Maria Grazia Rubino
Born and raised in Southern Italy, I had the privilege to travel a lot, both in Italy and abroad. As a matter of fact, for me, travel is an all-consuming passion that started during my first trip in London. Since then, it grew more and more, especially when I had the chance to travel abroad by myself being lucky enough to meet people from all around the world. I thoroughly enjoyed tasting the local delicacies and getting to make new and fun experiences that I'd only previously dreamed of.
Of course, I want that travelers who visit my beloved country can make the same experiences and feel the same joy I felt. That is why, I enjoy planning a precise itinerary for them, so that they can live their best experience in the smoothest way possible.
How did you get involved in travel?
"I have always loved traveling and I started doing it since I was a teenager. I enjoyed the planning part and had a lot of fun organizing accurately the trip for myself and the people I traveled with, so that we could discover the hidden gems of each destination.
My love for traveling brought me to accept a job at the local InfoPoint, where I could help people exploring the beauty of my region, Calabria, and that was the perfect occasion to do what I loved the most: share the beauty of an amazing Italian region. After that, I started collaborating with Storywalking, an Italian tour operator that organizes FITs and small group tours throughout Italy. "
Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.
"Without any doubt, my trip to Japan a life-changing experience for me!
I decided to travel completely on my own and went to Tokyo, where I met a lot of people of my age and lived this unique experience with them. Not only I visited Tokyo, but also Kyoto, Kamakura and other Japanese cities. Moreover, I had the chance to participate in different cultural activities.
I always felt like I was visiting a futuristic city, but the amazing thing is that as soon as I turned any corner, I would found myself in front a beautiful and ancient temple. I think this is one of the most peculiar trait of this country. "
Maria Grazia's favorite itineraries and travel advice
Top itineraries and travel advice
From Crete's rocky hillsides to the rolling farmlands of Tuscany's heartland, this 10-day itinerary delivers top destinations in both Greece and Italy — and leaves you hungry...
With thousands of years of cultural and culinary history, Italy offers plenty to take in. In 10 days, you can choose to go deep on a particular region or hop between the high...
Many travelers with 10 days to spend in Italy choose to explore two to three cities or regions—you can easily see the top sights in Venice, Florence, Rome, adding the Amalfi...
Family itineraries
Take two weeks to explore Rome and some of Italy's most popular coastal cities with this itinerary designed to make traveling with babies and toddlers simple. Private tours to...
Whether you're hiding behind a Carnival mask, crafting your own gelato flavor, or cruising around Lake Como, Italy has a new experience for your family waiting around every...
Take your young ones on the experience of a lifetime as you travel through Italy. You'll start in Venice, where you'll explore on a slew of scavenger hunts. Follow it with...
Luxury itineraries
Combine the historical splendor of Italy with its natural charm in this 14-day tour, highlighting the ancient cities of Venice, Pisa, Florence, and Rome with sunset gondola...
This 6-day tour is perfect for those wanting to relax on the peaceful shores of Lake Como while still tackling Italy's impressive history. You'll hike the villages of Cinque...
Balance your travels between the city and countryside with this week-long itinerary. In between the art and history found on the busy streets of Milan and Florence, you'll also...
Road trip itineraries
Experience Sicily in all its glory by driving around the island in 2 weeks. Highlights of this tour include Palermo, a cultural melting pot with stunning monuments and vibrant...
Italy is a country made for slow touring: whether you’re cruising through vineyards and silver-green olive groves that dip to the sea in sun-baked Puglia, negotiating hairpin...
An island as beautiful and historically rich as Sicily deserves to be experienced at a leisurely pace. This 15-day itinerary features beaches and cathedrals, fishing villages...
Recent trip reviews for Maria Grazia
Kimkim did a great job of finding us rooms th...
Italy
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Oct 3 - Oct 13, 2024
Kimkim did a great job of finding us rooms that were very centrally located for walking and getting to the places we wanted to go to. All of the guides were exceptional. The pick ups were always on time and easy to locate. Maria hooked us up with Storywalking in Sicily and they did a great job and were very responsive This was my second trip using Kimkim and I have referred many people to them and plan on using their services again in the future.
Ciao Lynn,
Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled that me and my Storywalking ream helped make your trip so memorable :)
It's great to hear the centrally located accommodations and guides met your expectations, and that everything went smoothly.
We look forward to helping with your future adventures!
Best,
Maria Grazia & Storywalking Team
We had an amazing trip to Sicily. Everything ...
