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Rita Pagano

"Travel as much as you can, as far as you can, for as long as you can. Life is not meant to be lived in one place." This is my motto. I’m from Italy, specifically Naples (yes, the birthplace of pizza)!

Traveling has always been my passion. Since childhood, I’ve explored much of Europe and traveled to various destinations in Australia. A few years ago, I had the fortune of living in Malaga, where I fell in love with Spanish culture and cuisine (yes, I could eat croquetas every day!). So.. here I am! I've moved to Spain and am happily an adopted madrileña.

Living in Spain has also allowed me to visit Portugal. Do you know what "Saudade" means in Portuguese? It’s a deep sense of homesickness and nostalgia, with no exact translation in other languages. It’s a feeling many experience when returning from Portugal.

At Espíritu Travel, I specialize in planning trips to Italy and Portugal. I’m excited to help you create the perfect journey to discover the wonders of Italy (my beautiful homeland) and Portugal and experience for yourself the essence of saudade.

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"I craft and create custom-made trips and exclusive experiences in Italy, Portugal, Spain, and Morocco too. "

How did you get involved in travel?

"My curiosity led me to study foreign languages at the university, which means having a focus especially on the culture and customs of a foreign country. This is why I decided to guide my career in the world of tourism, and thanks to a Master in Tourism Management, I have turned my passion into my current job. "

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"One of the most unique experiences I had was in Oporto. I was visiting the cathedral Sé do Porto, and I came across a woman who was restoring one of the walls of the patio full of typical "azulejos". While she was painting thoroughly the blue tiles, a man played a traditional Fado song with his guitar. It was magic!"

Top itineraries and travel advice
Family itineraries
Luxury itineraries

Recent trip reviews for Rita

Good not great
Italy | Nov 12 - Nov 22, 2024

C
charley w.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Dec 12, 2024
The good: entire trip was pre-planned so we literally just had to get ourselves to the airport. But from landing in Rome to leaving Rome 11 days later everything was taken care if. If you have questions, or a driver is late, whatever, the person helping you via the app was super fast and responsive. Very white glove. For us, Rita was on point. The highlights of our trip were a guided walking tour of Florence, which was simply amazing. I don’t remember our guides name, but she understood... Read more

The good: entire trip was pre-planned so we literally just had to get ourselves to the airport. But from landing in Rome to leaving Rome 11 days later everything was taken care if.

If you have questions, or a driver is late, whatever, the person helping you via the app was super fast and responsive. Very white glove. For us, Rita was on point.

The highlights of our trip were a guided walking tour of Florence, which was simply amazing. I don’t remember our guides name, but she understood architecture and art and made the three hours absolutely fascinating. The other highlight was our cooking class in Rome, which was an absolute blast.

The less good: we were planning a day trip to the Amalfi coast. They said it was about an eight hour day. But the night before, luckily, we looked at maps and realized the drive from Rome to Amalfi was three hours and 15 minutes or more. So given that we were going to be in the car for approximately seven hours, we weren’t sure how it was going to be an eight hour day. When we contacted them, they said oh yeah actually it’s a 12 hour day. And of those 12 hours, yes we’re gonna be in the car 7 to 8 hours driving to and from Amalfi and then around the area once we’re there. We were just not psyched about spending that much time in a car and we’re disappointed that the trip was so misrepresented. They did change it for us so that we could do something else around Rome that day. We basically had a car that took us to some of the local villages outside of Rome and that was pretty fun. But it was certainly a lot cheaper than the 12 hour day to Amalfi coast and yet they didn’t offer to rebate us any money. So that experience was disappointing.

The other less good… we had a day trip to sienna from Florence. And why we loved Sienna, and our driver was lovely, it turns out that he was only a driver who dropped us off in Siena and we were on our own. We sort of thought that he would drive us to sienna and then take us around. Sienna. And because we misunderstood that we sort of got to sienna and didn’t really know what to do. Because we didn’t do any research we thought we didn’t have to. Again, the driver was lovely, but it was just sort of a strange misunderstanding.

The final less good…the cost. Look if you’re insanely wealthy and don’t care then don’t read this paragraph. But we spent quite a bit of money to hire Kim Kim, and in the end felt like we received a lot of drivers and several guided tours that we probably could’ve booked ourselves. And like I said when we changed our 12 hour Amalfi excursion to an eight hour excursion just around Rome they didn’t refund us any money.

So overall sort of a mixed bag for us. Not sorry we hired Kim Kim, but also not sure we would do it again. Lastly, I would like to thank everyone from Kim Kim, who was so lovely in dealing with us. They were very, very nice.

