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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

Rita was wonderful to work with for our trip ...
Italy | Apr 11 - Apr 19, 2025

Kristin
Kristin B.
Huntersville, NC | Reviewed on Apr 25, 2025
Rita was wonderful to work with for our trip to Italy! She was extremely responsive and open to any/all suggestions and questions I presented. Working with Rita and the kimkim team made our vacation abroad seamless and stress free. Read more

Rita was wonderful to work with for our trip to Italy! She was extremely responsive and open to any/all suggestions and questions I presented. Working with Rita and the kimkim team made our vacation abroad seamless and stress free.

Activity Reviews
Italian Cooking Class at a Local Ristorante
Italian Cooking Class at a Local Ristorante
Rome
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Venice Gondola Ride
Venice Gondola Ride
Venice

Gondolier wasn’t interactive and it was obvious he didn’t want to take our family.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
He was quiet and didn’t interact at all
Transport
Guided Visit of Florence Including David and Duomo
Guided Visit of Florence Including David and Duomo
Italy
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Gelato Making Class
Gelato Making Class
Florence

This was my daughter’s favorite activity of our trip!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Guided Visit: Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
Guided Visit: Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
Italy
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Guided Visit of the Colosseum & Ancient City
Private Guided Visit of the Colosseum & Ancient City
Rome
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Rita Pagano

Big group - multi city experience
Portugal | Sep 7 - Sep 23, 2024

A
Angela D.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Apr 13, 2025
Rita was incredibly patient - we were a group of 8 with a lot of opinions and mixed itineraries. Every guide we were paired with was incredible, welcoming and provided us with a wonderful experience. For a 20 day trip having kimkim do all the coordination across 7 cities and 2 countries was a breeze- have recommended them multiple times others and would happily use again! Read more

Rita was incredibly patient - we were a group of 8 with a lot of opinions and mixed itineraries. Every guide we were paired with was incredible, welcoming and provided us with a wonderful experience. For a 20 day trip having kimkim do all the coordination across 7 cities and 2 countries was a breeze- have recommended them multiple times others and would happily use again!

Hotel Reviews
Pousada Porto - Rua das Flores
Porto
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Inspira Liberdade Boutique Hotel
Lisbon
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Ercilla de Bilbao
Bilbao, Bizkaia
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
The rooftop required reservations but didn't know im advance was kind of annoying that there were no extra accommodations for guests.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Catalonia Donosti
San Sebastián
Authenticity & Character
Location
A bit out of the way but lovely
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Pulitzer Barcelona
Barcelona
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Mondego
Coimbra
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Rita Pagano
Rita
Rita Pagano
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on Apr 14, 2025

Dear Angela, thank you so much for sharing your experience! I'm thrilled to hear that we made your 20-day adventure both seamless and memorable. It’s fantastic to know that every guide contributed to a welcoming atmosphere and a wonderful journey, I'll forward your feedback to them!! Your recommendation means the world to us, and we look forward to planning more incredible trips with you in the future! All the best, Rita 🥰

Wonderful Personalized Trip to Portugal
Portugal | Apr 1 - Apr 11, 2025

Peter
Peter B.
Wellfleet, MA | Reviewed on Apr 12, 2025
This was our first time in Portugal, and as for several other trips, kimkim made it possible. Kimkim worked with us to plan out a perfect itinerary for 12 days in and around Lisbon and Porto. But planning is only part of what makes a trip great - it's also being there to manage when things don't go as planned. And our 12 days in Portugal started with a plane cancellation due to weather - but kimkim was there for us to re-arrange airport pickups, hotel and dinner reservations, and to help... Read more

This was our first time in Portugal, and as for several other trips, kimkim made it possible. Kimkim worked with us to plan out a perfect itinerary for 12 days in and around Lisbon and Porto. But planning is only part of what makes a trip great - it's also being there to manage when things don't go as planned. And our 12 days in Portugal started with a plane cancellation due to weather - but kimkim was there for us to re-arrange airport pickups, hotel and dinner reservations, and to help us think thru how to do in 11 days what we planned for in 12 days.
Kimkim and their local affiliate in Spain (which handles planning for Spain and Portugal) use the app "Trip Plans" - which creates realtime updates for your itinerary, including bookings and tickets... and also contains an in-app messaging service, which was monitored and responded to in near realtime by our trip planner Rita and her associates.

