overlooked the parking lot a highway but everything else was awesome.
Fantastic location, hotel but maybe not the view we would have desired
- Balocco, Porto Cervo - Beautiful Resort but Garden view.
- Quarry Resort, Matera - Awesome but no view at all. Room was great
- Hilton DoubleTree, Amsterdam - great location from train, nice room (upgraded)
Accomodations that were far below expectations
T Hotel, Cagliari - We realize the hotel Rita wanted to book was unavailable. G7 Finance Ministers were also in town but the room wasn't great, aweful view and even the hotel staff told us there wasn't much around us. It was a good 30 to 40 minute hike to get toward the marina and places we wanted to go. We feel this choice was well below expectations even knowing the circumstances
- Masseria Francescani, Lecce
This was the first major let down. We had a tough time pulling it together to enjoy the rest of the trip. The property was interesting but we ended up in a horrible room. It was likely a servant quarters recently as it is location on it's own at the very back of the building next to the kitchen and delivery trucks. The room was very dated and cobbled together. The shower curtain rod was rusty and the room was renovation years ago to provide wheelchair access. Even the Masseria staff apologized for the room and let us know it wasn't great but they had nice rooms if we wanted to come back.
Dimore di Brando, Polignano a Mare
This was expected to be the highlight of or trip. We had 4 nights to explore the region and enjoy this area of Puglia. Major disappointment in many aspects.
Very difficult to find. Davida is a very nice man. Jodie was roaming the area trying to find the room. She called the hotel to find out where to park. Davida asked if it was Jodie as he was anxious to get in touch with us. He explained he never received contact info to guide us through the check in process. We eventually connected and they sent a staff member to the parking area to help us. Parking was about 5 blocks away which we were expecting.
When we hauled our luggage to the room it was a ground level room in one of the busiest parts filled with street merchants and tour groups passing our door. The room was a complete miss from all aspects. It literally had no windows. The door was glass and it had a port hole but if the door was blocked for any reason we would have been trapped. The bed size was not what we requested, the room was incredibly small. We smashed our heads on overhanging rock several times. It was brutal. We came close to abandoning that room for one with a terrace and view but decided to stick it out. It was tough to get past.
Tours and Activities
All booked tours and activities were excellent, we had a number of activities booked and all were very informative and enjoyable. All guides were in touch in advance for the most part which really helped with the overall experience.
There was a tapas tour in Olbia where we arrived well in advance to the meeting point but were unable to locate tour guide. After contacting you via the chat feature, we decided to get back on the road to our hotel as a major rain storm was starting. Once on our way back your team responded as to where the guide was and we realized we were right there, in the square in front of that restaurant before we decided to leave. By this time we were on our way back to hotel, 40 minute drive, and caught in a rain storm like we have never experienced. All the guide had to do was to look out into the square and see two people looking around, we were virtually the only two people looking like we were looking for something, Outside of this issue, two of our sailing adventures were cancelled due to high winds, which is beyond anyone's control.
We do want to add that the app with links for driving and sights to see was really appreciated, helped us in getting around and seeing things we probably wouldn't have seen. All contact when needed was responded to within a timely manner.
You should know we have referred two different groups to KimKim and expect another 3 or 4 friends to move forward with KimKim in the near future.

Activity Reviews

Ape Calessino Tour in Matera & Aperitivo on Panoramic Terrace

Italy

Great day and great guide!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Walking Experience in Otranto & Trekking at the Bauxite Caves

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boat Excursion of La Maddalena Archipel from Palau

Italy

Quality of Experience

Food

Everything was excellent!!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sardinian Tapas Tasting in Olbia

Olbia

This is covered off in our comments

Guided Visit of Alghero & Wine Tasting

Alghero

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Excursion on a Sailboat to Asinara from Stintino

Italy

This was cancelled by tour group due to high winds

Lecce’s Gastronomic Experience

Italy

Great day and guide

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Family-Owned Winery Visit: Vineyard Tour and Wine Tasting in the Itria Valley

Italy

Great experience!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bari Behind Doors: Guided Visit with a Local

Italy

Great guide, great day!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Farm Visit in Puglia: Cheese-Making Laboratory and Local Product Tasting

Italy

Great experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Dinghy Trip Excursion to Sant'Antioco or Carloforte

Cagliari

This was cancelled by tour group due to high winds

Chris took care of every detail for us. Every luxury hotel, every private tour, every limo. ride, every meal - was beyond our expectations.