Local specialist: Rita Pagano

It was a trip of a lifetime. Portugal had bee...
Portugal | Oct 12 - Oct 22, 2024

Vicki
Vicki V.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Nov 04, 2024
It was a trip of a lifetime. Portugal had been on my list to visit for many years. It did not disappoint. The people were so welcoming. Everything was perfect the tour guides were knowledgeable and informative. My only regret is my time in Portugal was too short. Read more

It was a trip of a lifetime. Portugal had been on my list to visit for many years. It did not disappoint. The people were so welcoming. Everything was perfect the tour guides were knowledgeable and informative. My only regret is my time in Portugal was too short.

Hotel Review
Carvi Beach Hotel
Lagos

I would not recommend this hotel. The staff was rude and not welcoming. We did have dinner in the restaurant and it was excellent. The location was ideal. It was just the staff that was the issue.

Location
Easy access to beach and transportation
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
Private Day Excursion: Sintra, Cascais & Estoril
Private Day Excursion: Sintra, Cascais & Estoril
Portugal

My favorite tour. I wish I could have spent more time in these quaint cities.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Rita Pagano
Rita
Rita Pagano
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on Nov 04, 2024

Dear Vicki, thank you so much for sharing your experience! I’m so glad to hear that your trip to Portugal lived up to your expectations! Thank you for letting me be a part of your journey, I hope you created lovely memories around Portugal. Until the next time! My best regards, Rita 🥰

We had an absolutely wonderful time on our PR...
Italy | Oct 13 - Oct 21, 2024

David
David P.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Oct 31, 2024
We had an absolutely wonderful time on our PRIVATE trip to Italy. We were a group of 4 senior citizens.
Our drivers we always on time and our personal guides were actually outstanding. They accommodated us at our own gentle and non-hectic pace. When we requested breaks to rest, our guides we are accommodating. All our guides recommended and actually led us to noncommercial local restaurants and stores. We were really embedded in the Italian culture. Our local specialist Rita kept in touch...
Read more

We had an absolutely wonderful time on our PRIVATE trip to Italy. We were a group of 4 senior citizens.
Our drivers we always on time and our personal guides were actually outstanding. They accommodated us at our own gentle and non-hectic pace. When we requested breaks to rest, our guides we are accommodating. All our guides recommended and actually led us to noncommercial local restaurants and stores. We were really embedded in the Italian culture. Our local specialist Rita kept in touch with us every day and sometimes 2x a day. She made so many arrangements & cancellations for us we are so happy we did not make her quit. LOL Now I am not going to mention the names of our guides and drivers for selfish reasons bec I want them all to ourselves for our next trip to explore the northern tour of Italy next year:):)

THANK YOU KIM KIM YOU ARE THE BEST
I am, David Pagnotti Old Forge, Pa

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Monte Cenci
Rome

An excellent location and this hotel was spotless clean & extremely comfortable. The rooms and lobby had air condition. The porters couldn't do enough for us. And everyone spoke excellent English. The staff was well dress and the had a security guard in the lobby all day but i don't know why bec the location was great. It's in the bst part of town! In any event yes, I would definitely stay there again. This was our 3rd trip Rome Italy

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
The female at the desk with red hair & the porter & really to be fair and honest everyone really was extremely nice and polite. And I mean that from the bottom of my heart
Cleanliness & Comfort
Actually we had a brand-new room. Cant beat that!!!
Hotel Lorelei Londres
Sorrento

First of all, this is a 5-star hotel and the whole staff was extremely Solicitous to us senior citizens .The restaurant won many Michlin awards. All air condition and super clean rooms & clean bathrooms through ought. They offer WHITE hand towels not paper ones.

Authenticity & Character
Since there are virtually no woods in Sorento this hotel is all marble and cut stone. We don't have this in America, So this gives it character. Also there is a lot of art on the walls
Location
The location was stupendous!! The whole hotel has extra-large glass windows and glass door all overlooking the mediterranean sea. And at Nite you can see all the yachts anchored in the harbor.
Staff
The staff was absolutely perfect. They bent over backwards for us. The front desk answered with 1 ring of our phone call of things we need like was cloth's. The called for transportation in our behalf without delay. When the kitchen was closed & we had to leave at 5am in the morning they packed us breakfast and lunches to go. The dining room staff served us with white glove and the tables had white tablecloths.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Are room was large with lots of windows and everything was colored white especially the white tiles on the floor. I mention this bec dirt can't hide on white everything has to be clean or guest will notice dirtiness.
Hotel Il Guelfo Bianco
Florence

First of all, this hotel is located in excellent section of Florence and with walking distance for just about all important sites. AND restaurants too! It's a converted church/rectory to a hotel which is very typical of most hotels in this particular area of Florence. But it also means the rooms and hallways are very large. The public spaces and rooms actually have air conditioning. The hotel rates are sensible too. not overpriced.