Because we wanted flexibility in day trips out of Lisbon and Porto, we opted for a few day trips with private drivers. Rita and team helped us put together realistic itineraries, and then found the best drivers for us. And for those worried about driver pickup locations and times (will someone actually be there for us, even if the plane/train is late???), their choice of car services and drivers comes with a traveler-friendly text-message that includes your driver's name, number, pick-up time, location mapping... and an emergency number to call if something unexpected happens. We had the same great driver (Alex) for our airport pickup, two day-trips from Lisbon, and a drop off at the Lisbon train station (to go to Porto).

Our best day trip from Porto... Douro Valley-Expert Guide-Boat-Lunch-Tastings Premium Service. We were picked up at our hotel by Pedro, who knew everything (and seemingly everyone) in the Douro Valley. Pedro took us on a beautiful drive from Porto to our first tasting, providing us with local knowledge and fun facts about the Douro valley... and patiently stopping when I saw a particularly scenic spot for photos. Pedro continued his personalized tour with us on the hour river cruise, and then to our 2nd vineyard for lunch and another tasting. And after a day of vineyard sampling, what's better than having a private car service back to your hotel.

Thank you Rita (and kimkim) for another great trip.

Hotel Reviews
Portugal Boutique City Hotel
Lisbon

Beautiful hotel with a warm and friendly staff. Walkable to many tourist sites and lots of restaurants and cafes. Rooms are spacious and well appointed.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Pousada Porto - Rua das Flores
Porto

A beautiful boutique hotel on one of the most walkable streets in Porto.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Rita Pagano
Rita
Rita Pagano
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on Apr 14, 2025

Dear Peter, thank you so much for sharing your detailed experience! I’m so glad to hear your kind words and appreciation for our team. 🥹 Your feedback about the personalized service—especially the reliable driver communications and expert guidance on exploring Portugal—truly means a lot to us. I will forward your feedback to our guides, who for sure will be happy to hear that!! It was a real pleasure to help you plan this wonderful trip, and I look forward to creating more great travel experiences in the future. I wish you all the best, Rita🥰

Our trip to Rome was perfect. I worked with R...
Italy | Mar 2 - Mar 6, 2025

Z
Zachery C.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Mar 10, 2025
Our trip to Rome was perfect. I worked with Rita on the itinerary and would work with Rita again. The accommodations and tours were fantastic. Read more

Our trip to Rome was perfect. I worked with Rita on the itinerary and would work with Rita again. The accommodations and tours were fantastic.

Hotel Review
Glance in Rome
Rome

Wonderful accommodation, staff & location.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Rita Pagano
Rita
Rita Pagano
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on Mar 11, 2025

Hi Zach, thank you so much for your kind words! I'm glad to hear that your trip to Rome was perfect and that you enjoyed the accommodations and activities. I'd love to help you plan another unforgettable trip in the future! All the best, 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
Rita
Rita Pagano
Local specialist in Madrid | Replied on Jan 09, 2025

Hi Charley, thank you for sharing your feedback! I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed the pre-planned itinerary, the responsive support via the app, and highlights like the walking tour in Florence and the cooking class in Rome. We apologize for any misunderstandings regarding the Amalfi Coast and Siena experiences. Your feedback is important to us and we’ll take it into account to improve the experience for future travelers. Once again, we apologize for any inconvenience and truly appreciate you choosing us. We hope to have the opportunity to assist you with future journeys! Warm regards, Rita 😊

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
Private Guided Visit of the Colosseum & Ancient City
Private Guided Visit of the Colosseum & Ancient City
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🥰