Because of Chris’s patience, guidance, and knowledge, my wife, my two teen daughters and I had the best vacation we have ever been on,’m. We traveled, toured and ate our way thru 5 star accommodations throughout Italy with ease and kind interactions with all the people that Chris connected us with.

We cant wait to plan our trip to Paris in April with him.

Evening bicycle tour of Rome was incredible. The trip was very well planned and organized. The drivers that were scheduled were always courteous and and on time. Giulia is extremely knowledgeable and responsive.

Our hotel accommodations were good for the most part. We loved the hotel in Rome and the villa in Tuscany was more than acceptable. The Cinque Terre hotel location was excellent, especially the view we had from our room. I would have enjoyed a 4 star facility but believe one was not avalable.

Overall, Giulia and Kimkim did an outstanding job. We will not only use them again but will recommend them to friends.

Activity Reviews

Guided Visit to the Colosseum & Roman Forum

Rome

Heavy rain hindered our tour but that wasn't the fault of the guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Vatican & Sistine Chapel Tour

Rome

Very crowded and the "front of the line pass" didn't appear to do much good. Sistine Chapple was so crowded you could hardly move.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rome: E-Bike Evening Tour with Italian Dinner

Rome

The view of Rome in the evening provides a different perspective of the historic sites. It was absolutely beautiful and our guide was not only knowledgeable, but extremely friendly and courteous.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We recently did an amazing two week vacation in Italy. To say Andrea did a wonderful job is an understatement-every last detail was covered and the most stress free experience. Every driver, tour guide, experience was top notch! We recommend Kim Kim and Andrea to everyone we tell about our trip to. Thank you for the trip of a life time, we will certainly be using Kim Kim for all of our future trips. If you are hesitating about using a travel agency, have reservations because of not hearing about Kim Kim, or are skeptical, I assure you please give them a try-you will not be disappointed!!

Hotel Reviews

Castello La Leccia

Castellina in Chianti

Wonderful relaxing grounds. Best massages we have ever experienced. Truly an amazing piece of Tuscany.

Authenticity & Character

Rooms were gorgeous and grounds were something out of a book!

Location

Scenic views

Staff

Massage was fantastic at spa-probably the best we’ve had!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Spacious rooms, lots of natural light

Hotel Santa Maria Novella

Florence

Wonderful location, very authentic hotel. Beautiful!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very central located and easy to get to shops, food, etc

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Palazzo Murat Positano

Positano

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palazzo Veneziano Venice

Venice

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Antico Albergo del Sole al Pantheon

Rome

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hidden Venice and cicchetti experience

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exclusive Murano & Burano islands visit (private service)

Venice

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Jewels of Venice (St. Mark & Doge Palace)

Venice

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Accademia Gallery - skip the line entrance

Florence

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Florence private guided walk including Accademia Gallery

Florence

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wine tasting with light lunch and winery visit

Italy

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pompeii ruin visit with a private guide

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rome Private Guided Walk

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Colosseum & Roman Forum skip the line ticket

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel skip the line ticket

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day trip to Capri Island from The Amalfi Coast - small group

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Colosseum and Roman Forum - Private guide

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel - private guide

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The trip was planned amazingly. The guides and personal drivers were so informative and friendly. I enjoyed every tour we attended. Melanie was amazing at helping us to plan our trip to our specifications. Thank you for all your help in planning our dream trip to Italy with our father.

Activity Reviews

The Accademia Gallery and Uffizi Masterclass Experience

Florence

The tour guide was so knowledgeable about the artwork and made the tour so interesting.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Colosseo and Roman forums adventure

Rome

Again the tour guide was so knowledgeable and made the tour very memorable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Olive and Wine Tasting in Tuscany Countrtyside

Italy

This was an amazing day with a small group of people and enjoyed the countryside and wine and olive oil of three different winery’s. Very well planned and was not rushed. One of my favorite days.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boat tour along the Amalfi Coast

Sorrento

Was a beautiful boat ride but did not get to do all the activities that were listed with this tour. Felt as though we were rushed through parts of the day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

KimKim is awesome!
Margaux is awesome!

This was my first experience with KimKim and Margaux. Will certainly not be my last. Definitely a “white glove” approach to travel service. So much so that I’m already thinking about how KimKim can help me with next year’s vacation and I'm not quite over the jet lag of my current travels.