Authenticity & Character
Location
The location is everything and this hotel is right on spot! Its in the middle of everything and that's why we choose to stay here. Close to important sights and restaurants.
Staff
The staff treat us like gold!! Extremely accommodating especially at breakfast. They were ready for us early each morning. The front desk helped us with directions and transportation. They were very polite too.
Cleanliness & Comfort
The actual bed size was nice and wide just like the room itself was large and wide & I also checked the accommodations of other people's accommodations that we were with & and their rooms we the same as ours. Large and spacious
Activity Review
Guided Visit of the Colosseum, Palatine Hill & Roman Forum
Guided Visit of the Colosseum, Palatine Hill & Roman Forum
Rome

We had an excellent tour guide & we got to cut the entrance line bec she pre purchased our entrance tickets ahead of time. Between the colosseum & forum and lunch we spent at least 5 hours in this area. It was fantastic:)

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Rita Pagano
Rita
Rita Pagano
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on Nov 04, 2024

Dear David, thank you so much for your wonderful review! I’m thrilled to hear that your trip was everything you hoped for and that you enjoyed the authentic, relaxed pace. It was truly a pleasure working with you and I’ll be sure to pass on your kind words to our team!! Looking forward to helping you explore northern Italy next year, can’t wait to plan more memorable moments together! 🥰

Warmest regards,
Rita

The Beauties of Portugal
Portugal | Oct 12 - Oct 22, 2024

Jim
Jim W.
Kansas City, MO | Reviewed on Oct 29, 2024
Pedro was fantastic. He picked us up at the airport and was our guide on two other days. Very personable, knowledgeable and always willing to try and satisfy our groups special requests. Also, Tommy was very friendly and informative during our trip to the Douro Valley. His knowledge of the various types of port and other wines was exceptional. Also, Maria made our trip through the gardens at Monserrate palace very special. Like I mentioned about Pedro above, Maria was very friendly,... Read more

Pedro was fantastic. He picked us up at the airport and was our guide on two other days. Very personable, knowledgeable and always willing to try and satisfy our groups special requests. Also, Tommy was very friendly and informative during our trip to the Douro Valley. His knowledge of the various types of port and other wines was exceptional. Also, Maria made our trip through the gardens at Monserrate palace very special. Like I mentioned about Pedro above, Maria was very friendly, knowledgeable and always took the needs and safety of our group into account during the tour. In general, all of our guides arrived at the meeting places timely, were knowledgeable and friendly.

Hotel Review
Carvi Beach Hotel
Lagos

The food in the hotel restaurant was very good, however, the hotel staff was very rude and treated many of us as if it was a major inconvenience to them for us to be there. This attitude was demonstrated at all levels from some of the maids all the way up to the "supervisors" in the hotel and restaurant. I would never recommend this hotel to anyone due to the attitude of the staff!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Rita Pagano
Rita
Rita Pagano
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on Oct 29, 2024

Dear Jim, Thank you so much for sharing your detailed review! I'm thrilled to hear that Pedro, Tommy, and Maria made such a positive impact on your journey. Also, thank you for your honest feedback about the Carvi Beach Hotel, I’ll make sure to pass along your comments to the hotel management to ensure improvements are made for future guests. Thank you again for choosing Espíritu Travel for your trip. Hopefully, we will keep in touch for your future adventures! Warm regards, Rita 😊

Rita was very thorough and informative. She w...
Italy | Oct 13 - Oct 21, 2024

A
Angela P.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Oct 28, 2024
Rita was very thorough and informative. She was very prompt in getting back to us with answers to our questions and concerns. The drivers and guides she chose were exceptional. Read more

Rita was very thorough and informative. She was very prompt in getting back to us with answers to our questions and concerns. The drivers and guides she chose were exceptional.

