Switzerland and Italy: A Journey of Unforgettable Adventures and Enchanting Experiences"

Italy | Oct 3 - Oct 20, 2023

We had the greatest pleasure of embarking on a once-in-a-lifetime journey through Switzerland and Italy with Kimkim Travel, and it wouldn't have been the extraordinary adventure it was without the exceptional guidance of our tour guide, Fabio. From the moment we touched down in Zurich to the very last day in Taormina, Fabio's expertise and passion for what he does shone brightly.

Fabio's expert assistance in planning our IT from the get-go and all throughout the entire trip, his attention to detail, as well as his in-depth knowledge of the regions we visited were nothing short of remarkable. His insights into the history, culture, and popular sites to visit made the planning process easy and and added a layer of richness to every place we explored. From the picturesque cities of Zurich and Lucerne to the breathtaking landscapes of Interlaken, Zermatt, and the majestic Mt. Pilatus & Mt Gornegrat, Fabio made sure we not only saw these wonders but truly experienced them. When we needed help at a very short notice to secure a booking for paragliding in Zermatt, Fabio delivered outstandingly! He phoned the hotel in Zermatt and looked for the paragliding company. His careful planning and coordination ensured it went off without a hitch, giving us an adrenaline rush like no other. His attention to detail and safety gave us the confidence to enjoy every second of it. The paragliding experience was one of the unforgettable highlights in our trip - -and Fabio helped make it possible!!

Crossing over to Italy, we marveled at Milan's fashion and culture, the serene & enchanting beauty of Bellagio & Varenna in Como, and the stunning journey aboard the Bernina Express to the magical St. Moritz. Fabio's choice of stops, restaurants, and experiences reflected a deep understanding of what travelers like us truly appreciate.
One commendable thing that Fabio did for us was planning the trip to Lake Como. There were transpo-related changes due to an event that was happening at that time in Lake Como. Fabio informed us straight away and organized alternative ways to get to to Bellagio and Varenna, and even purchased for us the train and ferry tickets in advance, and recommended the restaurant along the way, & the sites that we should visit. Our van driver and tour guide - Paolo - was excellent.
Fabio made sure that nothing would get in the way of our plans to visit the enchanting Lake Como - and he really delivered!

The culmination of our journey was the enchanting island of Sicily. Fabio's expertise in Sicilian culture and history turned our time in Palermo, Taormina, and Catania into an authentic Sicilian experience. His recommendations for local delicacies and hidden gems enriched our adventure even further.

Throughout the trip, Fabio's professionalism, warmth, and enthusiasm made us feel like more than just tourists; we felt like friends exploring the world together.
His commitment to ensuring our journey was not just memorable but extraordinary was evident in every aspect of our trip - - from the train tickets, hotel & airport transfers to the hotels and restaurants.

All in all - Fabio's dedication, knowledge, flexibility and charismatic personality made this holiday in Switzerland and Italy an unforgettable and fabulous experience. We can't thank him enough for the cherished memories that we have built and bottled up in these incredible destinations.

On another note, we would like to give our feedback as well on a few things that can be done differently next time.
1. All the hotels that we stayed in were excellent. However, the choice of hotels in Zurich in Milan can be improved, in terms of quality and location. The hotel in Zurich did not have A/C, so it was not very comfortable at night due to the warm temperature. The hotel in Milan was not really centrally located so it was not that easy to go to the Milan center. We would always prefer a location close to the main public transpo.
2. In terms of planning the train schedules - it would be better next time if the gap between the time - especially for connecting train trips - should be sufficient enough to avoid undue stress. For example - the train schedule from Zermatt to Milan was too tight in terms of the lead time in between each transfer. Specifically the time gap between the train from Brig to Milan was just 7 minutes!! And the platforms were quite far from each other. We had to literally run - with all our heavy luggage - from Platform 4 to Platform 11 (if I remember correctly). That was very stressful & exhausting.
It would be better to plan the train trips in such way that there is enough time in between to get to the next platform without rushing too much, and to give allowance to delays (e.g: if the 1st train is delayed, then it will affect the subsequent trips).

Those are just the 2 things that we thought we would mention to further improve the planning process in the future.

In sum - if you're planning a trip with Kimkim Travel, make sure you request Fabio as your guide - he truly goes above and beyond to make your adventure extraordinary. Grazie mille, Fabio! Ti apprezziamo molto :)!