You will not be disappointed!

We had the perfect trip to Rome and the Amalfi coast. Luca always was prompt to answer any questions and when we couldn’t find our tour guide for one of our tours, he solved the issue. We loved the hotels, locations and the food served at the hotels. The tours were great. We especially liked Pompeii and the Path of the Gods. Mathew was so much fun and we loved the fact his family farmed the region. We really have only positive memories and stories. Thank you for a trip of a lifetime.
Warm Regards,
Gayle and Gregg

I'm sure I couldn't have done this trip without the help of Caterina and the other guides. There are certain things I would have done differently, however had I known, and which might be useful for other travellers in the situation of pushing a wheelchair. We almost didn't go to Venice but it was actually much easier in Venice than Florence to get around. I would not go to Florence with a wheelchair again. I would also choose and bring a wheelchair with me and not rent. The one that was rented was very small and difficult both to push and for my mom to sit in. The third thing I would do is to rent 3 double rooms and not 2 triples. We rented the triples as a money saver but it resulted in my mom being in a cot in many places which is okay for a child but not for the elderly. The car and driver were very helpful in many places but at other times we really didn't need them to sit for hours while we were in a museum or even to transport us a few blocks to the museum. It was great for driving around to viewpoints though. All of the tour guides were very flexible, helpful and knowledgeable. I also appreciated having the contact of Roberta at all times which I haven't experienced on previous KimKim trips. Svetlana in Como was relaxed and flexible which allowed us to have some time to just look around. Beatrice was indispensable for getting in and out of Venice smoothly. Alessia, in Venice made the trip for 11 year old Katie, with the costume she brought and the effort she went to to engage her. Alesia's dad even helped taking photos and walking us to a restaurant. They were both so warm and friendly. Cecelia blew our mind pushing the wheelchair around and ensuring my mom's comfort. The driver in Verona was also amazing. Both of them made our stay in Verona our favourite stop on our trip. Barbara in Milano, was super fun and also great at engaging Katie. We had the trip of a lifetime and made unforgettable memories with my mom, whose life long dream of visiting the homeland of her grandparents was finally realized.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Astra Opéra

Paris

Candy buffet!!!!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Turin Palace Hotel

Turin

Rooftop terrace and dining is amazing!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Palace Hotel Lake Como

Como

Difficulties checking in and getting appropriate rooms. Wheelchair accessibility was poor

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right across from the water with lovely terraces for dining.

Staff

The staff at the rooftop lounge were fantastic with my mom - so helpful and kind but the staff at the front desk were useless and didn't seem to have any idea what was going on. We spent hours trying to find a workable solution for my mom. They put us in two rooms with two beds one of which had stairs inside the room and the other of which was up stairs to get to the room. There was a narrow ramp that was okay for luggage but not for a human in a wheelchair.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The cot they brought in was dirty and not level and when we complained , they argued that it was fine.

Hotel savoia & Jolanda

Venice

View of the canal was spectacular

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

The staff in the restaurant were quite grumpy and difficult.

Cleanliness & Comfort

One of the rooms was spectacular but the other room was badly in need of renovating and had horrible lumpy beds. The pillows in both rooms were rocks.

Grand Hotel Cavour

Florence

They advertise their rooftop bar but good luck getting on to it.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Accademia

Verona

Authenticity & Character

Location

Between Juliet's balcony and the arena

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Uptown Palace Milan

Milan

Longish walk to things and construction in front

Authenticity & Character

Location

Nearby restaurants very limited and longer walk to anything than we were expecting

Staff

Super helpful opening doors for the wheelchair

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Venice walking tour

Italy

Private Water Taxi Transfer to Venice Airport

Venice

Everyone made this beyond easy for us

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private guided tour of Verona highlights

Italy

Florence and Accademia City Tour

Italy

We wished we had gone to the Uffizi on Sunday since it was closed on Monday. Seeing David was great but the gardens were recommended to us after which was a disaster with a wheelchair .

Day trip to Sparone & Calea

Turin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The driver was incredibly flexible and helpful. We were so glad we had a driver for this.