Hotel Review
Hotel Lorelei Londres
Sorrento

The rooms were very nice. Staff was informative and pleasant. Restaurant was fabulous and the location was perfect

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Rooms were spotless and had a beautiful view of the sea
Local specialist: Rita Pagano
Rita
Rita Pagano
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on Oct 28, 2024

Dear Angela, thank you so much for your kind words! I’m so glad to hear that everything went smoothly and that you felt well-supported throughout your trip. Thank you for letting me be a part of your journey, I hope you created lovely memories around Italy. My best regards, Rita 🥰

Naples, Amalfi Coast and Sicily
Italy | Oct 5 - Oct 18, 2024

Karen
Karen F.
Manhattan, NY | Reviewed on Oct 27, 2024
What an amazing two week trip to Naples, the Amalfi Coast and Sicily. Everything our trip specialist, Rita Pagano, booked was really wonderful. From the hotels to the guides, there were no missteps on this trip. This is the fourth trip that KimKim has planned for us and it won't be the last. Read more

What an amazing two week trip to Naples, the Amalfi Coast and Sicily. Everything our trip specialist, Rita Pagano, booked was really wonderful. From the hotels to the guides, there were no missteps on this trip. This is the fourth trip that KimKim has planned for us and it won't be the last.

Hotel Reviews
Grand Hotel Parker’s Naples
Naples

Grand Hotel Parker's is a lovely hotel just outside the city center. The rooftop view is amazing and I highly recommend dinner at Georges restaurant - it was one of the best meals on this trip.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Just outside the city center but an easy walk into Naples.
Staff
Waitstaff in the restaurants were professional but friendly.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Lorelei Londres
Sorrento

Great view and we loved our room with the poo/jacuzzi on the terrace. We would definitely go back and take advantage of their "beach club" below the cliffs. We did have dinner at their restaurant and while it was good, the service was a bit standoffish.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Great view!
Staff
Dinner staff in the restaurant were not welcoming.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Everything was very clean but they need new mattresses on the bed! Our backs were killing us!
Hotel Politeama
Palermo

Great location but rooms were very sparse. Definitely not a 5 star hotel. Best feature was the rooftop bar/restaurant.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very basic, sparse furnishings in the room.
Doric Boutique Hotel
Agrigento

This place was OFF THE CHARTS! Rooms, location, food, service. Downside was only being there for 1 night! We will definitely go back and stay longer! Also had a fantastic dinner at the restaurant!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Taodomus
Taormina

Lovely hotel in the center of Taormina. Note that cars/taxis/Ubers cannot drive into the city, so you will be left off a few blocks away and have to haul your luggage into town. Not an issue for us but might be for some. Lovely rooftop bar for an evening cocktail and breakfast.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Great restaurant recommendations.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Spacious shower compared to some.
Palazzo Artemide

This one was a great way to end the trip! Beautifully appointed room in a fantastic location. Definitely 5 stars!

Authenticity & Character
Really in a Palazzo!
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Really plush room.
Hotel Matilde - Lifestyle Hotel
Naples

Fine for about a 5 hour stop over between flights. A little sketchy entrance and another location where cars can't drive to so we had to walk with luggage a few blocks at midnight.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Privately Guided Visit of Naples & Underground Ruins
Privately Guided Visit of Naples & Underground Ruins
Naples

Luigi was a nice, knowledgeable guide. Definitely helped us understand the layout of the city. Gave us an excellent recommendation for a great pizza place and took us there to ensure we got a table.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit to Pompeii & Mt. Vesuvius with Wine Tasting
Visit to Pompeii & Mt. Vesuvius with Wine Tasting
Italy

Danilo, our Pompeii guide was SO knowledgeable. Only regret was that it took longer to get there due to Naples traffic, so we only have 1 1/2 hours at Pompeii. Could have definitely used more time. The Winery trip was amazing - great wine with a fantastic lunch. I don't think I'd recommend doing that BEFORE climbing Vesuvius..... definitely made it a tough trek uphill! Fabio, our driver, was also excellent.

Quality of Experience
Food
Cantina Vel Vesuvio was amazing - food, wine, and experience along with a great view!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Would definitely recommend Fabio and Danilo!
Transport
 Limoncello & Lemon Marmalade Experience
Limoncello & Lemon Marmalade Experience
Italy

Cannot recommend this experience more! Valentino was so much fun! Could have stayed there all day!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Antonio was a great, knowledgeable driver. Highly recommend!
Day Excursion to Capri Island and Anacapri
Day Excursion to Capri Island and Anacapri
Italy

Had a great day on Capri. Stephanie, our guide, was very nice, although I got the sense she was disappointed that I didn't want to shop! LOL! She kept pointing out shops and trying to get us to go in. Loved the chairlift, although it was covered in fog, so no view at the top. And the Blue Grotto was closed, but the trip around the island was lovely. Stephanie also recommended a great place for lunch which was fantastic.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Guided Visit of Palermo
Private Guided Visit of Palermo
Palermo