Italy
|
Oct 3 - Oct 13, 2024
We had an amazing trip to Sicily. Everything was so well planned. Each guide was fun, knowledgeable and perfect! The street food tour with Valeri was a highlight. As was the urban winery- mt Etna. The wine pairing was absolutely delicious!
Hotels were clean and so well located and welcoming. Flexibility was appreciated.
When 4 travelers agree - you know they must be doing right!
Ciao Bobbie,
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback!
We're happy to know that you had such a memorable time in Sicily. Our local connections and expertise are key to making each experience special, and it's great to hear that the street food tour and the Mt. Etna winery stood out for you.
Looking forward to helping with your next adventure!
Best,
Maria Grazia & Storywalking Team
Sicily October 2024 with Kim Kim/Storywalking
Italy
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Oct 3 - Oct 13, 2024
Maria/Barbara of Kim Kim/Storywalking did an outstanding job of organizing our trip to Sicily. Accommodations were lovely and extremely well located.
Local guides, drivers and events were all punctual, very interesting and knowledgeable.
Storywalking was very attentive to any minor issues and questions that arose during the trip.
In summary, I highly recommend Kim Kim/Storywalking and would absolutely work with them in the future. We worked with Kim Kim last year for a trip to Portugal and were also very pleased, hence the booking for Sicily.
Dear Jean,
Grazie mille for your wonderful review! We're happy to hear that you enjoyed your trip to Sicily.
At Storywalking, we take pride in our meticulous planning and attention to detail, ensuring that every aspect of our travelers' journey is seamless and enriching.
We look forward to helping you create more unforgettable experiences in the future!
Best,
Maria Grazia
Maria did a great job.
Italy
|
Sep 18 - Sep 27, 2024
Ciao Tatiana,
Thank you for this review!
We're thrilled that you had a great experience with Storywalking and appreciated the excellent communication with our team throughout your trip.
We're also glad that you had a great experience with our private drivers and that they helped make your journey smooth and enjoyable. We pride ourselves on providing seamless transportation to ensure our travelers' trip is as comfortable as possible.
I wish you all the best,
Maria Grazia
The guide in the villa Borghese was great. A...
Italy
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Sep 20 - Oct 3, 2024
All the guides were good.
The guide in Pompei spent far too much time on the streets and the generalities of the city .
I had to force him to end all the preambles and proceed with the villa di Misterii which was the main reason for my visit in Pompei. We ended up having to rush and we spent very little time viewing the frescoes. He was already leaving when I just managed to make a quick video, and I had to run after him
because he was gone.... Read more
Hi Jacqueline,
Thank you so much for your thoughtful feedback!
It's great to hear that our support helped you feel more comfortable and confident while traveling. Thank you again for trusting us with your trip—we're glad it was a memorable experience, and we look forward to helping you plan your next adventure!
Best,
Maria Grazia
Hello;Would like to mention the 2 drivers w...
Italy
|
Sep 20 - Oct 3, 2024
Hello Mary-Ann,
Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that your experience with our Storywalking team, including the drivers and guide, made your trip so special.
We always work with our trusted guides and drivers to ensure the best possible experience for our travelers, and we'll pass along your kind words to them!
our feedback is greatly appreciated, and we look forward to assisting you with future adventures.
Warm regards,
Maria
Italy Trip
Italy
|
Aug 19 - Aug 28, 2024
Ciao Sharon,
Grazie mille for your thoughtful review!
We're thrilled to hear that you had such a fantastic experience with all our guides, and that you felt well taken care of throughout your journey :)
We look forward to welcoming you on another adventure soon!
Best,
Maria Grazia
First and foremost, a huge thank you to Maria...
Italy
|
Aug 19 - Aug 28, 2024
Dear Jay,
Thank you so much for your wonderful review!
We're happy that our local partners and expertise helped make your journey through Italy truly special.
If you have any future travel plans in Italy, we’d be delighted to assist again.
Wishing you many more amazing travels!
Warm regards,
Maria Grazia
Our 10-day trip to Italy was a breeze to plan...
Italy
|
Aug 19 - Aug 28, 2024
Dear Melissa,
Thank you so much for sharing your incredible experience with us! We take pride in our team’s dedication, and it’s wonderful to know that our efforts were so impactful.
Your kind words truly mean a lot to us.
We hope to assist you on many more trips in the future!
Best,
Maria