Transport

Private tour of Milan Highlights

Milan

Tour was great and so was the guide. It was so helpful having a guide to negotiate the wheelchair accesibility. The driver sat around for quite some time before we sent him home. A cab to the square would have been better

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We didnt need this

Sirmione Highlights

Italy

Unexpected and beautiful

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wheelchair rental

Turin

Should have rented and brought with me

Quality of Experience

Private guide the Royal Turin: royal museums+chapel of the shroud and galleria sabauda

Turin

Museum was beyond our expectations. We didn't need a driver to drive us for 20 minutes on what was a five minute walk. We also didn't need him to sit around for 3 hours. We could have easily walked or taken a cab

Private boat tour of Lake Como - Explore Bellagio

Italy

Trip highlight

Our much anticipated trip to Italy lived up to our expectations! Giulia, our travel expert, handled our requests and worked with us throughout the planning process to provide a finished product that was wonderful. This was our first trip abroad and we relied upon her to provide all recommendations for guides, tours, accommodations and transportation throughout Italy. We could not have done this on our own! Each driver was prompt, each tour guide was excellent! Our hotel in Rome was beautiful and top notch, walking distance to the sights in Ancient Rome and local dining spots. Beautifuly renovated, it provided a wonderful breakfast and rooftop bar with an amazing view of Ancient Rome. The location in Chianti was beautiful! While the hotel was not the most modern it provided what we were looking for in a traditional rustic Tuscan inn with a wonderful breakfast and comfortable accommodations surrounded by the beauty of Tuscany. It was nestled in wine country within driving distance to several Hill Towns for us to explore. We enjoyed returning each day to relax on our terrace to reflect on the day. While we loved the convenience of our hotel in Cinque Terre, it was our least comfotable due to the sparseness of the space and small bathroom/shower. This was most likely due to booking too late to secure the original hotel. However, the staff was friendly and the location and direct view overlooking the Ligurian Sea was amazing!

Hotel Reviews

H10 Palazzo Galla

Rome

Excellent! We loved the convenience of the location within walking distance to the sights of Ancient Rome and the availability of so many choices for dining. Beautiful rooms, rooftop bar and wonderful breakfast!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Borgo San Luigi

Monteriggioni

Beautiful setting and grounds. Amazing breakfast. Staff was very friendly and accommodating. The rooms were comfortable and clean however showing their age. The good far outweighed the bad in this case. We enjoyed returning from our daily exploration to relax on our terrace to take in the beautiful surroundings.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bathroom was very traditional which Very clean but not as modern in bathroom fixtures. Still, it met our needs.

Hotel La Spiaggia

Monterosso al Mare

Location, location, location! The room was very sparse, bed not as comfortable, bathroom and shower very tight but we enjoyed the balcony overlooking the sea. Amazing views! Breakfast was very good as well!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean, bed not comfortable and sparsely furnished.

Activity Reviews

Rome: E-Bike Evening Tour with Italian Dinner

Rome

Excellent! The highlight of our time in Rome. Wish we had scheduled this for our first day.

Quality of Experience

Food

Very lovely spot and food was adequate

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was fabulous. Made sure that we received the time we needed at each stop and was attentive to our comfort and safety!

Transport

We walked to the location and our guide called a cab for us at the end since it was later in the evening.

Guided Visit to the Colosseum & Roman Forum

Rome

The downsides were the weather, Rained most of the day and the crowds. Can't control either of these.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Vatican & Sistine Chapel Tour

Rome

Our guide was wonderful but the crowds were huge. Sistine Chapel was wall to wall people and could not really be enjoyed.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bye Bye, Italy!

Italy

Fabulous experience!

Guilia from KimKim did an excellent job arranging our trip plan to suit our likes and all the travel details went without a hitch...would highly recommend using this service. Rome, Tuscany, Cinque Terre in 12 days was just right.

Our trip was excellent from beginning to the end! In particular the historic tours and boat trips. Highly recommended!

Hotel Review

Hotel Foscari Palace

Venice

Great food, comfortable room, excellent location

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Private St. Mark's Basilica & Doge’s Palace Tour with Exclusive Access to Secret Rooms

Venice

Our guide was excellent, informative, and easy to understand. This could not have been better!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Planning was very smooth - Rita was very helpful and insightful. Support during trip was timely and professional. Kim Kim support was aware of our train cancellation before we were and proactively rebooked and notified us. We’ve had just as good of service from Kim Kim on previous trip. Would highly recommend and will definitely use again!

Every detail was accounted for and Melanie acted as a guardian angel during the trip, keeping an eye on all events. It was very comforting, and seamless. We will be doing this again.