Concetta might be the one miss on the whole trip. While she was very nice and knowledgeable, she never stopped talking for a minute. Literally, we could not get a word or question in, or even talk to each other. And if we weren't looking in the direction of what she was talking about, she would reprimand us - LOL. I actually cut this one short at under two hours because we couldn't take anymore.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
See above.
Sicily Extra Virgin Olive Oil & Salt Pans Experience
Sicily Extra Virgin Olive Oil & Salt Pans Experience
Palermo

I think this day might be our favorite of the entire trip. Mostly due to our driver (and guide) Sergio! I would recommend him for every trip in this region that you book! The olive oil tasting experience was fantastic at Titoni and thanks for having Angela there to interpret. Going to the salt pans was something we never experienced and it was really amazing and educational. Then Sergio took us to his favorite family run restaurant for a late lunch - what a treat! It was like being back in my Nonna's kitchen with dish and dish coming out with great local wine! Even with two Michelin star dinners earlier in the trip, I think this might have been our best meal! Thank you Sergio!!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Sergio was the best!
Transport
Valley of the Temples Private Guided Visit
Valley of the Temples Private Guided Visit
Italy

Lorenzo is such an amazing guide! I can't imagine anyone else knowing as much as he does. Truly a great experience!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Lorenzo!! Francesco was also an amazing driver and showed us the white cliffs that Tom wanted to see.
Transport
Cooking Class in Taormina
Cooking Class in Taormina
Taormina

This was fantastic! Paola and Mary were great fun and great teachers. Made pasta, eggplant, fish. Ate everything we made along with local wines, bread, and cheeses. Definitely recommend this one!

Quality of Experience
Food
Learned a lot and had fun at the same time!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Syracuse & Noto Full Day Private Experience
Syracuse & Noto Full Day Private Experience
Italy

Massimo was a fantastic guide. We really enjoyed the Archeological Park and Noto. He had a great recommendation for lunch in Noto that we enjoyed very much.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Etna Wine & Cable Car Experience
Etna Wine & Cable Car Experience
Italy

Everyone needs to see Mt. Etna and Federico was a really good guide. Took us to see the Lava Tube/Cave as well. The wine experience was not great. It wasn't a specific winery, but a wine cooperative where they sold different wines. We definitely would have liked to experience a true Etna Winery, since we had so much great Etna wine in Sicily. Food was okay. Wines were not good.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Rita Pagano
Rita
Rita Pagano
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on Oct 28, 2024

Dear Karen, thank you so so much for sharing your experience!! I'm thrilled to hear that your two-week journey through Naples, the Amalfi Coast, and Sicily was everything you hoped for. Knowing that each hotel, guide, and moment along the way was perfect means the world to us and I'm honored to be a small part of your travel memories. I look forward to helping you create even more unforgettable adventures! All my best, Rita🥰

Most of our guides were good. A few should be...
Portugal | Oct 18 - Oct 24, 2024

B
Barbara C.
Palm Desert, CA | Reviewed on Oct 25, 2024
Most of our guides were good. A few should be noted that we’re not
Hugo in Lisbon historical tour. Knew his history but did not engage with us except to give out his facts. He was our weakest guide. The food tour in Porto should have chosen more place with some good atmospheres she gave us tastes of the regional food she was charming but the places we ate in were underwhelming
Arriving in Porto for guest stay at casa de campanhia must arrange transportation with a driver who can take you...
Read more

Most of our guides were good. A few should be noted that we’re not
Hugo in Lisbon historical tour. Knew his history but did not engage with us except to give out his facts. He was our weakest guide. The food tour in Porto should have chosen more place with some good atmospheres she gave us tastes of the regional food she was charming but the places we ate in were underwhelming
Arriving in Porto for guest stay at casa de campanhia must arrange transportation with a driver who can take you to the hotel entrance. We are dropped below a long steep cobblestone street and had to drag our suitcases all the way up. Unacceptable! The hotel was fantastic! The drive to Nazaré and Óbidos were very touristy and not for us. The grahams tasting and th Quinta do crasto tasting were lovely. In Lisbon the Bairro alto hotel has some issue. The room that you booked for us was unacceptable! They had a tiny closet , no drawers, 1 stories no to share and a toilet that your knees knocked against the bidet. This is something you as agents should be aware of. Perhaps if we were local staying for an overnight if might have been ok. We paid extra and moved into a suite. The restaurant and bar were great! Please not about the class of hotel you book was poor.
Your app works great and you’re always available. Well done! Guides should be vented for knowledge and room s should be checked before booking

Hotel Reviews
Casa da Companhia - Vignette Collection
Porto

Exquisite hotel. Convenient location

Authenticity & Character
Location
It’s on the major walking street if you have a room overlooking this it might be noisy
Staff
Everyone kind and helpful
Bairro Alto Hotel
Lisboa

The staff was wonderfu. The room That was booked for us was UNACCEPTABLE It had 1 sink, the toilet faced the bidet and your knees knocked into it. There were no drawers and the closet was possibly 18” wide. Maybe it would hold 2 jackets. We had been traveling for 10 days. There was no place to put anything. We paid extra and moved into a larger room that was lovely. This experience should not happen As agents you should be aware if the types of accommodations

Authenticity & Character
Rooftop garden and restaurant were great
Location
Easy access
Staff
Very kind and hwkpful
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Foodie Experience in Porto
Foodie Experience in Porto
Porto

Guide was sweet and knowledgeable. We tasted regional food but the places selected lacked atmosphere. I think more thought could be given to this as we’ve been on many food tours around the world

Quality of Experience
Researched this trip quite a bit. I don’t think seeing Nazaré or Óbidos was necessary. Heavy tourist spots with same shops over and over
Food
The restaurants we booked on our own were excellent. Better feedback from your company would be helpful
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Mixed review. Hugo who did our historical tour in Lisbon was unexciting and poor other drivers were more engaged
Transport
On time or waited for us
Tour and Tasting at Grahams ’s Port Cellar
Tour and Tasting at Grahams ’s Port Cellar
Porto

Excellent tour highly recommend. Topped with a tasting

Guides, Drivers and Staff
All guides were lively except Hugo on our historical walking tour of lisbon
Transport
Everyone arrived on time
Local specialist: Rita Pagano
Rita
Rita Pagano
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on Oct 25, 2024

Dear Barbara, thank you for taking the time to share such detailed feedback with us. I really appreciate your suggestions on how we can improve for our future travelers! It was a pleasure to assist with your trip, and I’m grateful for your kind words about our app and availability throughout your journey. I hope we can have the opportunity to help you plan your next adventure and make it even more memorable! Warm regards, Rita 😊

A Truly Amazing Trip to Italy 🇮🇹
Italy | Oct 13 - Oct 21, 2024

Robert
Robert H.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Oct 22, 2024
Kim Kim,
Our Trip was TRULY AMAZING!
Every Driver was there before for pickup and was kind, courteous and very helpful. The guides brought to life every location for us, they were very accommodating, knowledgeable, pleasant and friendly.
We give ALL your GUIDES an excellent rating!
We highly recommend your travel group!!!
Rita did a fantastic job of arranging this entire experience from locations, hotels, guides, and drivers as well as restaurants. Each person went the extra mile to...
Read more

Kim Kim,
Our Trip was TRULY AMAZING!
Every Driver was there before for pickup and was kind, courteous and very helpful. The guides brought to life every location for us, they were very accommodating, knowledgeable, pleasant and friendly.
We give ALL your GUIDES an excellent rating!
We highly recommend your travel group!!!
Rita did a fantastic job of arranging this entire experience from locations, hotels, guides, and drivers as well as restaurants. Each person went the extra mile to make this trip a Fantastic experience.
Rita, and Kim Kim Thank you for making this Trip truly very memorable 😊

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Lorelei Londres
Sorrento

The staff and restaurant personnel were fantastic. They made their hotel and A++ rating. The hotel and restaurant views are beautiful. The food was fantastic. They supplied breakfast bags for each morning trips for us since we were leaving early for our excursions. The staff made sure we had everything we needed . This place is excellent……HIGHLY RECOMMEND

Authenticity & Character
Beautiful Hotel
Location
Views!
Staff
They all truly helpful, thoughtful and very accommodating
Cleanliness & Comfort
Beautiful rooms and views
Hotel Monte Cenci
Rome

Hotel Monte Cenci in Rome was nice and very accommodating. The staff were wonderful, ensuring our stay was comfortable and pleasant.

Hotel Il Guelfo Bianco
Florence

Hotel Il Guelfo Bianco in Florence was unique and charming, converted from an old building, perhaps a church or some historical structure. It offered a distinctive experience and the service was very accommodating.

Activity Reviews
Guided Visit: Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
Guided Visit: Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
Rome

The guided visit to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel was a bit crowded, yet our guide was exceptional in managing the crowds. Their assertiveness and organizational skills allowed us to enjoy this magnificent cultural experience without the stress of dealing with large groups of people. We appreciated the personal touch and dedication.

Day Excursion to Capri Island and Anacapri
Day Excursion to Capri Island and Anacapri
Italy

The Day Excursion to Capri Island and Anacapri was fantastic. Our guide was excellent, ensuring we were comfortable and tailored the experience to fit our needs, even accommodating our health issues.

Private Guided Visit of Florence Including Michelangelo's David
Private Guided Visit of Florence Including Michelangelo's David
Florence

The Private Guided Visit of Florence, Including Michelangelo’s David, was fantastic despite the crowds. Our guide took great care of us, ensuring we had space and time to truly enjoy the experience.

Guided Visit to Pompeii with Archeaologist
Guided Visit to Pompeii with Archeaologist
Italy

The Guided Visit to Pompeii with an Archaeologist was excellent. Our guide was informative, attentive, and accommodated our needs perfectly.

Local specialist: Rita Pagano
Rita
Rita Pagano
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on Dec 04, 2024

Hi Bob, thank you so much for your wonderful feedback!! 🥹 It warms my heart to hear that your trip was truly amazing and that everything went so smoothly, from the drivers to the guides. It was such a pleasure organizing this adventure for you, and I’m thrilled that it left you with so many fantastic memories. Your kind words mean the world to me and the entire team of Espíritu Travel. We’d love to help you plan your next journey whenever you're ready. Wishing you all the best, and until next time! Rita 🥰

14 days in Sicily and the Amalfi Coast
Italy | Oct 6 - Oct 19, 2024

Dennis
Dennis M.
Denver, CO | Reviewed on Oct 21, 2024
We started our journey to Italy with a bump in the road, literally, when we had a flat tire driving from Catania to Taormina. But the staff at our hotel, especially Ranidu, Chiara Rozzi, who allowed us to park the car for free and drove us to our hotel and the Espiritu team saved the day. Thankfully we got rid of the rental car and we were glad we did. We drove in Europe before but the hillside roads and highways in both Sicily and around Sorrento were too much for us to handle. And the... Read more

We started our journey to Italy with a bump in the road, literally, when we had a flat tire driving from Catania to Taormina. But the staff at our hotel, especially Ranidu, Chiara Rozzi, who allowed us to park the car for free and drove us to our hotel and the Espiritu team saved the day. Thankfully we got rid of the rental car and we were glad we did. We drove in Europe before but the hillside roads and highways in both Sicily and around Sorrento were too much for us to handle. And the intense drivers in Palermo and Naples were more than I would’ve imagined, so.., it was easier to get around with private cars, taxis or buses.
After we settled in at Hotel Villa Greta with a late dinner and bottle of wine everything got better each and every day! Taormina was wonderful as we enjoyed the steps up and down twice a day to shop, eat and explore. We took an excursion to Mt. Etna that include a stop at Alcantara Gorges, so bring your water shoes for a great walk through the park. Our best dinner was at Osteria Rosso DiVino, a higher end restaurant owned by two sisters that served us the fresh catch of the day, sea bass served Sicilian-style.

Our stop in Palermo included a great walking tour with our guide, Rachele and lots of interesting sights on our own, like the Mercato del Capo. Then a quick flight to Naples brought us to Sorrento. Our room at the La Piazzeta Guest House was very comfortable, Catarina made sure we had everything we needed.
We highly recommend the sunset cruise, a guided tour of Pompeii with Alessio, make pizza with Chef Giulia Fusco, and the all day tour of Capri included the Blue Grotto, and the extra cost for the chair lift and funicular are worth it. Our guide, Luigi was a lot of fun and super helpful. We also visited an art exhibition of the works of Antonio Ligabue Villa Fiorentino.

After 5 days in Sorrento we were driven back to Naples for a couple of days to explore and eat. We had a little trouble finding the door to our hotel which was located in a building with no signage, but the Unico Realis was modern, comfortable and clean. Maria Chiara, our host was very attentive. She recommended a great place for our final dinner at L’Antica Trattoria before our flight home the next morning.

A few takeaways to share; we felt safe throughout our trip in very town and city along the way. Most everyone spoke English but we wish we practiced our Italian more!
The hillside towns have many stairs so leave your heels and sandals at home and wear comfortable walking shoes as we clocked well over 15,000 steps a day. One day when we got a bit lost in Taormina we clocked 59 flights of stairs, mama Mia! Pack as light as you can, hauling a large suitcase as we did was tough. The room was a bit small but the balcony view was incredible. The stairs were truly the challenge.
Google Maps was noticeably inconsistent throughout and if you are not good at reading maps spend time plotting out trips before venturing out to explore.
The Trip app provided by Espiritu was very helpful as was the support by our KimKim team led by Rita Pagano.

Hotel Reviews
Villa Greta Hotel Rooms & Suites
Taormina

The staff, especially Ranido, made our crazy start to our trip very pleasant.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Move it closer to the bottom of the stairs! Just kidding, sort of.
Staff
Ranidu was so kind during our arrival following our flat tire in town, late at night when we desperately needed some help.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Politeama
Palermo

Great location, this hotel was more of a typical hotel in any downtown location around the world.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
La Piazzetta Guest House
Sorrento

Location was perfect, just off the main square

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Great bathroom
Unico Relais
Napoli
Authenticity & Character
Location
Near the center of town, just a bit tricky to find.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Private Guided Visit of Palermo
Private Guided Visit of Palermo
Palermo

Rachele was very helpful in pointing out sights and places for us to visit the next day.

Quality of Experience
Included along the way was finding a sandwich shop near the port, serving a local favorite spleen sandwiches, Porta Carbone.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Amalfi Coast Sunset Cruise
Amalfi Coast Sunset Cruise
Italy
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Cook a Pizza like Neapolitan Pizza Maker in Sorrento
Cook a Pizza like Neapolitan Pizza Maker in Sorrento
Italy
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Pompeii Archeological Site Guided Visit: Travel to Ancient Times
Pompeii Archeological Site Guided Visit: Travel to Ancient Times
Italy
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guide, Alessio was very good.
Transport
Private Visit of Naples with a Local
Private Visit of Naples with a Local
Naples

I suggest a bit less of historical details and add more about local culture and sights worth exploring.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Rita Pagano
Rita
Rita Pagano
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on Oct 25, 2024

Dear Dennis, Thank you so much for sharing your journey with us! It’s wonderful to hear that despite the flat tire and driving challenges, you were able to turn things around and enjoy your time in Italy. I truly appreciate the lovely shout-outs to our team and your helpful travel tips. It’s been such a pleasure working with you and being a small part of your adventure. Hopefully, we’ll stay in touch for your future travels! All the best, Rita 🥰

I’m sorry I’m not good at writing reviews but...
Italy | Sep 29 - Oct 8, 2024

Mary
Mary H.
Minneapolis, MN | Reviewed on Oct 16, 2024
I’m sorry I’m not good at writing reviews but Rita did a wonderful job in helping our family have an amazing vacation Read more

I’m sorry I’m not good at writing reviews but Rita did a wonderful job in helping our family have an amazing vacation

Hotel Reviews
numa l Loreto Rooms & Apartments
Milan

The ones paying the bills got the pull out couch but other then that very clean and nice 😂🥰

Authenticity & Character
Location
We could walk to everything we wanted
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Arcadia Hotel Venice
Venice

They have one room in all of the hotel that sinks like sewer and again the people paying for the rooms got that room. They should not rent that room to anyone but overall the hotel was wonderful and the other two rooms were great.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Moxy Milan Linate Airport
Milano

Best hotel for early morning flights

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Il Guelfo Bianco
Florence

Staff super friendly

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Villa il Castagno Wine & Resort
Siena

Our favorite, great staff, great food and service

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Private Cooking Class in a Real Tuscan Farmhouse
Private Cooking Class in a Real Tuscan Farmhouse
Italy

Outstanding

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Day Excursion:  Lake Como & Cernobbio
Day Excursion: Lake Como & Cernobbio
Milan

We definitely wished we would’ve had a boat ride around all of Lake Como

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Cinque Terre Excursion
Private Cinque Terre Excursion
Florence

Because of a rainy day, we changed our itinerary around a little which was wonderful and our driver was great

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Guided Visit of Venice with St Mark's Basilica
Guided Visit of Venice with St Mark's Basilica
Venice

Our tour guide was amazing

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Sunset Dinner in  a Chianti Vineyard
Sunset Dinner in a Chianti Vineyard
Italy

One added bonus on the excursion is, I didn’t realize I sold their wine at my store in Minnesota and I got to meet the owner of the winery fantastic

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Rita Pagano
Rita
Rita Pagano
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on Oct 16, 2024

Hi Mary!! Thank you so so much for this detailed review and your kind words. What wonderful photos you uploaded🥹🥹 I'm so glad you had a great time in Italy and I hope you created lifetime memories. It has been a real pleasure to work with you, hopefully, we will keep in touch for your future adventures! I wish you all the best, Rita 🥰